BES 104 - ENGINEERING MECHANICS

Chapter IV -
ANALYSIS OF
STRUCTURES

ENGR. ELWIN JAY J .TANO

Instructor
Introduction
• For the equilibrium of structures made of several
connected parts, the internal forces as well the external
forces are considered.

• In the interaction between connected parts, Newton’s 3rd

Law states that the forces of action and reaction
between bodies in contact have the same magnitude,
same line of action, and opposite sense.

• Three categories of engineering structures are considered:

a) Frames: contain at least one one multi-force
member, i.e., member acted upon by 3 or more
forces.
b) Trusses: formed from two-force members, i.e.,
straight members with end point connections
c) Machines: structures containing moving parts
designed to transmit and modify forces.

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Definition of a Truss
• A truss consists of straight members connected at
joints. No member is continuous through a joint.

• Most structures are made of several trusses joined

together to form a space framework. Each truss
carries those loads which act in its plane and may
be treated as a two-dimensional structure.

• Bolted or welded connections are assumed to be

pinned together. Forces acting at the member ends
reduce to a single force and no couple. Only two-
force members are considered.

• When forces tend to pull the member apart, it is in

tension. When the forces tend to compress the
member, it is in compression.

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Definition of a Truss

Members of a truss are slender and not capable of

supporting large lateral loads. Loads must be applied at
the joints.

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Definition of a Truss

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Simple Trusses

• A rigid truss will not collapse under

the application of a load.

• A simple truss is constructed by

successively adding two members and
one connection to the basic triangular
truss.

• In a simple truss, m = 2n - 3 where

m is the total number of members
and n is the number of joints.

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Determinacy
• To determine whether any other trusses is or is not completely constrained
or determinate, count the number m of its members, the number n of its
joints and the number r of the reaction components at its supports.

• If m + r < 2n, there are fewer unknowns than equations. Thus, some of the
equations cannot be satisfied; the truss is only PARTIALLY
CONSTRAINED.

• If m + r >2n, there are more unknowns than equations. Thus, some of the
unknowns cannot be determined; the truss is INDETERMINATE.

• If m + r =2n, there are as many unknowns as there are equations; the truss
is DETERMINATE. However, to find out whether the truss is completely
or improperly constrained, reactions at its supports and the forces in its
members must be determined. If all can be found, the truss is completely
constrained and determinate.
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Analysis of Trusses by the Method of Joints
• Dismember the truss and create a freebody
diagram for each member and pin.

• The two forces exerted on each member are

equal, have the same line of action, and
opposite sense.

• Forces exerted by a member on the pins or

joints at its ends are directed along the member
and equal and opposite.

• Conditions of equilibrium on the pins provide

2n equations for 2n unknowns. For a simple
truss, 2n = m + 3. May solve for m member
forces and 3 reaction forces at the supports.

• Conditions for equilibrium for the entire truss

provide 3 additional equations which are not
independent of the pin equations.
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Joints Under Special Loading Conditions
• Forces in opposite members intersecting in
two straight lines at a joint are equal.
• The forces in two opposite members are
equal when a load is aligned with a third
member. The third member force is equal
to the load (including zero load).
• The forces in two members connected at a
joint are equal if the members are aligned
and zero otherwise.
• Recognition of joints under special loading
conditions simplifies a truss analysis.

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Space Trusses
• An elementary space truss consists of 6 members
connected at 4 joints to form a tetrahedron.

• A simple space truss is formed and can be

extended when 3 new members and 1 joint are
added at the same time.

• In a simple space truss, m = 3n - 6 where m is the

number of members and n is the number of joints.

• Conditions of equilibrium for the joints provide 3n

equations. For a simple truss, 3n = m + 6 and the
equations can be solved for m member forces and
6 support reactions.

• Equilibrium for the entire truss provides 6

additional equations which are not independent of
the joint equations.
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Sample Problem
SOLUTION:
• Based on a free-body diagram of the
entire truss, solve the 3 equilibrium
equations for the reactions at E and C.

• Joint A is subjected to only two unknown

member forces. Determine these from the
joint equilibrium requirements.

• In succession, determine unknown

member forces at joints D, B, and E from
joint equilibrium requirements.
Using the method of joints, determine
the force in each member of the truss. • All member forces and support reactions
are known at joint C. However, the joint
equilibrium requirements may be applied
to check the results.

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Sample Problem
SOLUTION:
• Based on a free-body diagram of the entire truss,
solve the 3 equilibrium equations for the reactions
at E and C.
 MC = 0
= (2000 lb)(24 ft ) + (1000 lb)(12 ft ) − E (6 ft )
E = 10,000 lb 

 Fx = 0 = C x Cx = 0

 Fy = 0 = −2000 lb - 1000 lb + 10,000 lb + C y

C y = 7000 lb 

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Sample Problem

• Joint A is subjected to only two unknown

member forces. Determine these from the
joint equilibrium requirements.

2000 lb FAB FAD

= =
FAB = 1500 lb T
4 3 5 FAD = 2500 lb C

• There are now only two unknown member

forces at joint D.
FDB = FDA FDB = 2500 lb T
()
FDE = 2 53 FDA FDE = 3000 lb C
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Sample Problem
• There are now only two unknown member
forces at joint B. Assume both are in tension.
 Fy = 0 = −1000 − 54 (2500) − 54 FBE
FBE = −3750 lb FBE = 3750 lb C

 Fx = 0 = FBC − 1500 − 53 (2500) − 53 (3750)

FBC = +5250 lb FBC = 5250 lb T

• There is one unknown member force at joint

E. Assume the member is in tension.
 Fx = 0 = 53 FEC + 3000 + 53 (3750)
FEC = −8750 lb FEC = 8750 lb C

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Sample Problem
• All member forces and support reactions are
known at joint C. However, the joint equilibrium
requirements may be applied to check the results.

 Fx = − 5250 + 53 (8750) = 0 (checks)

 Fy = −7000 + 54 (8750) = 0 (checks)

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Analysis of Trusses by the Method of Sections
• When the force in only one member or the
forces in a very few members are desired, the
method of sections works well.

• To determine the force in member BD, pass a

section through the truss as shown and create
a free body diagram for the left side.

• With only three members cut by the section,

the equations for static equilibrium may be
applied to determine the unknown member
forces, including FBD.

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Trusses Made of Several Simple Trusses
• Compound trusses are statically
determinant, rigid, and completely
constrained.
m = 2n − 3

• Truss contains a redundant member

and is statically indeterminate.
m  2n − 3

• Additional reaction forces may be

necessary for a rigid truss.

• Necessary but insufficient condition

non-rigid rigid for a compound truss to be statically
determinant, rigid, and completely
m  2n − 3 m  2n − 4 constrained,
m + r = 2n
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Sample Problem
SOLUTION:
• Take the entire truss as a free body.
Apply the conditions for static equilib-
rium to solve for the reactions at A and L.
• Pass a section through members FH,
GH, and GI and take the right-hand
section as a free body.
• Apply the conditions for static
equilibrium to determine the desired
member forces.
Determine the force in members FH,
GH, and GI.

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Sample Problem
SOLUTION:
• Take the entire truss as a free body.
Apply the conditions for static equilib-
rium to solve for the reactions at A and L.

 M A = 0 = −(5 m )(6 kN ) − (10 m )(6 kN ) − (15 m )(6 kN )

− (20 m )(1 kN ) − (25 m )(1 kN ) + (25 m )L
L = 7.5 kN 
 Fy = 0 = −20 kN + L + A
A = 12.5 kN 

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Sample Problem
• Pass a section through members FH, GH, and GI
and take the right-hand section as a free body.

• Apply the conditions for static equilibrium to

determine the desired member forces.
MH = 0
(7.50 kN )(10 m ) − (1 kN )(5 m ) − FGI (5.33 m ) = 0
FGI = +13.13 kN
FGI = 13.13 kN T

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Sample Problem
FG 8 m
tan  = = = 0.5333  = 28.07
GL 15 m
 MG = 0
(7.5 kN )(15 m ) − (1 kN )(10 m ) − (1 kN )(5 m )
+ ( FFH cos  )(8 m ) = 0
FFH = −13.82 kN
FFH = 13.82 kN C

GI 5m
tan  = =2 = 0.9375  = 43.15
HI
3
(8 m )
ML = 0
(1 kN )(10 m ) + (1 kN )(5 m ) + (FGH cos  )(10 m ) = 0
FGH = −1.371 kN
FGH = 1.371 kN C

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A Howe scissors roof truss is loaded as shown.
Determine the force in members DF, DG, and EG.

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Analysis of Frames
• Frames and machines are structures with at least one
multiforce member. Frames are designed to support loads
and are usually stationary. Machines contain moving parts
and are designed to transmit and modify forces.
• A free body diagram of the complete frame is used to
determine the external forces acting on the frame.
• Internal forces are determined by dismembering the frame
and creating free-body diagrams for each component.
• Forces on two force members have known lines of action
but unknown magnitude and sense.
• Forces on multiforce members have unknown magnitude
and line of action. They must be represented with two
unknown components.
• Forces between connected components are equal, have the
same line of action, and opposite sense.
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Frames Which Cease To Be Rigid When Detached
From Their Supports
• Some frames may collapse if removed from
their supports. Such frames can not be treated
as rigid bodies.
• A free-body diagram of the complete frame
indicates four unknown force components which
can not be determined from the three equilibrium
conditions.
• The frame must be considered as two distinct, but
related, rigid bodies.
• With equal and opposite reactions at the contact
point between members, the two free-body
diagrams indicate 6 unknown force components.
• Equilibrium requirements for the two rigid
bodies yield 6 independent equations.
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Sample Problem
SOLUTION:
• Create a free-body diagram for the
complete frame and solve for the support
reactions.
• Define a free-body diagram for member
BCD. The force exerted by the link DE
has a known line of action but unknown
magnitude. It is determined by summing
moments about C.
Members ACE and BCD are • With the force on the link DE known, the
connected by a pin at C and by the sum of forces in the x and y directions
link DE. For the loading shown, may be used to find the force
determine the force in link DE and the components at C.
components of the force exerted at C
on member BCD. • With member ACE as a free-body,
check the solution by summing
moments about A.
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Sample Problem
SOLUTION:
• Create a free-body diagram for the complete frame
and solve for the support reactions.
 Fy = 0 = Ay − 480 N Ay = 480 N 

 M A = 0 = −(480 N )(100 mm ) + B(160 mm )

B = 300 N →

 Fx = 0 = B + Ax Ax = −300 N 

Note:
 = tan −1 150
80 = 28.07

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Sample Problem
• Define a free-body diagram for member
BCD. The force exerted by the link DE has a
known line of action but unknown
magnitude. It is determined by summing
moments about C.

 M C = 0 = (FDE sin  )(250 mm ) + (300 N )(60 mm ) + (480 N )(100 mm )

FDE = −561 N FDE = 561 N C

• Sum of forces in the x and y directions may be used to find the force
components at C.
 Fx = 0 = C x − FDE cos  + 300 N
0 = C x − (− 561 N ) cos  + 300 N C x = −795 N

 Fy = 0 = C y − FDE sin  − 480 N

0 = C y − (− 561 N ) sin  − 480 N C y = 216 N

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Sample Problem

• With member ACE as a free-body, check

the solution by summing moments about A.

 M A = (FDE cos  )(300 mm ) + (FDE sin  )(100 mm ) − C x (220 mm )

= (− 561cos  )(300 mm ) + (− 561sin  )(100 mm ) − (− 795)(220 mm ) = 0

(checks)

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Machines
• Machines are structures designed to transmit
and modify forces. Their main purpose is to
transform input forces into output forces.

• Given the magnitude of P, determine the

magnitude of Q.

• Create a free-body diagram of the complete

machine, including the reaction that the wire
exerts.

• The machine is a nonrigid structure. Use

one of the components as a free-body.

• Taking moments about A,

a
 M A = 0 = aP − bQ Q= P
b

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