C.

ANALYSIS OF TRUSSES
C.1. Deviations from the Ideal in Real Trusses
- Loads are not applied only at joints; hence there is bending in members
- Joints are not perfectly pinned, so moments can be developed at joints

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C.2. Method of Joints
Principle – Since the truss is in equilibrium, each pin joint must be in equilibrium
(Note: 2 equilibrium equations can be written at each joint – vertical & horizontal)

Method –
1. Start with a joint with only 2 unknown joint forces. In some cases, you may first need
to find the external reactions using equilibrium equations for the entire truss.
2. Find the unknown forces at the joint you have selected, using 2 equilibrium equations
for the joint. (Note: the member forces are marked as tensile forces on the joint)
3. Go to all other joints in turn and find forces in all the members. (Note: the order of
selecting the joints will depend on whether there are only 2 unknown forces at the
joint you are next going to)

L T1

T2

L
W

Example – Determine the forces in each member using the method of joints

9 kN 3.6 m 4.5 kN
3.6 m
A FBC
FAB B C HC
2.4 m FBD
FBE RC
FAD FCE
FDE
D E

1.8 m 3.6 m 1.8 m

RE

2
 1.8 3
θ θ

2.4 4 5

For the entire structure

Moments about C: RE x 1.8 = (4.5 x 3.6) + (9 x 3.6 x 2)
RE = 45 kN
Vertical equilibrium: RC + RE = 9 + 4.5
RC = -31.5 kN
Horizontal equilibrium: HC = 0

At Joint A ↑ -9 = FAD sinθ = FAD x (4/5)

FAD = - 45/4 = -11.25 kN
→ FAB = - FAD cosθ = - (- 45/4) x (3/5) = 27/4
FAB = 6.75 kN

At Joint D ↑ FAD sinθ = - FBD sinθ

FBD = - FAD = 11.25 kN
→ - FAD cosθ + FBD cosθ + FDE = 0
- {(-11.25) x (3/5)} + {11.25 x (3/5)} + FDE = 0
FDE = - 11.25 x (3/5) x 2 = -13.5 kN

At Joint B ↑ FBE sinθ = - 4.5 - FBD sinθ = - 4.5 – {11.25 x (4/5)}

FBE = - 13.5 x (5/4) = - 16.875 kN
→ FBC = FAB + FBD cosθ - FBE cosθ
FBC = 6.75 + {11.25 x (3/5)} – {(-16.875) x (3/5)} = 23.625 kN

At Joint E ↑ RE = - FBE sinθ – FCE sinθ

FCE = (- RE – FBE sinθ) / sinθ = {-45 – (-16.875) x (4/5)} x (5/4)
FCE = - 39.375 kN

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 C.3. Joints under Special Loading
What can you say about the forces in the members under the following arrangements?

A P
C C C

X X X

D D D
B B B
(a) (b) (c)

X X
C

(d) (e)
D D

C.4. Method of Sections

Principle – Since the truss is in equilibrium, each part of it must be in equilibrium
(Note: When we make an imaginary cut, we should cut the truss through not more than 3
members, because we can write only 3 equilibrium equations)

Method
1. Cut the truss across the members (≤ 3) whose forces are required
2. The internal forces in the cut members will become external forces for part of the
truss (these can be represented as tensile forces)
3. Find the forces using up to 3 equations of equilibrium (vertical, horizontal, moment)

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 P1 P2 P3 P1 P2

F FBD
A B D A B
FBE

E E
C C FCE

- Find FBD by taking moments about E

- Find FCE by taking moments about B
- Find FBE by considering vertical equilibrium

Q: When is it useful to use the Method of Joints and when is it useful to use the Method of
Sections?

Example – Find the forces in members FH, GH and GI

1 kN

1 kN 1 kN
F
FFH
1 kN 1 kN
D H
β 8m
B FGH
J

A FGI θ L
C E G I K

RA RL
5 kN 5 kN 5 kN

5mx6

5
 17
8

θ
15

For entire truss

Moments about A:
30 RL = (5x5) + (5x10) + (5x15) + (1x5) + (1x10) + (1x15) + (1x20) + (1x25)
RL = 7.5 kN
Resolving vertically: RA = (1x5) + (5x3) – RL
RA = 12.5 kN

For part LHI

Moments about G:
(1x5) + (1x10) – (RL x15) – FFH x (15sinθ) = 0
(1x5) + (1x10) – (7.5 x15) – FFH x {15 x (8/17)} = 0
FFH = -13.81 kN (compression)

Moments about H:
(1 x 5) - (RL x10) + FGI x (10tanθ) = 0
(1 x 5) - (7.5 x10) + FGI x {10 x (8/15)} = 0
FGI = 13.13 kN (tension)
β

Resolving vertically: 10 tanθ

RL + FFH sinθ – 1 – 1 – FGH cosβ = 0

7.5 + (-13.81) (8/17) – 1 – 1 – FGH (cos 43.15) = 0
5
FGH = -1.369 kN (small compression)
tan β = [5 / {10x(8/15)}]
Note: Top Chord is in compression; Bottom chord is in tension; β = 43.15o
Central web members are lightly loaded

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C.5. Beam Analogy Method (Approximate)
- This is especially useful for open web girders or parallel chorded trusses
- For a simply supported beam,
- Maximum bending moment is at midspan and equal to wL2/8
- Maximum shear force is at supports and equal to wL/2
- In the truss,
- Bending moment is carried by (chord members x truss depth)
- Shear force is carried by vertical component of web member force

Example: Find forces in most heavily loaded (i) chord member (Ch) (ii) web member (Wb)

½ kN 1 kN 1 kN 1 kN 1 kN 1 kN 1 kN 1 kN ½ kN

1m

1mx8

w = [2x(1/2) + 7 x 1] / 8 = 1 kN/m
Mmax = w L2/8 = 1 x 82 / 8 = 8 kNm
FChMax x 1 = 8; hence FChMax = 8 kN
Vmax = wL/2 = 1 x 8 / 2 = 4 kN
FWbmax Sin 45 = 4; hence FWbmax = 4√2 kN
(Note: Compare the above values with those obtained from the Method of Sections)

Q: Is the above arrangement of web members better, or the one below? Why?

½ kN 1 kN 1 kN 1 kN 1 kN 1 kN 1 kN 1 kN ½ kN

1m

1mx8

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C.6. Indeterminate Trusses
If a truss is indeterminate (i.e. it has more members than required for equilibrium)
- The equilibrium equations alone will not be sufficient to find the unknowns
- One or more compatibility equations (relating to truss deformation) must be used

Example: Find the member forces in this open truss. Note that all members have Young’s
modulus E and cross sections as given in the figure.

Note that
W
j = 1; m = 3 (> 2j = 2);
r = 3-2 = 1 J
30 30

↑ F1 cos30 + F2 + F3 cos30 = W A
h J’ A
F1 (√3/2) + F2 + F3 (√3/2) = W (eq.1)
→ F1 sin30 = F3 sin30 2A
F1 = F3 (by symmetry) (eq.2)

By Hook’s Law, (F/A) = E (e/l)

J
e1 = F1l1/AE; e2 = F2l2/(2A)E; e3 = F3l3/AE
Now e1/cos30 = e2; (Also e3/cos30 = e2) e1 30 30 e3
{F1(h/cos30)/AE}/cos30 = F2h/2AE
F2 = F1 (2AE/AE)(1/cos230) e2
F2 = F1 (8/3) = 2.67 F1 (eq.3)

Substituting for F2 from eq.3 and F3 from eq.2 in eq.1 J’

F1
F1 (√3/2) + 2.67 F1 + F1 (√3/2) = W F2 F3
Hence F1 = 0.227 W;
Thus F2 = 0.606 W (from eq.3);
And F3 = 0.227 W (from eq.2)

Note that the vertical member attracts more load because (i) it is directly in line with the load;
and (ii) it has double the axial stiffness of other members.

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