Addis Ababa Science

and Technology
University

Chapter 4

Structures
Engineering Mechanics I

By: Duresa D.
Content
4. ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURES
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Trusses
4.2.1. Plane Trusses
- Method of Joints
- Method of Sections
4.2.2. Space Trusses
4.3. Pin-ended Multi-Force Structures
4.3.1. Frames
4.3.2. Simple Machines
By: Duresa D.
4.1 Introduction
• This chapter focus on determination of the
force internal to the structure.
• An engineering structure is any connected
system of members built to support or
transfer forces and to safely withstand the
loads applied to it.
• Internal forces acting on trusses, frames and
machines will be analyzed.

By: Duresa D.
4.2 Trusses

4.2.1. Plane Trusses

• A truss is a framework composed of
members joined at their ends to form a
rigid structure.
• When the members of the truss lie
essentially in a single plane, the truss is
known as a plane truss
• Bridges, roof supports, derricks are
common examples of trusses

By: Duresa D.
Roof Truss
By: Duresa D.
Commonly Used Roof Trusses
By: Duresa D.
Tokyo Gate Bridge, a 2.6km long truss bridge
By: Duresa D.
Commonly Used Bridge Trusses
By: Duresa D.
t

Transmission
Towers

Derricks
By: Duresa D.
Simple Truss
• The basic element of a plane truss is the
triangle.
• Three bars joined by a pin at their end forms
a rigid frame

• Structures built from a basic triangle are

known are simple truss.

By: Duresa D.
Simple Truss
Assumptions in the force analysis of
simple trusses
• All members are assumed to be two-
force members.

• The two forces are applied at the ends of the

member.
• The forces are necessarily equal, opposite
and collinear.
By: Duresa D.
Simple Truss
Assumptions in the force analysis of simple trusses
• The members may be in tension or compression.
• The tension or compression acting on the cut
section is same for all sections.
• If weight must be taken to account, replace the
weight W of the member by two forces each W/2,
acting at each end
• Connection is pin joint
• All external forces are applied at the pin
connections.

By: Duresa D.
Force analysis of plane trusses
• Two methods for the force analysis of
simple trusses will be given.
• The external reactions are usually
determined first from the equilibrium
equations applied to the truss as a whole
before the force analysis of the remainder
of the truss.

By: Duresa D.
Method of Joint
• This method consists of satisfying the
conditions of equilibrium for the forces
acting on the connecting pin of each joint.
σ𝑭 = 𝟎
• The method deals with the equilibrium of
concurrent forces, and hence only two
independent equilibrium equations are
involved
• We begin the analysis with any joint where
at least one known load exists and where not
more than two unknown forces are present

By: Duresa D.
 - Taking free body diagram of a
joint, tension will always be
Print master indicated by an arrow away
from the pin, and compression
will always be indicated by an
arrow toward the pin.

External Equilibrium conditions

Reactions are must be satisfied
calculated first at each joint

By: Duresa D.
Example
Determine the force in each member of the
truss. If P1 = 0KN and P2 = 1000KN and
a = b = 10m

Solution: Determine the external reactions

෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 0; 𝐴𝑦 + 𝐷𝑦 = 1000𝐾𝑁

෍ 𝑀𝐴 = 0 → 𝐷𝑦 30 − 1000 20 = 0 → 𝐷𝑦 = 667𝐾𝑁

𝐴𝑦 = 333𝐾𝑁
By: Duresa D.
Solution
Equilibrium equation at joint A
෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

𝐴𝑦 + 𝐹𝐴𝐺 sin 45 = 0 𝐹𝐴𝐺 = −471𝐾𝑁

෍ 𝐹𝑋 = 0

𝐹𝐴𝐵 + 𝐹𝐴𝐺 cos 45 = 0 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 333𝐾𝑁

Equilibrium equation at joint B

𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 𝐹𝐵𝑐 = 333𝐾𝑁

𝐹𝐵𝐺 = 0𝐾𝑁

By: Duresa D.
Solution
Equilibrium equation at joint D
෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 0 𝐷𝑦 + 𝐹𝐷𝐸 sin 45 = 0

𝐹𝐷𝐸 = 667𝐾𝑁
෍ 𝐹𝑋 = 0

𝐹𝐷𝐶 + 𝐹𝐷𝐸 cos 45 = 0 𝐹𝐷𝐶 = −943𝐾𝑁

Equilibrium equation at joint C

෍ 𝐹𝑥 = 0 𝐹𝐷𝐶 − 𝐹𝐵𝑐 − 𝐹𝐵𝑐 cos 45 = 0
𝐹𝐶𝐺 = 471𝐾𝑁

෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 0 𝐹𝐸𝐶 − 𝑃2 + 𝐹𝐶𝐺 𝑠𝑖𝑛 45 = 0

𝐹𝐸𝑐 = 667𝐾𝑁 By: Duresa D.
 Solution
Equilibrium equation at joint E

෍ 𝐹𝑋 = 0

𝐹𝐷𝐸 cos 45 − 𝐹𝐸𝐺 = 0

𝐹𝐸𝐺 = −667𝐾𝑁

Summary
𝐹𝐴𝐺 = −471𝐾𝑁 𝐹𝐷𝐸 = 667𝐾𝑁
𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 333𝐾𝑁 𝐹𝐷𝐶 = −943𝐾𝑁
𝐹𝐵𝐺 = 0𝐾𝑁 𝐹𝐶𝐺 = 471𝐾𝑁
𝐹𝐸𝐺 = −667𝐾𝑁 𝐹 = 667𝐾𝑁
𝐸𝑐

By: Duresa D.
Zero-Force Members
• Truss analysis using the method of
joints is greatly simplified if we can
first identify those members which
support no loading.
• These zero-force members are used
– To increase the stability of the truss during
construction and
– To provide added support if the loading is
changed.
• The zero-force members of a truss can
generally be found by inspection of
each of the joints.

By: Duresa D.
Zero-Force Members
• For example, consider the truss shown
in figure below.
Joint-A

Joint-D

By: Duresa D.
Zero-Force Members

• From these observations, we can

conclude that:
“If only two members form a truss joint
and no external load or support reaction
is applied to the joint, the two members
must be zero-force members.”
By: Duresa D.
Zero-Force Members
• For example, consider the truss shown
in figure below.
Joint-D

Joint-C

By: Duresa D.
Zero-Force Members

• From these observations, we can conclude

that:
“If three members form a truss joint for which
two of the members are collinear, the third
member is a zero-force member provided no
external force or support reaction is applied to
the joint. .”
By: Duresa D.
Method of Section
• Takes advantages of the third or moment
equation of equilibrium.
• This method has the basic advantage that the
force in almost any desired member may be
found directly from an analysis of a section
which has cut that member
• Not more than three members whose forces
are unknown may be cut

By: Duresa D.
Method of Section
Important Considerations
• Entire portion of the truss is considered a single
body in equilibrium. Thus, the forces in
members internal to the section are not
involved in the analysis.
• The section is preferably passed through the
members and not the joints.
• Methods of sections and joints can be
combined for an efficient solution.
• The moment equations are used to great
advantage in the method of sections. One
should choose a moment center, either on or off
the section, through which as many unknown
forces as possible pass.
By: Duresa D.
Example
Determine the force in member GC of the
truss. If P1 = 0KN and P2 = 1000KN and
a = b = 10m

Solution: 1st determine the external reactions

෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 0; 𝐴𝑦 + 𝐷𝑦 = 1000𝐾𝑁

෍ 𝑀𝐴 = 0 → 𝐷𝑦 30 − 1000 20 = 0 → 𝐷𝑦 = 667𝐾𝑁

𝐴𝑦 = 333𝐾𝑁
By: Duresa D.
Solution

𝐹𝐺𝐸
෍ 𝑀𝐺 = 0

𝐹𝐺𝐶 −𝐴𝑦 10 + 𝐹𝐵𝐶 (10) = 0

333 10 − 𝐹𝐵𝐶 (10) = 0

𝐹𝐵𝐶
𝐹𝐵𝐶 = 333𝐾𝑁

෍ 𝑀𝐸 = 0

𝐴𝑦 20 − 𝐹𝐺𝑐 sin 45 10 −𝐹𝐵𝐶 (10) = 0

333 20 − 𝐹𝐺𝑐 sin 45 10 − 333 (10) = 0

𝐹𝐺𝐶 = 471𝐾𝑁
By: Duresa D.
4.2.2 Space Truss
• A space truss is the three dimensional
counterpart of plane truss.
• Space truss require six bars joined at their
end to form the edges of tetrahedron as the
basic non-collapsible unit

• A space truss formed by tetrahedrons is

called a simple space truss.
By: Duresa D.
Method of Joint
• This method developed for plane trusses
may be extended directly to space trusses.
σ𝑭 = 𝟎
• Utilizes only the three force equilibrium
equations

Method of Sections
• This method may also be extended directly
to space trusses.
σ𝑭 = 𝟎 σ𝑴 = 𝟎
• Utilizes all the equilibrium equations
By: Duresa D.
4.3 Frames and Machines
• A structure is called a frame or machine if at
least one of its individual members is a
multi-force member.
• A multi-force member is defined as one with
three or more forces acting on it, or one with
two or more forces and one or more couples
acting on it.
• Because frames and machines contain multi-
force members, the forces in these members
in general will not be in the direction of the
members.
By: Duresa D.
4.3 Frames and Machines
• Frames are structures which are designed to
support applied loads and are usually fixed
in position.
• Machines are structures which contain
moving parts and are designed to transmit
forces or couples from input values to output
values.
• This chapter unlike the previous chapter,
which deals with equilibrium of single rigid
body, concentrate on equilibrium of
interconnected rigid bodies.
By: Duresa D.
Frames and Machines
• The forces acting on each member of a
connected system are found by isolating the
member with a free-body diagram and
applying the established equations of
equilibrium.
• The principle of action and reaction must be
carefully observed when we represent the
forces of interaction on the separate free-
body diagrams.

By: Duresa D.
Cont..
• If the frame or machine constitutes a rigid
unit by itself when removed from its supports,
the analysis is best begun by establishing all
the forces external to the structure considered
as a single rigid body

By: Duresa D.
Cont..
• If the structure is not a rigid unit by itself but
depends on its external supports for rigidity,
as in the figure below, then the calculation of
the external support reactions cannot be
completed until the structure is dismembered
and the individual parts are analyzed

By: Duresa D.
Cont..
• It is not always possible to assign every force
or its components in the proper sense
• In any event it is absolutely necessary that a
force be consistently represented on the
diagrams for interacting bodies,

By: Duresa D.
THANK YOU!