Lecture # 23 Trusses Intro

Chapter 6:
Structural Analysis
Engineering Mechanics: Statics

Structure
 A structure in general is something of

many parts that is put together.
 Could be terms as SKELETON
 A building structure is a combination of
Slabs, columns, beams and foundation
 A structure is analyzed to see what forces
are expected to act on it
 So that it can be made STRONG enough to
bear those forces
 And indeed, the weakest of homes is the
home of the spider, if they only knew (Al
Ankaboot) (29:41)
 It is Allah who erected the heavens without
pillars that you [can] see; (Al-Ra’ad)
(13:2)
 Allah tells the principle that a structure is
supposed to have supports, but since He is
the RAB, He can deny His own rules
Simple Trusses
 A truss is a structure composed of
slender members joined together at
their end points
 Joint connections are formed by
bolting or welding the ends of the
members
 to a common plate, called a gusset
plate
 or by simply passing a large bolt or
pin through each of the members
Chapter Outline
 Simple Trusses
 The Method of Joints
 Zero-Force Members
 The Method of Sections
 Space Trusses
 Frames and Machines
PLANAR TRUSSES
 Planar trusses lie on a single plane (2D) and are used
to support roofs and bridges
 The truss ABCD shows a typical roof-supporting truss
 Roof load is transmitted to
the truss at joints by
means of a series of
purlins, such as DD’
 The load on a truss is always transferred on
joints (through Purlins)
 And never acts in the middle
 That causes the truss memebers to only
have AXIAL force (Parallel to the length of
the members)
Planar Trusses
 For a bridge, the load on the deck is first transmitted
to the stringers,
 then to the floor beams, and finally to the joints B, C
and D of the two supporting trusses
 Like the roof truss, the bridge truss loading is also
coplanar
Truss Supports
 When bridge or roof trusses extend over large
distances, a rocker or roller is commonly used for
supporting one end, Eg: joint E
 This type of support allows freedom for expansion
or contraction of the members due to temperature
or application of loads
Assumptions for Design
1. “All loadings are applied at the joint”
 Assumption true for most applications of bridge and
roof trusses
 Weight of the members neglected since forces
supported by the members are large in comparison
 If member’s weight is considered, apply it as a
vertical force, half of the magnitude applied at
each end of the member
2. “The members are joined together by
smooth pins”
 Assumption true when bolted or welded
joints are used, pwhen the center lines of
the joining members are concurrent
 Each truss member acts as a two
force member, therefore the forces
at the ends must be directed along
the axis of the member
 If the force tends to elongate the
member, it is a tensile force
 If the force tends to shorten the
member, it is a compressive force
 Important to state the nature of
the force in the actual design of
a truss – tensile or compressive
 Compression members must
be made thicker than tensile
member to account for the
buckling or column effect
during compression
Simple Trusses
 To prevent collapse, the form
of a truss must be rigid
 The four bar shape ABCD
will collapse unless a diagonal
member AC is added for
support
 The simplest form that is rigid
or stable is a triangle
Methods to Solve joints
 Method of Joints (Already used in 2D

equilibrium)
 Longer and simpler method
 Method of Sections
Shorter but may be tricky
The Method of Joints
 For design analysis of a truss, we need to obtain

the force in each of the members
 Considering the FBD, the forces in the members
are internal forces and could not be obtained
from an equilibrium analysis
 Considering the equilibrium of a joint of the
truss, a member force becomes an external force
on the joint’s FBD and equations of equilibrium
can be applied
 This forms the basis for the method of joints
6.2 The Method of Joints
 Truss members are all straight two force

members lying in the same plane
 The force system acting at each joint is
coplanar and concurrent
 Rotational or moment equilibrium is
automatically satisfied at the pin
 ∑Fx = 0 and ∑Fy = 0 must be satisfied for
equilibrium

Lecture # 23 Trusses Intro

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Lecture # 23 Trusses Intro

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Chapter 6:

Engineering Mechanics: Statics

 A structure in general is something of

 Method of Joints (Already used in 2D

 For design analysis of a truss, we need to obtain

 Truss members are all straight two force

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