MODULE 4

Analysis of Structures

ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURES

Additional examples are given in this section. For more explanations on trusses and frames
read Chapter 4 of your textbook.

1. Determine the force in each member of the

crane truss shown.

Solution:

For the given crane truss, the member forces

can be determined without solving for the
support reactions.

We can start our solution at joint A, since there

are only two unknowns at joint A.

Solve for the angle between member AC and AB:

Cosine law:
𝑥 = √(6)2 + (9)2 − (2)(6)(9) cos 120𝑜
𝑥 = 13.08 𝑓𝑡

Sine law:
x sin 𝛼 sin 120𝑜
=
6 13.08
120o
α 𝛼 = 23.41𝑜

FBD of joint A:

Property
Property of of
andandforforthe
theexclusive
exclusiveuse
useof
of SLU.
SLU. Reproduction,
Reproduction, storing
storinginina aretrieval
retrievalsystem,
system,distributing, uploading
distributing, uploadingor posting online,
or posting or transmitting
online, in anyinform
or transmitting anyorform
by any means,
or by any
electronic,
means, mechanical,
electronic, photocopying,
mechanical, recording,
photocopying, or otherwise
recording, of any partofofany
or otherwise thispart
document, without the without
of this document, prior written permission
the prior writtenofpermission
SLU, is strictly prohibited.
of SLU, is strictly prohibited. 0
 +↑ ∑ 𝑉 = 0
AC −5200 + 𝐴𝐶 sin 23.41𝑜 = 0
𝐴𝐶 = 13088.08 𝑙𝑏 (𝑇)
23.41𝑜 +→ ∑ 𝐻 = 0
A
AB −𝐴𝐵 − (13088.08 cos 23.41𝑜 ) = 0
5886 − 𝐴𝐻 = 0
𝐴𝐵 = −12010.74 𝑙𝑏
AB = 12010.74 lb (C)
5200 lb

FBD of joint B:
y
BC The correct direction of AB is drawn on joint B
x
+↗ ∑ 𝑥 = 0
−𝐵𝐷 − 12010.74 cos 30𝑜 = 0
30𝑜
𝐵𝐷 = −10401.61 𝑙𝑏
B AB=12010.74 lb BD = 10401.61 lb (C)
BD
+↖ ∑ 𝑦 = 0
𝐵𝐶 + 12010.74 sin 30𝑜 = 0
𝐵𝐶 = −6005.37 𝑙𝑏
FBD of joint C: BC = 6005.37 lb (C)

CE +↑ ∑ 𝑉 = 0
23.41𝑜 −𝐶𝐷 sin 56.57𝑜 + 6005.37 cos 30𝑜 − 13088.08 sin 23.41𝑜 = 0
56.57𝑜 𝐶𝐷 = 0.96 𝑙𝑏 ≈ 0

30𝑜 AC=13088.08 lb +→ ∑ 𝐻 = 0
BC=6005.37 lb −6005.37 sin 30𝑜 + 13088.08 cos 23.41𝑜 − 𝐶𝐸 = 0
CD
CE = 9008.05 lb (T)

Property
Property of of
andandforforthe
theexclusive
exclusiveuse
useof
of SLU.
SLU. Reproduction,
Reproduction, storing
storinginina aretrieval
retrievalsystem,
system,distributing, uploading
distributing, uploadingor posting online,
or posting or transmitting
online, in anyinform
or transmitting anyorform
by any means,
or by any
electronic,
means, mechanical,
electronic, photocopying,
mechanical, recording,
photocopying, or otherwise
recording, of any partofofany
or otherwise thispart
document, without the without
of this document, prior written permission
the prior writtenofpermission
SLU, is strictly prohibited.
of SLU, is strictly prohibited. 1
 2. In the cantilever truss shown, each side
of the square BCFD equals 𝑎√2 while the
length of AB is 2𝑎. Use a combination of
section and joint analysis to find the
force in bar AB.

b
Solution:

b
2𝑎 𝑎 𝑎

+↻ ∑ 𝑀𝑄 = 0
Consider the left side of section b-b: Q 1 1
−400(6𝑎) + 𝐵𝐶(4𝑎) − 𝐵𝐶(2𝑎) =0
√2 √2
FBD: 1
3 𝐵𝐶 = 1200√2 𝑙𝑏 (𝑇)
AC
1
BC 1 m
1
FBD of joint B:
1
BC=1200√2 𝑙𝑏
𝑎
AB 1
DF 1
1
1 BD
m
+↑ ∑ 𝑉 = 0
1 1
(1200√2) − 𝐵𝐷 = 0
Determine distance m by ratio and proportion: √2 √2
𝐵𝐷 = 1200 𝑙𝑏 (𝑇)
𝑚−𝑎 𝑚+3𝑎
=
1 3
+→ ∑ 𝐻 = 0
1
m = 3a −𝐴𝐵 + 2( (1200√2) = 0
√2

AB = 2400 lb (T)

Property
Property of of
andandforforthe
theexclusive
exclusiveuse
useof
of SLU.
SLU. Reproduction,
Reproduction, storing
storinginina aretrieval
retrievalsystem,
system,distributing, uploading
distributing, uploadingor posting online,
or posting or transmitting
online, in anyinform
or transmitting anyorform
by any means,
or by any
electronic,
means, mechanical,
electronic, photocopying,
mechanical, recording,
photocopying, or otherwise
recording, of any partofofany
or otherwise thispart
document, without the without
of this document, prior written permission
the prior writtenofpermission
SLU, is strictly prohibited.
of SLU, is strictly prohibited. 2
 3. For the transmission tower shown,
determine the force in member CJ.
Hint: First use section a-a to find the force in
BC.

Solution:
b b
FBD of the upper part of section a-a:

3
1

BC FG Resolve the horizontal and vertical

components of BC at joint B and sum
BJ JG G moments at G. Only the vertical component
of BC will have a moment at G.
10+8+8 = 26’
+↻ ∑ 𝑀𝐺 = 0
3
780(24) − 𝐵𝐶(26) = 0
√10
𝐵𝐶 = 240√10 𝑙𝑏 (𝑇)

Pass a cutting plane through members BC, CJ, FJ, and FG. (See section b-b)

FBD of the upper part of section b-b:

Resolve the horizontal and vertical

components of BC and CJ at joint C and sum
3 12’ moments at F. Only the vertical components
1 of BC and CJ will have a moment at F.

4 +↻ ∑ 𝑀𝐹 = 0
3 CJ 3 4
FG 780(12) − (240√10)(18) − 𝐶𝐽(18) = 0
BC=240√10 lb FJ √10 5
𝐶𝐽 = −250 𝑙𝑏
CJ = 250 lb (C)
10+8 = 18’

Property
Property of of
andandforforthe
theexclusive
exclusiveuse
useof
of SLU.
SLU. Reproduction,
Reproduction, storing
storinginina aretrieval
retrievalsystem,
system,distributing, uploading
distributing, uploadingor posting online,
or posting or transmitting
online, in anyinform
or transmitting anyorform
by any means,
or by any
electronic,
means, mechanical,
electronic, photocopying,
mechanical, recording,
photocopying, or otherwise
recording, of any partofofany
or otherwise thispart
document, without the without
of this document, prior written permission
the prior writtenofpermission
SLU, is strictly prohibited.
of SLU, is strictly prohibited. 3
 4. In the system shown, find the reaction
at D caused by the 1200 lb load.
Neglect the weight of the members.

Solution:

Draw the FBD of each part of the system.

AH
To solve for the reaction at D,
4 RB RD, consider the FBD of
3 member CD. Since there are 4
AV
RB RD
unknowns in member CD, solve
first for the reaction at B, RB,
considering the FBD of member
y
AB.

CH

CV
For distance y, by similar
triangles:
FBD of AB:
𝑦 3
=
+↻ ∑ 𝑀𝐴 = 0 10′ 5
4
1200(4) − 𝑅𝐵 (12) = 0 y = 6 ft.
5
𝑅𝐵 = 500 𝑙𝑏 ↖ on AB

FBD of CD:
+↻ ∑ 𝑀𝐶 = 0
𝑅𝐵 (4.2) − 𝑅𝐷 (𝑦) = 0
500(4.2) − 𝑅𝐷 (6) = 0
𝑅𝐷 = 350 𝑙𝑏 ←

Property
Property of of
andandforforthe
theexclusive
exclusiveuse
useof
of SLU.
SLU. Reproduction,
Reproduction, storing
storinginina aretrieval
retrievalsystem,
system,distributing, uploading
distributing, uploadingor posting online,
or posting or transmitting
online, in anyinform
or transmitting anyorform
by any means,
or by any
electronic,
means, mechanical,
electronic, photocopying,
mechanical, recording,
photocopying, or otherwise
recording, of any partofofany
or otherwise thispart
document, without the without
of this document, prior written permission
the prior writtenofpermission
SLU, is strictly prohibited.
of SLU, is strictly prohibited. 4
 5. For the frame shown, determine the
horizontal and vertical components of the
hinge force at B as it acts upon member AC.

Solution:

Draw the FBD of each part of the system.

600 lb

AH
AV

AV AH A
600 lb
600 lb
6’
BH
BV
6’
BV
BH
CH

CV EH

FBD of the pulley: EV

+→ ∑ 𝐻 = 0
600 − 𝐴𝐻 = 0
𝐴𝐻 = 600 𝑙𝑏 ← on the pulley

+↑ ∑ 𝑉 = 0
−600 + 𝐴𝑉 = 0
𝐴𝑉 = 600 𝑙𝑏 ↑ on the pulley

FBD of member DE:

+↻ ∑ 𝑀𝐸 = 0
𝐵𝐻 (6) − 600(16) = 0
𝐵𝐻 = 1600 𝑙𝑏 → 𝑜𝑛 𝐷𝐸
𝐵𝐻 = 1600 𝑙𝑏 ← 𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝐶

FBD of member AC:

+↻ ∑ 𝑀𝐶 = 0
𝐴𝐻 (12) − 𝐴𝑉 (16) − 𝐵𝐻 (6) + 𝐵𝑉 (8) = 0
600(12) − 600(16) − 1600(6) + 𝐵𝑉 (8) = 0
𝐵𝑉 = 1500 𝑙𝑏 ↑ 𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝐶

Property
Property of of
andandforforthe
theexclusive
exclusiveuse
useof
of SLU.
SLU. Reproduction,
Reproduction, storing
storinginina aretrieval
retrievalsystem,
system,distributing, uploading
distributing, uploadingor posting online,
or posting or transmitting
online, in anyinform
or transmitting anyorform
by any means,
or by any
electronic,
means, mechanical,
electronic, photocopying,
mechanical, recording,
photocopying, or otherwise
recording, of any partofofany
or otherwise thispart
document, without the without
of this document, prior written permission
the prior writtenofpermission
SLU, is strictly prohibited.
of SLU, is strictly prohibited. 5