Trusses

Trusses

What are Trusses?In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External

forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in forces in the

members which are either tensile or compressive forces. Moments (torques) are explicitly excluded

because, and only because, all the joints in a truss are treated as revolutes (revolute joint).

Shortly, a truss has the following three characteristics:

1-Axial loads only.2-Loads are applied at end points

only.3-Elements are joined by pins only.

See some pictures of trusses:

Planar trusses: planar trusses lie in a single plane and are often used to

support roofs and bridges.In roof trusses, the roof load is

transmitted to the truss at the joints by means of a series of purlins.

Assumptions for design:To design both the members and the connections of a

truss, it is first necessary to determine the force developed in each member when the truss is

subjected to a given loading. In this regard, these assumptions will be made:

1 -Loads are applied at end points only.2 -Weight of the elements is neglected.

3 -Elements are joined by pins only.4 -Axial loads only: if the force tends to elongate the

member, it is a tensile force; whereas if it tends to shorten the member, it is a compressive force.

Truss problemsSome important notes:•When a force (F) is applied at the center of a member of the truss, it must be divided into two equal forces (F1 & F2) where: F1= F2= F/2 and F1& F2 are applied at the ends of the member as shown in the following figure:

•When a force (F) is applied along the member but not at the center, it is divided as follows:

•We will assume all the internal forces to be in tension then after solving the problem, the positive forces are tension and the minus forces are compression.•It is required to calculate the internal forces in each member of the truss and state if the members are in tension or compression using two methods:•Joints or nodes method. b) Sections method.

Special cases:•Zero force members:When you look to the truss you can determine them as follows:

•Four members each pair are on the same straight line:

The previous two special cases can be proved by applying equilibrium on the forces.

How to solve truss problems:•Draw the free body diagram.

•Calculate the external forces and support reactions.•For the method of nodes:

•Choose a node whose number of unknown forces doesn’t exceed two then study its equilibrium using

static equilibrium equations to determine these forces: ∑Fx=0 & ∑Fy=0 & ∑M=0

•Go to the next node and study its equilibrium using the evaluated forces from the previous node then go

to the next node and so on.

•For the method of sections:•Take an imaginary section to cut the truss into two pieces in condition that the number of unknown forces doesn’t exceed three.•Apply equilibrium equations on one piece of the truss∑Fx=0 & ∑Fy=0 & ∑M=0•After determining all the forces, the positive forces are tension and the minus forces are compression.

Example•Determine the force in each member of the truss, and state if the members are in tension or compression.

solution

First, we should calculate reactions at A and B:∑MA =0

(By ) (2) + (900) (2) + (600) (4) = 0... By = -2100 N = 2100N

∑Fy =0Ay - By = 0 Ay = By

Ay = -2100N = 2100 N∑Fx = 0

Ax – Bx + 900+ 600 = 0 Ax – Bx = -1500 ---------- (1)

Node A:

Ax = 0F1 = 2100 N (Tension)By substituting in eqn 1, we get:Bx =1500 N

Node D:

F6 + 600 = 0 F6 = -1341.6 NF6 = 1341.6 N (compression)F2 - (1341.6) = 0F2 = 1200 N (Tension)

Node c:CE is a zero force member, so F3 = 0 and F6 = F5 = 1341.6 N (compression)

Node E:

F4 sin45 = -900F4 = -1272.8 N = 1272.8 (compression)

References: 1 /Engineering mechanics

statics by R. C. HIBBELER2 /Lecture notes annotated by

Dr . Mohamed tawfik Cairo university

Assistant Professor, Giza , Al Jizah Egypt