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Subject ENGINEERING MECHANICS Code ES 114

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UNIT-2
Truss Introduction:
• Truss is a structure that is made up of straight slender bars that are joined together at their ends by
frictionless pins to form a pattern of triangle.

• A truss consists of straight members connected at joints. No member is continuous through a joint.

• Most structures are made of several trusses joined together to form a space framework. Each truss
carries those loads which act in its plane and may be treated as a two-dimensional structure.

• When forces tend to pull the member apart, it is in tension. When the forces tend to compress the
member, it is in compression. • Every member of a truss is a two force member.

• For the equilibrium of structures made of several connected parts, the internal forces as well the
external forces are considered.

• In the interaction between connected parts, Newton’s 3rd Law states that the forces of action and
reaction between bodies in contact have the same magnitude, same line of action, and opposite sense.

• Trusses: formed from two-force members, i.e., straight members with end point connections.

• Members of a truss are slender and not capable of supporting large lateral loads. Loads must be
applied at the joints.
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PERFECT, DEFICIENT AND REDUNDANT TRUSSES:

• A truss which has got just sufficient number of members to resist the loads without undergoing
deformation in its shape is called a perfect truss.

•Triangular truss is the simplest perfect truss and it has three joints and three members.

•For a perfect truss m = 2j – 3

•Where, total number of members = m total number of joints = j

•In a deficient truss the number of members in it are less than that required for a perfect truss.

•Such trusses cannot retain their shape when loaded.

•In a redundant truss the number of members in it are more than that required in a perfect truss.

•Such trusses cannot be analyzed by making use of the equations of equilibrium alone. Thus, a
redundant truss is statically indeterminate.
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ASSUMPTIONS FOR A PERFECT TRUSS: (Very Important for exam)

Following assumptions are made, while finding out the forces in the members of a perfect truss:

1. All the members are pin-jointed (hinged).

2. The loads act only at the joints.

3. Self-weights of the members are negligible.

4. Cross-section of the members is uniform.

METHODS OF ANALYSIS FOR THE FORCES IN THE MEMBERS OF A TRUSS:

The following two analytical methods are used to finding out the forces, in the members of a perfect
truss:

1. Method of joints.

2. Method of sections.

METHOD OF JOINTS:

In this method, each and every joint is treated as a free body in equilibrium as shown in Fig.

The unknown forces are then determined by using equilibrium equations i.e. ∑V = 0 and ∑ H = 0. i.e.,
Sum of all the vertical forces and horizontal forces is equated to zero.

Note: While selecting the joint, for calculation work, care should be taken that at any instant, the joint
should not contain more than two members, in which the forces are unknown.
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METHOD OF SECTIONS:

This method is particularly convenient, when the forces in a few members of a frame are required to be
found out. In this method, a section line is passed through the member or members, in which the forces
are required to be found out. The unknown forces are then found out by the application of equilibrium
equations:

∑V = 0 , ∑ H = 0 and ∑M = 0.

Note:1. To start with, we have shown section line 1-1 cutting the members AB and BC. Now in order
to find out the forces in the member AC, section line 2-2 may be drawn.

2. While drawing a section line, care should always be taken not to cut more than three members, in
which the forces are unknown.

Example 1: Determine the forces in all the members of the truss shown below and indicate the
magnitude and nature of forces on the diagram of the truss. All inclined members are at 60° to
horizontal and length of each member is 2 m.
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Solution: Now, we cannot find a joint with only two unknown forces without finding reactions.

Consider the equilibrium of the entire frame.

∑ MA = 0, gives

RD × 4 – 40 × 1 – 60 × 2 – 50 × 3 = 0

RD = 77.5 kN

∑ H = 0, gives HA = 0

Reaction at A is vertical only ∑ V = 0, gives

RA + 77.5 = 40 + 60 + 50

RA = 72.5 kN

Now consider FBD of Joint A:

∑ V = 0, gives

FAB sin 60° = RA = 72.5

FAB = 83.7158 kN (Comp.)

∑ H = 0, gives

FAE – 83.7158 cos 60° = 0

FAE = 41.8579 kN (Tension)

T Now consider FBD of Joint D:

∑V = 0, gives

FDC sin 60° = RD = 77.5

FDC = 89.4893 kN (Comp.)

∑ H = 0, gives

FDE – 87.4893 cos 60° = 0

FDE = 44.7446 kN (Tension)

Consider FBD of Joint B:

∑V = 0, gives

FBE sin 60° – FAB sin 60° + 40 = 0

FBE = 37 5278 (Tension)

∑H = 0, gives

FBC – FAB cos 60° – FBE cos 60° = 0

FBC = (83.7158 + 37.5274) × 0.5

FBC = 60.6218 kN (Comp.)

Similarly Joint C gives:

FCE sin 60° + 50 – FDC sin 60° = 0

FCE = 31.7543 kN (Tension)

Example 2: Find the forces in the members (1), (2) and (3) of truss shown below.

Solution: Due to symmetry

RA = RB = 70 kN

Now, AC = 4 × a = 9/cos 30°

a = 2.5981 m.

Take Section (A)–(A) and consider the equilibrium of left hand side part of the Truss.

Drop perpendicular CE on AB.

Now, CE = 9 tan 30° and DE = 3 m

theta = 60°

∑ MA = 0, gives

F2 sin 60° × 6 – 20 × 2.5981 cos 30° – 20 × 2 × 2.5981 cos 30° – 20 × 3 × 2.5981 cos
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30° = 0

F2 = 51.9615 kN (Tension)

∑V = 0, gives

F1 sin 30° – 70 + 20 + 20 + 20 – 51.9615 sin 60° = 0

F1 = 110 kN (Comp.)

∑H = 0, gives

F3 + F2 cos 60° – F1 cos 30° = 0

F3 = 69.2820 (Tension)

Friction:
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Cone of Friction:(Very Important)

Solution:

1000N
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RELATION BETWEEN EFFORT AND WEIGHT

Solution:
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EFFICIENCY OF A SCREW JACK: