Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

CHAPTER 5
ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURE
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Introduction
• Preceding chapters dealt with:
a) determining external forces acting on a structure and
b) determining forces which hold together the various members
of a structure.

• The current chapter is concerned with determining the internal

forces (i.e., tension/compression, shear, and bending) which hold
together the various parts of a given member.

• Focus is on two important types of engineering structures:

a) Beams - usually long, straight, prismatic members designed
to support loads applied at various points along the member.
b) Cables - flexible members capable of withstanding only
tension, designed to support concentrated or distributed loads.

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Introduction

• A crane carries a load W

• The crane consists of 3 beams (AD, CF, BF)

connected by frictionless pins (supported by a pin at
A) and a cable DG

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Introduction

1. Draw a FBD of the crane

2. (Fig. b) External forces: W, components of reaction at A and Tension T
3. (Fig. c) Internal forces: Follow Newton’s third law: the forces of action
and reaction between bodies in contact have the same magnitude, same
line of action and opposite sense. Example: Force exerted at B by member
BE on member AD has been represented as equal and opposite to the force
exerted at the same point by member AD on member BE.
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Introduction

• Three categories of engineering structures are considered:

a) Trusses: formed from two-force members, i.e., straight

members with end point connections and forces that act only at
these end points.
b) Frames: contain at least one multi-force member, i.e., member
acted upon by 3 or more forces.
c) Machines: structures containing moving parts designed to
transmit and modify forces.

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Definition of Truss
• one of major types of engineering
structures

• design of bridges and building

• a truss consists of straight members

connected at joints

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Analysis of trusses by the Method of Joints

• Dismember the truss and create a free body

diagram for each member and pin.
• The forces exerted on each member are equal,
have the same line of action, and opposite
sense.

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem
SOLUTION:
free body diagram of the entire truss,

Using the method of joints, determine

the force in each member of the truss.

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem

• Based on a free body diagram of the entire truss,

solve the 3 equilibrium equations for the reactions
at E and C.

 MC  0
 10 kN 12 m   5 kN 6 m   E 3 m 
E  50 kN

 Fx  0  Cx Cx  0

 Fy  0  10 kN - 5 kN  50 kN  C y
C y  35 kN

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem
• We now solve the problem by moving
sequentially from joint to joint
• Which joint should you start with, and why?.
• Joints A or C are equally good because each
has only 2 unknown forces. Use joint A and
draw its FBD and find the unknown forces.

10 kN FAB FAD FAB  7.5 kN T

 
4 3 5 FAD  12.5 kN C

• Which joint should you move to next?

• Joint D, since it has 2 unknowns remaining
(joint B has 3). Draw the FBD and solve.
FDB  FDA FDB  12.5 kN T
FDE  2 53 FDA FDE  15 kN C
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem
• There are now only two unknown member
forces at joint B. Assume both are in tension.

 Fy  0  5 kN  45 12.5 kN   45 FBE
FBE  18.75 kN
FBE  18.75 kN C

 Fx  0  FBC  7.5 kN  53 12.5 kN   53 18.75 kN 

FBC  26.25 kN
FBC  26.25 kN T
• There is one remaining unknown member
force at joint E (or C). Use joint E and
assume the member is in tension.
 Fx  0  53 FEC  15 kN  53 18.75 kN 
FEC  43.75 kN
FEC  43.75 kN C

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem
• All member forces and support reactions are
known at joint C. However, the joint equilibrium
requirements may be applied to check the results.

 Fx   26.25 kN  53 43.75 kN  0 checks 

 Fy  35 kN  45 43.75 kN  0 checks 

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Analysis of trusses by the Method of sections
• The method of joints is most effective when
the forces in all the members of a truss are to
be determined
• When the force in only one member or the
forces in a very few members are desired, the
method of sections works well.

• To determine the force in member BD, form a

section by “cutting” the truss at n-n and
create a free body diagram for the left side.

• the exposed internal forces are all

assumed to be in tension.

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem

Determine the force in members FH, GH, and GI.

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem
SOLUTION:
• Take the entire truss as a free body.
Apply the conditions for static
equilibrium to solve for the reactions at A
and L.

 M A  0  5 m 6 kN   10 m 6 kN   15 m 6 kN 

 20 m 1 kN   25 m 1 kN   25 m L
L  7.5 kN
 Fy  0  20 kN  L  Ay
Ay  12.5 kN
 Fx  0  Ax

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem

• Make a cut through members FH, GH, and GI

and take the right-hand section as a free body.

• Sum of the moments about point H:

 MH  0
7.50 kN 10 m   1 kN 5 m   FGI 5.33 m   0
FGI  13.13 kN
FGI  13.13 kN T

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem
FG 8 m
tan    0.5333   28.07
GL 15 m
 MG  0
7.5 kN 15 m   1 kN 10 m   1 kN 5 m 
 FFH cos 8 m   0
FFH  13.81 kN FFH  13.81 kN C

• There are many options for finding FGH at this

point (e.g., SFx=0, SFy=0). Here is one more:
GI 5m
tan   2  0.9375   43.15
HI 3 8 m 
 ML  0
1 kN 10 m   1 kN 5 m   FGH cos 15 m   0
FGH  1.371 kN FGH  1.371 kN C

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Analysis of a Frame
• Frames are structures with at least one multiforce (>2
forces) member. Frames are designed to support loads and
are usually stationary.

• A free body diagram of the complete frame is used to

determine the external forces acting on the frame.
• Internal forces are determined by dismembering the frame
and creating free-body diagrams for each component.
• Forces on two force members have known lines of action
but unknown magnitude and sense.
• Forces on multiforce members have unknown magnitude
and line of action. They must be represented with two
unknown components.
• Forces between connected components are equal, have the
same line of action, and opposite sense.
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem

Members ACE and BCD are connected by a pin at C and by the

link DE. For the loading shown, determine the force in link DE
and the components of the force exerted at C on member BCD.

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem

SOLUTION:
1. Create a free-body diagram for the complete
frame and solve for the support reactions.

 Fy  0  Ay  480 N Ay  480 N

 M A  0  480 N100 mm   B160 mm 

B  300 N
 Fx  0  B  Ax
Ax  300 N Ax  300 N

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem
2. Create a free body diagram for member BCD
(since the problem asked for forces on this
body).

  tan 1 150
80  28.07

 M C  0  FDE sin  250 mm   300 N 60 mm   480 N 100 mm 

FDE  561 N FDE  561 N C
• Sum of forces in the x and y directions may be used to find the force
components at C.
 Fx  0  C x  FDE cos  300 N
C x  795 N
0  C x   561 N  cos  300 N
 Fy  0  C y  FDE sin   480 N
0  C y   561 N  sin   480 N C y  216 N
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem

• With member ACE as a free body with no

additional unknown forces, check the
solution by summing moments about A.

 M A  FDE cos 300 mm   FDE sin  100 mm   C x 220 mm 

  561cos 300 mm    561sin  100 mm    795220 mm   0

(checks)

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

THANK YOU

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