EGR 231 Engineering Statics:

Lecture 24: Truss Analysis: Method of Sections

Fall 2014

Today:
Trusses: Method of Sections
Homework 24:
Problem 6.24
Determine the force in members FG and FH of the truss shown when P = 35 kN.

Problem 6.30
Determine the force in members BD and DE of the truss shown.
30 kips

30 kips

30 kips

Problem 6.39
Determine the force in members DG and FH of the truss shown. (Hint: use section a-a).

Problem 6.43
The diagonal members in the center panel of the truss are very slender and can act only in
tension; such members are known as counters. Determine the force in member DE and in
the counters which are acting under the given load.

Structural Analysis:
Method of Joints: Truss analysis method where each joint is analyzed using
Fx=0 and Fy=0
Method of Sections: Truss analysis method where a portion of the entire body is
analyzed as a unit using Fx=0, Fy=0, and M=0
The advantage that method of sections provides over methods of joints is you can often
target which truss members you want to analyze without needing to find most of the other
internal member's forces.
Example: Find the forces acting in members BC and FC and FE.
40 kN

20 kN

30 kN

G
F

50 kN

40kN
Start by finding the support reactions:

Each member length is 4 m

20

30

40

0 2(20) 4(40) 6(40) 8(50) 10(30) 12( FDy )

FDy

1140
95kN
12

FAx

0 FAx

0 FAy FDy 20 40 30 40 50

FAx 0kN

FAy 180 FD 85kN

FAy

40

50

FDy

Let the body be sectioned through the members of interest. Make sure you cut no more
than three members with unknown forces.
Then apply rigid body equilibrium to either half of the body about
points which provide the simplest expressions.
FEF

MF 0
0 2(50) 4(30) 6(95) 4sin 60 ( FCB )
350
FCB
101.0kN
4sin 60 o

30 kN

0 2(30) 4(95) 4sin 60 ( FEF )

320
FEF
92.4kN
4sin 60o

FCF

FCB

D
FDy = 95

0 FCF sin 60 o 50 30 95
15
FCF
17.3kN
sin 60o

Each member length is 4 m

Example 2: Use method of sections to find the forces in each of the truss
members AB, AD, and CD.
6 kN

0.9 m
3 kN
C
E

1.2 m

1.2 m

Solution:

6 kN

A
Cut the section
through members
AB, AD, and DC

FBA

0.9
FDA 6 3
1.5
1.5
FDA
(9) 15 kN
0.9

B
1.5

To find the force in

AD use Fy = 0
Fy 0
0

1.2

FDA

0.9

0.9 m
3 kN

FDC
D

1.2 m

E
1.2 m

To find the force in AB use Mat D = 0

M at D 0
0 (0.9) FBA (1.2)3

FBA 4 kN

To find the force in AB use Mat A = 0

M at A 0
0 (0.9) FDC (1.2)6 (2.4)3

FDC 16 kN

Summary:
FAB = 4 kN (T)
FAD = 15 kN (T)
FCD = 16 kN (C)

Example 3:
Use method of joints to find the forces in each of the truss members CD, CF, and FG.
4 kN

6 kN

4 kN

3m

45o

3
m

G
A

3m

3m

4 kN

3m

3m

45o

45o

6 kN

45o
45o

Solution:
Make first sectional cut through EF, EC, and DC.
Find FEC using

at E

0 (3) FDC (3)4

FEF

0 FEC sin 45o 6 4

10
FEC
14.14 kN
sin 45o

Find FDC using

4 kN

6 kN

45o

FEC

3m
o

45

FDC 4 kN

FDC
D

Next make a sectional cut through FG, FC, CE, and CD.
Find FFC using

4 kN

FFC 14 (14.14)sin 45o 4.14 kN

Find FFG using

at C

0 (3) FFG (3)6 (6)4

3m

3m

0 FFC FEC sin 45o 4 6 4

FFG

3m

FEC

FFG 18 kN
C

Summary: FCD = 4kN (C )

FCF = 4.14 kN ( C )
F FG = 18 kN (T)

FFC

4 kN

6 kN

FDC

45o

2 kN
Extra Problem 1
A roof truss is loaded as
shown.
Determine the force
in members
DF, DG, and EG.

Extra Problem 2
A roof truss is loaded as
shown. Determine the
forces in members
FJ. GJ, and GI.

2 kN

2 kN

2 kN

2 kN
1 kN

1 kN

3 kip 6 kip 3 kip

1 kip
0.5 kip

0.5 kip

4.5 ft

4.5 ft

4.5 ft

3 ft

3 ft

2.7 m

Extra Problem 3
Determine the force in
members IK and HK of
the truss shown.
(hint: use section aa)

1 kip

40 kN

4.5 ft

2.4 m
C
2.7 m

40 kN

F
2.7 m

40 kN

a 2.7 m

a
K
J

7.5 m

4.5 ft

3 ft