554

CHAPTER 14

T R U S S A N A LY S I S U S I N G

THE

STIFFNESS METHOD

EXAMPLE 14.3
Determine the force in each member of the two-member truss shown
in Fig. 149a. AE is constant.
SOLUTION

4 ft

14

Notation. The origin of x, y and the numbering of the joints and

members are shown in Fig. 149b. Also, the near and far ends of each
member are identified by arrows, and code numbers are used at each
joint. By inspection it is seen that the known external displacements
are D3 = D4 = D5 = D6 = 0. Also, the known external loads are
Q1 = 0, Q2 = - 2 k. Hence,
0
0
Dk = D T
0
0

3 ft
2k
(a)

Fig. 149

3
4
5
6

Qk = c

0 1
d
-2 2

Structure Stiffness Matrix. Using the same notation as used here,

this matrix has been developed in Example 141.
Displacements and Loads.
truss we have
0
0.405
-2
0.096
Q
- 0.333
F 3 V = AE F
Q4
0
Q5
- 0.072
Q6
- 0.096

0.096
0.128
0
0
-0.096
-0.128

Writing Eq. 1417, Q = KD, for the

- 0.333
0
0.333
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0

- 0.072
- 0.096
0
0
0.072
0.096

- 0.096 D1
- 0.128 D2
0
0
VF V
0
0
0
0.096
0
0.128

(1)

From this equation we can now identify K11 and thereby determine
Du. It is seen that the matrix multiplication, like Eq. 1419, yields
c

0
0.405
d = AE c
-2
0.096

0
0.096 D1
dc d + c d
0.128 D2
0

Here it is easy to solve by a direct expansion,

0 = AE10.405D1 + 0.096D22

-2 = AE10.096D1 + 0.128D22
Physically these equations represent Fx = 0 and Fy = 0 applied
to joint . Solving, we get
D1 =

4.505
AE

D2 =

- 19.003
AE

14.6

By inspection of Fig. 149b, one would indeed expect a rightward

and downward displacement to occur at joint as indicated by the
positive and negative signs of these answers.
Using these results, the support reactions are now obtained from
Eq. (1), written in the form of Eq. 1420 (or Eq. 1422) as

6
1

0
0
4.505
0
0
1
c
d + D T
T
0
-0.096 AE - 19.003
0
-0.128

Q3
-0.333
Q4
0
D T = AE D
Q5
-0.072
Q6
-0.096

555

APPLICATION OF THE STIFFNESS METHOD FOR TRUSS ANALYSIS

14
2

Expanding and solving for the reactions,

Q3 = - 0.33314.5052 = - 1.5 k

Q4 = 0

4
x
1

Q5 = - 0.07214.5052 - 0.0961 -19.0032 = 1.5 k

2k

Q6 = - 0.09614.5052 - 0.1281 -19.0032 = 2.0 k

(b)

The force in each member is found from Eq. 1423. Using the data
for lx and ly in Example 141, we have
Member 1:

lx = 1, ly = 0, L = 3 ft
1
AE
q1 =
C -1
3

=
Member 2:

3
1

4.505
4
- 19.003
1
D
T
0D
AE
0
0

1
2
3
4

1
[ -4.505] = - 1.5 k
3

Ans.

lx = 0.6, ly = 0.8, L = 5 ft

1
AE
q2 =
C -0.6
5

2
0

2
-0.8

5
0.6

4.505
6
1
- 19.003
D
T
0.8 D
AE
0
0

1
[ -0.614.5052 - 0.81-19.0032] = 2.5 k
5

1
2
5
6
Ans.

These answers can of course be verified by equilibrium, applied at

joint .

556

CHAPTER 14

T R U S S A N A LY S I S U S I N G

THE

STIFFNESS METHOD

EXAMPLE 14.4
Determine the support reactions and the force in member 2 of the
truss shown in Fig. 1410a. AE is constant.

4k
2k
2

SOLUTION
10 ft

Notation. The joints and members are numbered and the origin of
the x, y axes is established at , Fig. 1410b. Also, arrows are used to
reference the near and far ends of each member. Using the code
numbers, where the lowest numbers denote the unconstrained degrees
of freedom, Fig. 1410b, we have

14
10 ft
(a)
y
4k
4

8
3

2k

2
3

0
0
Qk = E 2 U
-4
0

1
2
3
4
5

6
5

1
1

0 6
Dk = C 0 S 7
0 8

Structure Stiffness Matrix. This matrix has been determined in

Example 142 using the same notation as in Fig. 1410b.

2
(b)

Displacements and Loads. For this problem Q = KD is

Fig. 1410

0
0.135
0
0.035
2
0
-4
0
H X = AE H
0
0
Q6
-0.1
Q7
-0.035
Q8
-0.035

0.035
0.135
0
-0.1
0
0
-0.035
-0.035

0
0
0.135
-0.035
0.035
-0.035
-0.1
0

0
-0.1
- 0.035
0.135
- 0.035
0.035
0
0

0
0
0.035
- 0.035
0.135
- 0.035
0
-0.1

-0.1
0
-0.035
0.035
- 0.035
0.135
0
0

-0.035
- 0.035
- 0.1
0
0
0
0.135
0.035

-0.035 D1
- 0.035 D2
0
D3
0
D
X H 4X
-0.1
D5
0
0
0.035
0
0.135
0

(1)

Multiplying so as to formulate the unknown displacement

equation 1418, we get
0
0.135
0
0.035
E 2 U = AE E 0
-4
0
0
0

0.035
0.135
0
- 0.1
0

0
0
0.135
- 0.035
0.035

0
- 0.1
- 0.035
0.135
- 0.035

0
D1
0
0
D2
0
0.035 U E D3 U + E 0 U
-0.035 D4
0
0.135 D5
0

14.6

APPLICATION OF THE STIFFNESS METHOD FOR TRUSS ANALYSIS

557

Expanding and solving the equations for the displacements yields

D1
17.94
D2
-69.20
1
E D3 U =
E -2.06 U
AE
D4
-87.14
D5
-22.06

14

Developing Eq. 1420 from Eq. (1) using the calculated results, we
have

- 0.1
Q6
C Q7 S = AE C -0.035
Q8
- 0.035

0
-0.035
-0.035

-0.035
-0.1
0

0.035
0
0

17.94
-69.20
-0.035
0
1
E - 2.06 U + C 0 S
0
S
AE
- 87.14
0
- 0.1
- 22.06

Expanding and computing the support reactions yields

Q6 = - 4.0 k

Ans.

Q7 = 2.0 k

Ans.

Q8 = 4.0 k

Ans.

The negative sign for Q6 indicates that the rocker support reaction
acts in the negative x direction. The force in member 2 is found from
Eq. 1423, where from Example 142, lx = 0.707, ly = 0.707,
L = 10 12 ft. Thus,

q2 =

AE
1022

= 2.56 k

[ -0.707

-0.707

0.707

17.94
- 69.20
1
D
0.707]
T
AE
0
0
Ans.

558

CHAPTER 14

T R U S S A N A LY S I S U S I N G

THE

STIFFNESS METHOD

EXAMPLE 14.5
4

Determine the force in member 2 of the assembly in Fig. 1411a if the

support at joint settles downward 25 mm. Take AE = 811032 kN.

SOLUTION
2

3m

14
1

Notation. For convenience the origin of the global coordinates in

Fig. 1411b is established at joint , and as usual the lowest code numbers are used to reference the unconstrained degrees of freedom.
Thus,
0
- 0.025
0
Dk = F
V
0
0
0

4m

(a)

Structure Stiffness Matrix.

8
4

0 1
Qk = c d
0 2

Using Eq. 1416, we have

2
7

Member 1:

1
2
1
6

4
5

lx = 0, ly = 1, L = 3 m, so that
3
0
k1 = AE 0
D
0
0

3
4
5
6
7
8

1
3

Member 2:

4
0
0.333
0
-0.333

Fig. 1411

Member 3:

2
0
- 0.333
T
0
0.333

3
4
1
2

lx = - 0.8, ly = - 0.6, L = 5 m, so that

1
0.128
0.096
k2 = AE
D
-0.128
-0.096

(b)

1
0
0
0
0

2
0.096
0.072
-0.096
-0.072

5
-0.128
- 0.096
0.128
0.096

6
- 0.096
- 0.072
T
0.096
0.072

1
2
5
6

lx = 1, ly = 0, L = 4 m, so that
7
0.25
0
k3 = AE
D
- 0.25
0

8
0
0
0
0

1
- 0.25
0
0.25
0

2
0
0
T
0
0

7
8
1
2

By assembling these matrices, the structure stiffness matrix becomes

1
0.378
0.096
0
0
K = AE
H
-0.128
-0.096
-0.25
0

2
0.096
0.405
0
-0.333
-0.096
-0.072
0
0

3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

4
0
-0.333
0
0.333
0
0
0
0

5
-0.128
- 0.096
0
0
0.128
0.096
0
0

6
-0.096
- 0.072
0
0
0.096
0.072
0
0

7
- 0.25
0
0
0
0
0
0.25
0

8
0
0
0
0
X
0
0
0
0

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

14.6

APPLICATION OF THE STIFFNESS METHOD FOR TRUSS ANALYSIS

559

Displacements and Loads. Here Q = KD yields

0
0.378
0
0.096
0
Q3
Q4
0
H X = AE H
Q5
-0.128
-0.096
Q6
Q7
-0.25
0
Q8

0.096
0.405
0
- 0.333
- 0.096
- 0.072
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
- 0.333
0
0.333
0
0
0
0

-0.128
-0.096
0
0
0.128
0.096
0
0

- 0.096
- 0.072
0
0
0.096
0.072
0
0

D1
0
D2
0
0
0
0 -0.025
XH
X
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

-0.25
0
0
0
0
0
0.25
0

14

Developing the solution for the displacements, Eq. 1419, we have

0.378
0
c d = AE c
0.096
0

which yields

0.096 D1
0
d c d + AE c
0.405 D2
0

0
- 0.333

-0.128
- 0.096

-0.096
- 0.072

- 0.25
0

0
- 0.025
0
0
dF
V
0
0
0
0

0 = AE[10.378D1 + 0.096D22 + 0]

0 = AE[10.096D1 + 0.405D22 + 0.00833]

Solving these equations simultaneously gives

D1 = 0.00556 m
D2 = - 0.021875 m
Although the support reactions do not have to be calculated, if needed
they can be found from the expansion defined by Eq. 1420. Using
Eq. 1423 to determine the force in member 2 yields
Member 2:
that

lx = - 0.8, ly = - 0.6, L = 5 m, AE = 811032 kN, so

q2 =

811032

811032

[0.8

0.6

-0.8

0.00556
- 0.021875
-0.6] D
T
0
0

10.00444 - 0.01312 = - 13.9 kN

Ans.

Using the same procedure, show that the force in member 1 is

q1 = 8.34 kN and in member 3, q3 = 11.1 kN. The results are shown
on the free-body diagram of joint , Fig. 1411c, which can be checked
to be in equilibrium.

11.1 kN
5

13.9 kN

8.34 kN

(c)