STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

PIN-JOINTED PLANE FRAMES

Truss
A structure composed of slender members jointed
together at their end points.
 Members commonly used consist of wooden or
metal bars.
 Planar truss – truss that lie on a single plane and
are often used to support roofs and bridges.
 Pin-jointed
frames-Is a structure made up of
slender members pin connected at ends and is
capable of taking loads at joints.
Pin-jointed Frame

Strut- a member of pin-jointed frame under

compressive force
Tie – a member of pin-jointed frame under tensile
force.
Methods of Analysis
1. Method of Joints
 Analysis starts from a joint where not more
than two member forces are unknown.
 Makes use of two equilibrium equations
available for the concurrent forces meeting at
the joints.
 Reactions of supports are to be computed to
get a joint with only two unknown member
forces.
Methods of Analysis
1. Method of Sections
 Analysis starts from cutting the frame into
sections to make it into two independent parts.
 The number of members to cut should not be
more than three.
 The forces in the members cut along with the
reactions and loads on either part of the cut
frame constitute the equilibrium of the part.
Methods of Analysis
In both methods, once a member force is
found, mark the direction of the force near the
joint, and then mark the joint force at the other
end of the member in the opposite direction.
Sample Problem (Method of Joints)
1. Compute for the forces in all members of the
truss and indicate whether the members are in
tension or compression.
Solution
1. Starting at Joint B, draw the FBD
Solution
2. Compute for the unknown values FBC and FBA.

Σ Fx = 0
500 – FBC sin 45° = 0
FBC = 707.1 N

Σ Fy = 0
FBC cos 45° - FBA= 0
FBA= 500 N
Solution
3. Since we already know the values of FBC and
FBA, we will now analyze Joint C.

Σ Fx = 0
– FCA + FBC cos 45° = 0
– FCA + 707.1 cos 45° = 0
FCA = 500 N

Σ Fy = 0
Vc - FBC sin 45°= 0
Vc – 707.1 sin 45°= 0
Vc= 500 N
Solution
4. We will now analyze Joint A.

Σ Fx = 0
500 - HA = 0
HA = 500 N (to the left)

Σ Fy = 0
FBA – VA = 0
VA = 500 (downward)
Solution
5. Summarize the computation.