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EGN1006
Learning Goals:
The student WILL be able to:
Calculate the components of a force vector. Add two force vectors together. Draw a free body diagram. Calculate whether a truss is statically determinate or indeterminate. Write and solve a force vector equilibrium equation. Use the Method of Joints to calculate the internal force in every member in a truss. Evaluate a truss, to determine if it can carry a given load safely by calculating factors of safety for individual members.
6 10
6 9
Weight, aka, the Force due to gravity , - This force is ALWAYS drawn straight down. Normal Force The force that a SURFACE applies on an object. Always drawn PERPENDICULAR to the surface Applied Force - Either a PUSH or a PULL Friction force the force that ALWAYS opposes the motion. Drawn at the surface.
Often times the free body diagram is drawn using what is called a POINT MODEL. The object is drawn as a single point with the forces labeled as F. A subscript is added according to the type of force it is.
FT1
Equations of Equilibrium
When an object is at rest, the SUM of all of the FORCE vectors must be equal to zero.
F F
x y
0 0
What is a vector?
A vector is any quantity which has both MAGNITUDE (# and a unit) and DIRECTION. The vector is always represented as an ARROW. Suppose the vector below represents a displacement of 10m.
10 m, NORTH-EAST
MAGNITUDE
DIRECTION
A vectors direction
Direction is best described by using a Cartesian Coordinate system. Forces on the negative x or negative y axis must have a negative sign. Using this idea allows us to write the equation of equilibrium. Assume the object is at rest.
0
Fa2=? N Fa1=+10 N
FBI
FBC
Fy 0 F
FBI 0
x
FAB
FBI
FBC
FBC ( FAB ) 0
If you knew the FORCE in member AB, you would be able to solve for the FORCE in member BC. Isolating just ONE JOINT to analyze the force is called the METHOD OF JOINTS.
The cosine of an angle (abbreviated cos) is defined as the length of the adjacent side divided by the length of the hypotenuse. Applying this definition to our example, we have:
This force can also be represented as two equivalent forces, one in the x-direction and one in the y-direction. Each of these forces is called a component of the vector F.
24.5 N
8.17 N
12.25 N
Joint A
RA FAB
FAI
FAI
q
FAI
FAB
What is the VALUE of the angle THETA?
Where is theta?
q q q q q
FAI
FAB
FAI
q
FAIsinq
FAIcosq FAIsinq
RA
FAIcosq
FAB
FAIsinq
RA
FAIcosq
FAB
Your task
Use the Method of Joints to solve for the rest of the internal forces. Use the calculation guide for reference and to keep organized.
Factor of Safety
When an engineer designs a structure, he or she must consider many different forms of uncertainty. There are three major types of uncertainty that affect a structural design:
1. There is always substantial uncertainty in predicting the loads a structure might experience at some time in the future. 2. The strengths of the materials that are used to build actual bridges are also uncertain. 3. The mathematical models we use for structural analysis and design are never 100% accurate.
Factor of Safety
The engineer accounts for all forms of uncertainty by making the structure somewhat stronger than it really needs to beby using a factor of safety in all analysis and design calculations. In general, when it is used in the analysis of an existing structure, the factor of safety is a defined as
In a truss, the actual force in a member is called the internal member force, and the force at which failure occurs is called the strength. Thus we can rewrite the definition of the factor of safety as
Factor of Safety
For example, if a structural member has an internal force of 5000 pounds and a strength of 7500 pounds, then its factor of safety, FS, is
If the factor of safety is less than 1, then the member or structure is clearly unsafe and will probably fail. If the factor of safety is 1 or only slightly greater than 1, then the member or structure is nominally safe but has very little margin for errorfor variability in loads, unanticipated low member strengths, or inaccurate analysis results.
Most structural design codes specify a factor of safety of 1.6 or larger (sometimes considerably larger) for structural members and connections.