o

1.050 Solid Mechanics, Fall 2004

Problem Set#2 Solution
Problem 2.1
First, we need to nd the reaction forces at point A and B, we
get that
2L
L
60
o
A
R
A
D E
P
x
y
x
p
C
P R R F
B A y
+
( ) ( ) 0 2 +
p B A
x L R M
; 0
; 0 L P

,
_

L
x L
P
R
p
A
2
R
B

P

L + x
p
_

2

L
,
B
R
B
Figure 1.1
Now consider the horizontal member, the only
possible way to have equilibrium condition is that the
forces action at point D and E are both horizontal forces
F
D
F
E
(i.e., no vertical forces acting on the points). You can sim-
ply take a moment at either point D or E and you will nd D E
that if there is any vertical forces at either D or E, the mem-
ber DE cannot be in the equilibrium condition (summation
of moment is not equal to zero).
Figure 1.2
Figure 1.1 shows you the member FBD of the member BC. From the
FBD, we get that
F
E
60
P
x
y
x
p
C
X
C
Y
L
L
B
R
B
Figure 1.3
P R C F
B y y
+
E x x
F C F
( ) ( ) ( ) L R L F M
B E p c
+
( ) ( )
D x
p p B
E
F C
L
x
P
L R
F 1
3
Lsin60

,
_

,
_

L
x
P
C
p
y
1
2
; 0
; 0
x P 60 sin ; 0
x P
Problem 2.2
From gure 2.1 (a) and (b), we can nd the equivalent force by
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) WL L W L W x W M
f
10 5 4 3 + + L W
f
l 10
L L
W
2L L L
W W
L x
3

( ) WL L R M
l f
10 6 ; 0
5
R
l
W
f
l
3
x = ? F
y
; 0 R
f
+ R
l
3W
3W
4
R
f
3W R
l
W
a 2L c 2L e
3
W
2L
W
W
L
f h
2L 2L
j l
R
f
R
l
Figure 2.1 (a), (b), and (c) for top, middle, and bottom, respectively
To nd the forces in the member ch with a sin-
gle FBD, we use method of section and cut the truss as
shown in the gure 2.2. We get that
( ) ( ) ( ) L R L F M
f ac h
2 + L W ; 0
a 2L
F
ac
5W
F
3
L
ac
( ) W F R F
ch f y
sin + ; 0
f W h
F
ch
F
hj
2L
W

(
F
ch
sin 3 ) R
f
F ; 0 F + F
ch
+ F
hj
0
x ac
Figure 2.2
5W W W 5 1 1
+
1
(
F
hj
3 sin 3 ) 3

+
sin
]
c
bx
R
by
R

. The negative sign for F

ch
indicates that the direction that I assumed in the gure above is not cor-
2W
rect. (If the angle is 60 degree, the F
ch
is equal to = ---------- )And the correct direction is opposite of F
ch
3 3
that in the gure 2.2. It is important to note the correct F
ch
in this case is compression.
Problem 2.3
First, we need to nd the reaction at point A and B. Assuming each member length is L (except the
member CF which is longer than other members), we get that
( ) ( ) L P L R
L
R M
bx by A
3
2
+

,
_




P R R F
ay by y
+
60
o
30
o
A C E
B D
F
60
o
60
o
R
by
A
x
60 sin ; 0
; 0
G
P
R
bx
Figure 3.1
However, since AC is a two force member, R
ay
must be 0 to maintain the equilibrium condition for
5P
that member.. Therefore, we get that R
by
= P and . = ------- R
bx
3
Now consider cutting the joint B, we get that
( )
bc y
F F 0 = P + 60 sin ; 0
F ; 0 0 F
bc
( 60 cos )+ F
bd
+ R
bx
x F
CB
B
60
o
F
DB 2P
= ------- F
bc
R
bx 3
P ( )
( ) 3
4 2
3
5 P P P
F R F
bc bx bd
-
-
+
-
2 3
60 cos

Now consider the joint D, we get that {This needs to be checked}

F
y
= 0: F
cd
60 sin + 60 sin = 0 = F
de
F
de
F
cd

F = 0: F cos 60 + F
de
cos 60 = 0 F
bd x
cd
F
bd
= ------------------ F
cd
2cos60
( )
3
4
2
2
3
4
60 cos 2
P P F
F
bd
cd

,
_

,
_

in tension
F
CD
60
o
F
DB
F
ED
Problem 2.4
The reactions acting at point A and B are equivalent to PL/ D
h. They are equal but opposite in the direction. Also, the total verti-
cal reaction at the point A and B are equal to P (acting upward).
S
y
L
h
P
A
B
x
B
A
x
y