Method of Joints | Analysis of Simple Trusses

Method of Joints
The free-body diagram of any joint is a concurrent force system in which the summation
of moment will be of no help. Recall that only two equilibrium equations can be written

ΣFx=0ΣFx=0 and ΣFy=0ΣFy=0

This means that to solve completely for the forces acting on a joint, we must select a
joint with no more than two unknown forces involved. This can be started by selecting a
joint acted on by only two members. We can assume any unknown member to be either
tension or compression. If negative value is obtained, this means that the force is
opposite in action to that of the assumed direction. Once the forces in one joint are
determined, their effects on adjacent joints are known. We then continue solving on
successive joints until all members have been found.
Problem
Find the force acting in all members of the truss shown in Figure T-01.

Solution
HideClick here to show or hide the solution
ΣMD=0ΣMD=0
3AV+50(1)=80(0.75)3AV+50(1)=80(0.75)
AV=3.33 kNAV=3.33 kN

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
AH=80 kNAH=80 kN

ΣMA=0ΣMA=0
3RD=50(2)+80(0.75)3RD=50(2)+80(0.75)
RD=53.33 kNRD=53.33 kN

At joint A
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
35FAB=3.3335FAB=3.33
FAB=5.56 kN tensionFAB=5.56 kN tension

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FAE+45FAB=80FAE+45FAB=80
FAE+45(5.56)=80FAE+45(5.56)=80
FAE=75.56 kN tensionFAE=75.56 kN tension

At joint B
ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FBC=45FABFBC=45FAB
FBC=45(5.56)FBC=45(5.56)
FBC=4.45 kN tensionFBC=4.45 kN tension

ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
FBE=35FABFBE=35FAB
FBE=35(5.56)FBE=35(5.56)
FBE=3.34 kN compressionFBE=3.34 kN compression

At joint E
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
35FCE=FAE35FCE=FAE
35FCE=3.3435FCE=3.34
FCE=5.57 kN tensionFCE=5.57 kN tension

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FFE+45FCE=FAEFFE+45FCE=FAE
FFE+45(5.57)=75.56FFE+45(5.57)=75.56
FFE=71.11 kN tensionFFE=71.11 kN tension

At joint F ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
FCF=50 kN tensionFCF=50 kN tension

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FDF=FFEFDF=FFE
FDF=71.11 kN tensionFDF=71.11 kN
tension

At joint C
ΣFH=0ΣFH
=0
45FCD+45FC
E+FBC=8045FCD+45FCE+FBC=80
45FCD+45(5.57)+4.45=8045FCD+45(5.57)+4.45=80
FCD=88.87 kN compressionFCD=88.87 kN compression

ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
35FCD=35FCE+FCF35FCD=35FCE+FCF
35(88.87)=35(5.57)+5035(88.87)=35(5.57)+50
53.3=53.353.3=53.3 check

At joint D
ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
45FCD=FDF45FCD=FDF
45(88.87)=71.1145(88.87)=71.11
71.1=71.171.1=71.1 check

ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
RD=35FCDRD=35FCD
53.33=35(88.87)53.33=35(88.87)
53.3=53.353.3=53.3 check

Summary

FAB=5.56 kN tensionFAB=5.56 kN tension

FAE=75.56 kN tensionFAE=75.56 kN tension
FBC=4.45 kN tensionFBC=4.45 kN tension
FBE=3.34 kN compressionFBE=3.34 kN compression
FCD=88.87 kN compressionFCD=88.87 kN compression
FCE=5.57 kN tensionFCE=5.57 kN tension
FCF=50 kN tensionFCF=50 kN tension
FDF=71.11 kN tensionFDF=71.11 kN tension
FFE=71.11 kN tension
Problem 002-mj
The structure in Fig. T-02 is a truss which is pinned to the floor at point A, and
supported by a roller at point D. Determine the force to all members of the truss.

Solution 002-mj

6RA=5(12)+3(20)6RA=5(12)+3(20)
RA=20 kNRA=20 kN
ΣMA=0ΣMA=0
6RD=1(12)+3(20)6RD=1(12)+3(20)
RD=12 kNRD=12 kN

At joint A
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
21√5FAG=RA215FAG=RA
21√5FAG=20215FAG=20
FAG=21.82 kN compressionFAG=21.82 kN compression

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FAB=25FAGFAB=25FAG
FAB=25(21.82)FAB=25(21.82)
FAB=8.73 kN tensionFAB=8.73 kN tension

At joint G
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0

21√5FBG+12=21√5FAG215FBG+12=215FAG
21√5FBG+12=21√5(21.82)215FBG+12=215(21.82)
FBG=8.73 kN tensionFBG=8.73 kN tension

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FFG=25FAG+25FBGFFG=25FAG+25FBG
FFG=25(21.82)+25(8.73)FFG=25(21.82)+25(8.73)
FFG=12.22 kN compressionFFG=12.22 kN compression

At joint B
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
21√5FBF=21√5FBG215FBF=215FBG
FBF=FBGFBF=FBG
FBF=8.73 kN compressionFBF=8.73 kN compression
ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FBC=FAB+25FBG+25FBFFBC=FAB+25FBG+25FBF
FBC=8.73+25(8.73)+25(8.73)FBC=8.73+25(8.73)+25(8.73)
FBC=15.71 kN tensionFBC=15.71 kN tension

At joint F
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
21√5FCF+21√5FBF=20215FCF+215FBF=20
21√5FCF+21√5(8.73)=20215FCF+215(8.73)=20
FCF=13.09 kN compressionFCF=13.09 kN
compression

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FEF+25FCF=25FBF+FFGFEF+25FCF=25FBF+FFG
FEF+25(13.09)=25(8.73)+12.22FEF+25(13.09)=25(8.
73)+12.22
FEF=10.48 kN compressionFEF=10.48 kN
compression

At joint C
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
21√5FCE=21√5FCF215FCE=215FCF
FCE=FCFFCE=FCF
FCE=13.09 kN tensionFCE=13.09 kN tension

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FCD+25FCE+25FCF=FBCFCD+25FCE+25FCF=FBC
FCD+25(13.09)+25(13.09)=15.71FCD+25(13.09)+25
(13.09)=15.71
FCD=5.24 kN tensionFCD=5.24 kN tension

At joint E
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
21√5FDE=21√5FCE215FDE=215FCE
FDE=FCEFDE=FCE
FDE=13.09 kN compressionFDE=13.09 kN compression

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FEF=25FCE+25FDEFEF=25FCE+25FDE
10.48=25(13.09)+25(13.09)10.48=25(13.09)+25(13.09)
10.5=10.510.5=10.5 check
At joint D
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
RD=21√5FDERD=215FDE
12=21√5(13.09)12=215(13.09)
12=1212=12 check

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FCD=25FDEFCD=25FDE
5.24=25(13.09)5.24=25(13.09)
5.24=5.245.24=5.24 check

Summary

FAB = 8.73 kN tension

FAG = 21.82 kN compression
FBC = 15.71 kN tension
FBF = 8.73 kN compression
FBG = 8.73 kN tension
FCD = 5.24 kN tension
FCE = 13.09 kN tension
FCF = 13.09 kN compression
FDE = 13.09 kN compression
FEF = 10.48 kN compression
FFG = 12.22 kN compression
Problem
Find the force in each member of the truss shown in Fig. T-04.

Solution 003-mj
At joint C
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
529√FCD=80529FCD=80
FCD=86.16 kN tensionFCD=86.16 kN tension

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FBC=229√FCDFBC=229FCD
FBC=229√(86.16)FBC=229(86.16)
FBC=32 kN compressionFBC=32 kN compression

At joint D
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
529√FBD=529√FCD529FBD=529FCD
FBD=FCDFBD=FCD
FBD=86.16 kN compressionFBD=86.16 kN compression

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FDE=229√FCD+229√FBDFDE=229FCD+229FBD
FDE=229√(86.16)+229√(86.16)FDE=229(86.16)+229(86.16)
FDE=64 kN tensionFDE=64 kN tension

At joint B
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
529√FBE=529√FBD+60529FBE=529FBD+60
529√FBE=529√(86.16)+60529FBE=529(86.16)+60
FBE=150.78 kN tensionFBE=150.78 kN tension

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FAB=FBC+229√FBD+229√FBEFAB=FBC+229FBD+229FBE
FAB=32+229√(86.16)+229√(150.78)FAB=32+229(86.16)+
229(150.78)
FAB=120 kN compressionFAB=120 kN compression

At joint E
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
529√FAE=529√FBE529FAE=529FBE
FAE=FBEFAE=FBE
FAE=150.78 kN compressionFAE=150.78 kN
compression

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FEF=FDE+229√FBE+229√FAEFEF=FDE+229FBE+229FAE
FEF=64+229√(150.78)+229√(150.78)FEF=64+229(150.78)
+229(150.78)
FEF=176 kN tensionFEF=176 kN tension

At joint A
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
FAF=529√FAEFAF=529FAE

FAF=529√(150.78)FAF=529(150.78)
FAF=140 kN tensionFAF=140 kN tension

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
RA=FAB+229√FAERA=FAB+229FAE
RA=120+229√(150.78)RA=120+229(150.78)
RA=176 kN to the leftRA=176 kN to the left

At joint F
ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FH=FEFFH=FEF
FH=176 kN to the rightFH=176 kN to the right

ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
FV=FAFFV=FAF
FV=140 kN upwardFV=140 kN upward

Checking
ΣMF=0ΣMF=0
5RA=8(80)+4(60)5RA=8(80)+4(60)
RA=176 kN to the leftRA=176 kN to the left check

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FH=RAFH=RA
FH=176 kN to the rightFH=176 kN to the right check

ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
FV=80+60FV=80+60
FV=140 kN upwardFV=140 kN upward check
Summary

Top chords
FDE = 64 kN tension
FEF = 176 kN tension

Bottom chords
FAB = 120 kN compression
FBC = 32 kN compression

Web members
FAF = 140 kN tension
FAE = 150.78 kN compression
FBE = 150.78 kN tension
FBD = 86.16 kN compression
FCD = 86.16 kN tension