In engineering, a truss is a structure that "consists of two-force members only, where the members are organized so that the assemblage as a whole behaves as a single object".

1. Lecturenotes
“Truss”
Prepared by
Prem Kumar Soni
Asst. Prof.
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Lecture notes By Prem Kumar Soni

2. TRUSSES
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Lecture notes By Prem Kumar Soni

3. CONTENTS :
1. Introduction.
2. Plane truss.
3. Statical determinacy and stability of trusses.
4. Analysis of statically determinate plane truss.
5. Sign conventions used.
6. Method of joints.
7. Identification of zero force members.
8. Examples on method of joints.
9. Method of sections.
10. Examples on method of sections.
11. Exercise problems.
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4. INTRODUCTION :
A truss is an articulated (skeletal) structure with hinged
or ball and socket joints. It is an assemblage of slender
bars fastened together at their ends by smooth pins or ball
and socket joints acting as hinges.
Plane truss: A truss consisting of members which lie in a
plane and are loaded in the same plane is called a plane
truss. Ex: Roof truss, bridge truss, etc.
Space truss: A truss made up of members not lying in
the same plane is referred to as space truss. Ex: Electric
power transmission tower, microwave tower, etc.
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5. APPLICATIONS
Plane Truss Space Truss
Trussed Bridge Braced Frame
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Truss
a truss is a structure that "consists of two-force
members only, where the members are organized
so that the assemblage as a whole behaves as a
single object".
Trusses: Engineering structures that are composed only
of two-force members. e.g., bridges, roof supports

8. Frame
 Unlike truss, the members of frames are
connected rigidly at joints, and individual
members can carry transverse load, which may
generate bending moment, shear forces along
with axial forces.
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9. 1. Truss- In truss, joints are of pin joint type and
can freely rotate about the pin. So, they
cannot transfer moments.
In practical, truss have no flexibility in joints.
2. Frame- In frame, joints are joined by welding
abd bolting so they are rigid and cannot rotate
freely. They can transfer moments as well as
axial loads.
Frames are of 2types. Rigid non collapsible
and non rigid collapsible.
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LINK/ LINKAGES/ Members :
A link is a rigid rod which can bear any external
load applied on it. A link can bear two types of
forces.

11. The basic element of a plane truss is three members
(bars, angles,tubes,etc) arranged to form a triangle. To this
base triangle, two more members are added to locate a new
joint, and the process continued to form the complete truss.
The truss built in such a
manner is called as ‘Simple
Truss’.
PLANE TRUSS :
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12. T T
Tension Member
The free body diagram of a member shows that it is
acted upon by two equal and opposite forces.
The hinged joint permits members to rotate with
respect to each other and hence the members are
subjected to purely axial forces.
A truss is held in position by the supports and the
loads are applied only at joints.
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13. Compression Member
The convention for internal forces, i.e., the action of
forces in the members on the joints is shown.
TENSION COMPRESSION
C C
T C
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14. These assumptions allow us to idealize each truss
member as a two-force member (members loaded only
at their extremities by equal opposite and collinear
forces)
member in
compression
member in
tension
Connecting pin

15. Bars in a truss have various orientations
member in
compression
member in
tension
Connecting pin

16. Examples of truss

19. FlatTruss
King PostTruss
Queen PostTruss
LenticularTruss LatticeTruss
Bowstring Truss

21. Truss Vs Frame
Many times in our daily engineering work life the words truss
and frame are used in place of each other, though they have
many similarities but there exist some differences between
truss and frame.
 Truss and frame both are constructed by some triangular
members and connected at joints.
 In truss, joints are of pin joint type and the members are free
to rotate about the pin. So, truss cannot transfer moments.
Members are subjected to only axial forces (tensile and
compression).
 On the other hand, members of frames are jointed rigidly at
joints by means of welding and bolting. So the joints of frame
could transfer moments also in addition to the axial loads.
 Practically, you may see trusses with no flexibility in joints,
but still the analysis could be acceptable, if you assume it as a
perfect truss.

22. STATICAL DETERMINACY AND STABILITY OF
TRUSSES :
Total number of unknowns = m + c
Let m = number of unknown member forces.
c = number of unknown constrained reaction components
( usually three, if statically determinate externally )
j = number of joints
Each joint has two equations of equilibrium (H=0 and
V=0).
Hence number of equilibrium equations available = 2j.
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23. If the number of unknowns is less than the number of
available equations, then the truss is unstable.
If total number of unknowns is equal to total number of
equations available, then the truss is statically determinate.
If number of unknowns is more than the number of
available equations, then the truss is statically
indeterminate.
i.e., m+c = 2j
i.e., m+c > 2j
i.e., m+c < 2j
STATICAL DETERMINACY AND STABILITY OF
TRUSSES : (contd..)
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24. Degree of indeterminacy, i = (m+c) – 2j
Degree of internal indeterminacy. ii = i – ie = m+3 – 2j
Degree of external indeterminacy, ie = c – 3
STATICAL DETERMINACY AND STABILITY OF
TRUSSES : (contd..)
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25. (iii)When ii > 0, number of members is more than the
number required. Such a truss is called statically
indeterminate or redundant truss.
STATICAL DETERMINACY AND STABILITY OF
TRUSSES : (contd..)
(ii) When ii < 0, the number of members provided is less
than that required for stability. Such a truss is called
unstable or deficient truss.
(i) When ii = 0, m = 2j – 3 and the structure is statically
determinate internally and is stable. Such a truss is
called a perfect truss.
When we consider the internal indeterminacy, we have the
following cases of truss:
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26. STATICAL DETERMINACY AND STABILITY OF
TRUSSES : (contd..)
When we consider the external indeterminacy, we have the
following cases of truss:
(i) When c = 3 (=> ie = 0 ), the truss is said to be
statically determinate externally.
(ii) When c < 3 (=> ie < 0 ), the truss is said to be
unstable externally.
(iii)When c > 3 (=> ie > 0 ), the truss is said to be
statically indeterminate externally.
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27. ANALYSIS OF STATICALLY DETERMINATE PLANE
TRUSS :
The assumptions made in the analysis are as follows:
The members of the truss are connected at the ends by
frictionless hinges.
The axes of all members lie in a single plane called
‘middle plane of the truss’.
All the external forces acting on the truss are applied at
the joints only.
All the loads are applied in the plane of the truss.
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28. The following methods of analysis will be adopted :
A.) Method of joints. B.) Method of sections.
METHOD OF JOINTS :
A member in a pin - jointed truss has only one internal
force resultant i.e., the axial force. Hence the F.B.D of any
joint is a concurrent system in equilibrium.
SIGN CONVENTIONS USED :
Positive sign is used for tension.
Negative sign is used for compression.
Clockwise moment ( )is taken positive and anti-
clockwise moment ( ) is taken as negative.
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29. METHOD OF JOINTS : (contd..)
The procedure for method of joints is as follows :
 The support reactions of the truss are first obtained
considering the three conditions of equilibrium, applied to
the truss as a whole (H=0, V=0 and M=0).
 Taking the F.B.D of a joint which has not more than two
unknowns (preferably), and applying the equations of
equilibrium for a coplanar concurrent force system (H=0
and V=0), the unknowns are evaluated.
 The analysis is continued with the next joint with
two unknowns (preferably), until the forces in all the
members are obtained. 2/19/2018 29Lecture notes By Prem Kumar Soni

30. IDENTIFICATION OF ZERO FORCE MEMBERS :
1. When two of the three members meeting at a joint are
collinear, and no load is acting at the joint, then the force
in the third member is zero.
A
A F
FF
F
2. When two members meet at a joint where no load is
acting, then the forces in those members are zero.
A A
A
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31. IDENTIFICATION OF ZERO FORCE MEMBERS :
(contd..)
3. When two members meet at a joint where there is a
support such that the support reaction is collinear
with any one member, then the force in the other
member is zero.
VA
A
F=VA
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32. METHOD OF SECTIONS :
In this method we can directly determine the force in
any member without proceeding to that member by a
joint by joint analysis. The method is as follows :
 Determine the reactions at the supports of the truss given.
 Take an imaginary cutting plane through the truss,
dividing it into two parts, such that it passes through
members in which forces are required.
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33. METHOD OF SECTIONS : (contd..)
 The cutting plane should be taken in such a way that it cuts
a maximum of three members in which forces are unknown,
preferably.
 Now consider any one part to the left or right of the section,
and evaluate the unknowns by applying the conditions of
equilibrium for the coplanar non-concurrent force system
(H=0, V=0 and M=0).
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34. EXERCISE 1: Find the forces in members of the truss shown
below.
Solution :
FAB = 84.9kN(C)
FEF = 60kN(T)
FBC = 20kN(C)
FBE = 56.67kN(C)
20kN20kN 20kN
B
A
C
DEF
4m 4m 4m
4m
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35. EXERCISE 2: Find the forces in members of the truss
shown below.
Solution :
FAB = 6.57kN(C) FCE = 6kN(C)
FBC = 6.19kN(C) FDE = 3.87kN(T)
FAE = 2.71kN(C) FCD = 6.19kN(C)
F = 7.15kN(T)
E2m 2m
60º 60º
30º
30º
3kN
6kN
3kN
A
B
C
D
1kN
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36. EXERCISE 3: Find the forces in members of the truss
shown below.
Solution : FAB = 7.5kN(T) FBE = 18.75kN(C)
FBC = 26.25kN(T) FCE = 43.75kN(C)
FAD = 12.5kN(C) FDE = 15kN(T)
FBD = 12.5kN(T)
BA C
D E
1.8m 1.8m
2.4m
10kN 5kN
1.8m 1.8m
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37. EXERCISE 4: Find the forces in members CE, CF and FH of th
truss shown below.
Solution : FCE = 10kN(T)
FCF = 7.07kN(C)
FFH =5kN(T)
20kN
3m 3m 3m 3m
A
B C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
3m
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38. EXERCISE 5: Find the force in member GI of the truss
shown below.
Solution : FGI = 22.5kN(C)
A
B
C D
E
F G
H I
2m
2m
2m
4m
15kN
15kN
15kN
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39. EXERCISE 6: Find the forces in members CE and CD of the
truss shown below.
Solution :
FCE = 11.92kN(T) FCD = 0A
B C
D
E
F
G40º
3m 3m3m
10kN
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40. EXERCISE 7: If force in member BC is 30kN(C), find
magnitude of load W.
Solution : W =10kN
A B C
DE
W W
a a
a
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41. EXERCISE 8: Find the forces in members AB, BC and CF of
the truss shown below.
Solution : FAB = 3.6kN(T)
2m2m 2m 2m 2m
2m
4kN
A
4kN 4kN
B C D
E F G
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42. THANK YOU.
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