Calculating Truss Forces

Forces
Compression

A body being squeezed

Tension

A body being stretched

Truss
A truss is composed of slender members
joined together at their end points.
They are usually joined by welds or gusset
plates.

Simple Truss
A simple truss is composed of triangles, which
will retain their shape even when removed
from supports.

Pinned and Roller Supports

A pinned support can
support a structure in two
dimensions.

A roller support can

support a structure
in only one
dimension.

Solving Truss Forces

Assumptions:
All members are perfectly straight.
All loads are applied at the joints.
All joints are pinned and frictionless.
Each member has no weight.
Members can only experience tension or
compression forces.
What risks might these assumptions pose if
we were designing an actual bridge?

Static Determinacy
A statically determinate structure is one that
can be mathematically solved.

2J = M + R
J = Number of Joints
M = Number of Members
R = Number of Reactions

Statically Indeterminate
B

Each pin
connection
contributes TWO
reaction forces

FD = 500 lb
A truss is considered statically indeterminate when the
static equilibrium equations are not sufficient to find the
reactions on that structure. There are simply too many
unknowns.
Try It

2J = M + R
2(4) 5 + 4

Statically Determinate
B

Is the truss
statically
determinate
now?

C
D
FD = 500 lb

A truss is considered statically determinate when the

static equilibrium equations can be used to find the
reactions on that structure.
Try It

2J = M + R
2(4) = 5 + 3

Static Determinacy Example

Each side of the main street bridge in Brockport, NY has

19 joints, 35 members, and three reaction forces (pin
and roller), making it a statically determinate truss.

2J M R

2 19 35 3
38 38

What if these
numbers
were
different?

Equilibrium Equations

M 0
The sum of the moments about a
given point is zero.

Equilibrium Equations

Fx 0
The sum of the forces in the xdirection is zero.

Do you remember the Cartesian coordinate

system? A vector that acts to the right is positive,
and a vector that acts to the left is negative.

Equilibrium Equations

Fy 0
The sum of the forces in the y-direction
is zero.

A vector that acts up is positive, and a vector that

acts down is negative.

Using Moments to Find RCY

A force that causes a
clockwise moment is a
negative moment.

RAx
A force that causes a
counterclockwise
moment is positive
moment.

C
3.0 ft

RAy

7.0 ft

500 lb

M A 0

RCy

FD contributes a negative
FD (3.0 ft) RCy (10.0 ft) 0
moment because it causes a
clockwise moment about A. 500lb(3.0 ft) RCy (10.0 ft ) 0
1500lbft RCy (10.0 ft) 0
RCy contributes a positive
RCy (10.0 ft) 1500lbft
moment because it causes a
RCy 150lb
counterclockwise moment
around A.

Sum the y Forces to Find RAy

We know two out of
the three forces acting
in the y-direction. By
simply summing those
forces together, we
can find the unknown
reaction at point A.

RAx

C
D

RAy

150. lb

500. lb

Fy 0
FD RCy RAy 0
Please note that a
negative sign is in
front of FD because
the drawing shows the
force as down.

500. lb 150.00 lb RAy 0

350. lb RAy 0
RAy 350. lb

Sum the x Forces to Find Ax

Because joint A is pinned, it is
capable of reacting to a force
applied in the x-direction.
However, since the only load
applied to this truss (FD) has no
x-component, RAx must be zero.

RAx

C
D

150. lb

350. lb

500. lb

Fx 0

Method of Joints
Use cosine and sine to determine x and y
vector components.

Assume all members to be in tension. A

positive answer will mean the member is in
B
tension, and a negative
number will mean the
member is in compression.

As forces are solved, update free body diagrams. Use

Method of Joints
Truss Dimensions
B
4.0 ft

RAx

D
3.0 ft

7.0 ft

RAy

RCy
500lb

Method of Joints
Using Truss Dimensions to Find Angles

opp
tan1
adj

B
4.0 ft

D
3.0 ft

4.0
ft
tan1
3.0 ft
7.0 ft

1 tan 4.0
3.0
1

153.130

4.0 ft

Method of Joints
Using Truss Dimensions to Find Angles

opp
tan1
adj
4.0
ft
tan1 A
7.0 ft

B
4.0 ft

4.0 ft
2

3.0 ft

1 tan 4.0
7.0
1 29.745
1

D
7.0 ft

Method of Joints
Draw a free body diagram of each pin.

RAx

53.130

29.745

D
RAy

500lb

RCy

Every member is assumed to be in tension. A positive

answer indicates the member is in tension, and a negative
answer indicates the member is in compression.

Method of Joints
Where to Begin
Choose the joint that has the least number of unknowns.
Reaction forces at joints A and C are both good choices to
begin our calculations.

AB

RAx

A
0
350lb

RAy

AD

BD
D
500lb

BC

CD

C
150lb

RCy

Method of Joints
FY 0

R Ay AB y 0
437.50 lb

AB
A

53.130

350 lb

AD

350lb AB sin 53.130 0

AB sin 53.130 350lb

350lb
AB
sin 53.130
AB 438 lb

COMPRESSION

Method of Joints
Update the all force diagrams based on AB
being under compression.

AB

RAx= 0

RAy= 350lb

AD

BD
D
500lb

BC

CD

C
RCy= 150lb

Method of Joints
FX 0
ABx AD 0

437.50 lb cos53.130 AD 0
AB 437.50 lb

53.130

AD

262.50 lb

350 lb

AD 437.50 lb cos53.130
AD 262.50 lb

TENSION

Method of Joints
FY 0
RCy BC y 0

302.33 lb
BC
29.745

CD

150 lb BC sin 29.745 0

150 lb

BC sin 29.745 150 lb

150lb
BC
sin 29.745
BC 302 lb COMPRESSION

Method of Joints
Update the all force diagrams based on BC
being under compression.

AB

RAx= 0

RAy= 350lb

AD

BD
D
500lb

BC

CD

C
RCy= 150lb

Method of Joints
FX 0
BC x CD 0

302.33 lb cos29.745 CD 0

BC 302.33 lb
29.745

CD

262.50 lb

CD 302.33 lb cos 29.745

CD 262.50 lb

150 lb

TENSION

Method of Joints
500lb
BD

FY 0

BD FD 0
BD 500lb 0

500lb

BD 500lb

TENSION