9.

4 METHOD OF VIRTUAL WORK: TRUSSES 351

EXAMPLE 9.1
Determine the vertical displacement of joint C of the steel truss shown in
2
Fig. 98a. The cross-sectional area of each member is A = 0.5 in and E =
3
29110 2 ksi.
F E

10 ft

B C D
A

10 ft 10 ft 10 ft
4k 4k
(a)
SOLUTION
Virtual Forces n. Only a vertical 1-k load is placed at joint C, and
the force in each member is calculated using the method of joints. The
k
results are shown in Fig. 98b. Positive numbers indicate tensile forces .471
0
and negative numbers indicate compressive forces.
Real Forces N. The real forces in the members are calculated using
the method of joints. The results are shown in Fig. 98c. 0.333 k
 0.333 k
0
.

0.333 k
943
k
k
1k
.471
0

0.667 k 0.667 k

1k 0.667 k
Virtual-Work Equation. Arranging the data in tabular form, we have virtual forces n

Member n (k) N (k) L ( ft) nNL (k

2
# ft) (b)
AB 0.333 4 10 13.33
BC 0.667 4 10 26.67
CD 0.667 4 10 26.67
4k
DE - 0.943 - 5.66 14.14 75.42
FE - 0.333 -4 10 13.33 5 .

k 66
EB - 0.471 0 14.14 0 4k k
.66
BF 0.333 4 10 13.33 5 0 4k
AF - 0.471 - 5.66 14.14 37.71 9
CE 1 4 10 40 4k4k 4k 4k
246.47 4k 4k 4k

= nNL 246.47 k
2
# ft real forces N

Thus 1 k # Cv a AE = AE (c)

Converting the units of member length to inches and substituting the Fig. 98
numerical values for A and E, we have
1 k # Cv = 1 2 213 >22
2
246.47 k # ft 12 in. ft

10.5 in 2129110 2 k>in 2

Cv = 0.204 in. Ans.
 352 C HAP TE R 9 D EFLECTIONS U SING E NERGY M ETHODS

EXAMPLE 9.2
The cross-sectional area of each member of the truss shown in Fig. 99a is
2
A = 400 mm and E = 200 GPa. (a) Determine the vertical displacement
of joint C if a 4-kN force is applied to the truss at C. (b) If no loads act on
the truss, what would be the vertical displacement of joint C if member
AB were 5 mm too short?

C
4 kN
3m
A
B

4m 4m

(a)

Fig. 99

SOLUTION
Part (a)
Virtual Forces n. Since the vertical displacement of joint C is to be
determined, a virtual force of 1 kN is applied at C in the vertical direction.
The units of this force are the same as those of the real loading. The
support reactions at A and B are calculated and the n force in each member
is determined by the method of joints as shown on the free-body diagrams
of joints A and B, Fig. 99b.

1 kN

C .
9 0
833 0.833 kN 0.833 kN
.833
kN kN
0
5 3 3 5
4 4
A B A 0.667 kN 0.667 kN B
0.667 kN

0.5 kN virtual forces n 0.5 kN

0.5 kN 0.5 kN
(b)

Real Forces N. The joint analysis of A and B when the real load of
4 kN is applied to the truss is given in Fig. 99c.
 9.4 METHOD OF VIRTUAL WORK: TRUSSES 353

C
24 kN .
kN 2.5 kN 2.5 kN
.
5
5kN
2 3 5
A 5 3 4
4 kN B A 4
2 kN B
2 kN 4 kN 2 kN

1.5 kN 1.5 kN 1.5 kN real forces N 1.5 kN

(c)

Virtual-Work Equation. Since AE is constant, each of the terms

nNL can be arranged in tabular form and computed. Here positive
numbers indicate tensile forces and negative numbers indicate
compressive forces.

Member n (kN) N (kN) L (m) n NL (kN

2
# m)
AB 0.667 2 8 10.67
AC - 0.833 2.5 5 - 10.41
CB - 0.833 - 2.5 5 10.41
10.67
Thus,

1 kN # Cv = a
nNL 10.67 kN
2
#m
AE =
AE

2 -6 2
Substituting the values A 400 mm 400 10 m ,E 200 GPa
6 2 =
200 10 kN m , we have = 1 2 = =

1 > 10.67 kN
2
#m
1 kN # Cv =
2
-6 2 6 2
400110 2 m 1200110 2 kN>m 2

Cv = 0.000133 m = 0.133 mm Ans.
Part (b). Here we must apply Eq. 917. Since the vertical displace-ment
of C is to be determined, we can use the results of Fig. 97b. Only
member AB undergoes a change in length, namely, of L = - 0.005 m. 9 Thus,

1 # = n L

1 kN # Cv = 10.667 kN21- 0.005 m2

Cv = - 0.00333 m = - 3.33 mm Ans.
The negative sign indicates joint C is displaced upward, opposite to the 1-
kN vertical load. Note that if the 4-kN load and fabrication error are both
accounted for, the resultant displacement is then Cv = 0.133 - 3.33 = -
3.20 mm (upward).
 354 C HAP TE R 9 D EFLECTIONS U SING E NERGY M ETHODS

EXAMPLE 9.3
Determine the vertical displacement of joint C of the steel truss shown in
Fig. 910a. Due to radiant heating from the wall, member AD is subjected
-5
to an increase in temperature of T = + 120F. Take a = 0.6110 2>F
3
and E = 29110 2 ksi. The cross-sectional area of each member is
indicated in the figure.

1k 1k 80 k

6 ft
wall C 0.75 k 120 k 60 k
60 k 0.75 k 120 k
2
D 2 in

2 1k
2 in
8 ft 2
2 in
2 k
0 80 k k
80 k
.5 in . 25
100
1
1

0.75 k 60 k
2 B 0 0
A 2 in
80 k
80 k
(a) virtual forces n real forces N

Fig. 910 (b) (c)

SOLUTION
Virtual Forces n. A vertical 1-k load is applied to the truss at joint C,
and the forces in the members are computed, Fig. 910b.

Real Forces N. Since the n forces in members AB and BC are zero, the
N forces in these members do not have to be computed. Why? For
completion, though, the entire real-force analysis is shown in Fig. 910c.

Virtual-Work Equation. Both loads and temperature affect the

9 deformation; therefore, Eqs. 915 and 916 are combined. Working in
units of kips and inches, we have
nNL
1 # Cv = a AE + na T L
= 10.7521120213621122 + 112180218213 122
2[29110 2] 2[29110 2]
-5
+ 1- 1.2521 - 10021 1021122 + 1 [0.6 10
3
] 120 8 12
1.5[29110 2] 1 2 1 2 1 21 21 2
Cv = 0.658 in. Ans.