METHOD OF JOINTS

Problem
Find the force acting in all members of the truss shown in Figure T-01.

ΣMD=0
3AV+50(1)=80(0.75)
AV=3.33 kN

ΣFH=0
AH=80 kN

ΣMA=0
3RD=50(2)+80(0.75)
RD=53.33 kN

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

ΣFH=0
FAE+45FAB=80
FAE+45(5.56)=80
FAE=75.56 kN tension
At joint B
ΣFH=0
FBC=45FAB
FBC=45(5.56)
FBC=4.45 kN tension

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

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

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

At joint F
ΣFV=0
FCF=50 kN tension

ΣFH=0
FDF=FFE
FDF=71.11 kN tension

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

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

At joint D
ΣFH=0
45FCD=FDF
45(88.87)=71.11
71.1=71.1 check
ΣFV=0
RD=35FCD
53.33=35(88.87)
53.3=53.3 check
Summary

FAB=5.56 kN tension
FAE=75.56 kN tension
FBC=4.45 kN tension
FBE=3.34 kN compression
FCD=88.87 kN compression
FCE=5.57 kN tension
FCF=50 kN tension
FDF=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.

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

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

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

At joint G
ΣFV=0
21√5FBG+12=21√5FAG
21√5FBG+12=21√5(21.82)
FBG=8.73 kN tension

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

At joint B
ΣFV=0
21√5FBF=21√5FBG
FBF=FBG
FBF=8.73 kN compression

ΣFH=0
FBC=FAB+25FBG+25FBF
FBC=8.73+25(8.73)+25(8.73)
FBC=15.71 kN tension

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

ΣFH=0
FEF+25FCF=25FBF+FFG
FEF+25(13.09)=25(8.73)+12.22
FEF=10.48 kN compression

At joint C
ΣFV=0
21√5FCE=21√5FCF
FCE=FCF
FCE=13.09 kN tension

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

At joint E
ΣFV=0
21√5FDE=21√5FCE
FDE=FCE
FDE=13.09 kN compression

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

ΣFH=0
FCD=25FDE
5.24=25(13.09)
5.24=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 003-mj | Method of Joints

Problem 003-mj
Find the force in each member of the truss shown in Fig. T-04.
Solution 003-mj

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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

Problem 004-mj | Method of Joints

Problem 004-mj
The truss pinned to the floor at D, and supported by a roller at point A is loaded as shown in Fig.
T-06. Determine the force in member CG.
Solution 004-mj

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ΣMD=0ΣMD=0
6RA=4(100)+2(120)6RA=4(100)+2(120)
RA=106.67 kNRA=106.67 kN
At joint F
FFG=0FFG=0

At joint A
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
313√FAG=RA313FAG=RA
313√FAG=106.67313FAG=106.67
FAG=128.20 kN compressionFAG=128.20 kN compression

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FAB=213√FAGFAB=213FAG
FAB=213√(128.20)FAB=213(128.20)
FAB=71.11 kN tensionFAB=71.11 kN tension

At joint B
ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FBC=FABFBC=FAB
FBC=71.11 kN tensionFBC=71.11 kN tension

ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
FBG=0FBG=0

At joint G
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
313√FCG+100=313√FAG313FCG+100=313FAG
313√FCG+100=313√(128.20)313FCG+100=313(128.20)
FCG=8.01 kN tensionFCG=8.01 kN tension answer

Another Solution to 004-mj

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ΣMA=0ΣMA=0
6RD=2(100)+4(120)6RD=2(100)+4(120)
RD=113.33 kNRD=113.33 kN
At joint F
FEF=0FEF=0

At joint D
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
313√FDE=RD313FDE=RD
313√FDE=113.33313FDE=113.33
FDE=136.21 kN compressionFDE=136.21 kN compression

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FCD=213√FDEFCD=213FDE
FCD=213√(136.21)FCD=213(136.21)
FCD=75.56 kN tensionFCD=75.56 kN tension
At joint E
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
FCE=313√FDEFCE=313FDE
FCE=313√(136.21)FCE=313(136.21)
FCE=113.33 kN tensionFCE=113.33 kN tension

At joint C
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
313√FCG+FCE=120313FCG+FCE=120
313√FCG+113.33=120313FCG+113.33=120
FCG=8.02 kN tensionFCG=8.02 kN tension answer

Problem 005-mj | Method of Joints

Problem 005-mj
Compute the force in all members of the truss shown in Fig. T-08.

Solution 005-mj
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ΣMF=0ΣMF=0
11RA=7(50)+3(30)11RA=7(50)+3(30)
RA=40 kNRA=40 kN

ΣMA=0ΣMA=0
11RF=4(50)+8(30)11RF=4(50)+8(30)
RF=40 kNRF=40 kN

At joint A
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
541√FAB=RA541FAB=RA
541√FAB=40541FAB=40
FAB=51.22 kN compressionFAB=51.22 kN compression

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FAC=441√FABFAC=441FAB
FAC=441√(51.22)FAC=441(51.22)
FAC=32 kN tensionFAC=32 kN tension

At joint B
ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
417√FBD=441√FAB417FBD=441FAB
417√FBD=441√(51.22)417FBD=441(51.22)
FBD=32.98 kN compressionFBD=32.98 kN compression

ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
FBC+541√FAB+117√FBD=50FBC+541FAB+117FBD=50
FBC+541√(51.22)+117√(32.98)=50FBC+541(51.22)+117(32.98)=50
FBC=2 kN compressionFBC=2 kN compression

At joint C
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
12√FCD=FBC12FCD=FBC
12√FCD=212FCD=2
FCD=2.83 kN tensionFCD=2.83 kN tension

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FCE+12√FCD=FACFCE+12FCD=FAC
FCE+12√(2.83)=32FCE+12(2.83)=32
FCE=30 kN tensionFCE=30 kN tension

At joint E
ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FEF=FCEFEF=FCE
FEF=30 kN tensionFEF=30 kN tension

ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
FDE=0FDE=0

At joint D
ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
35FDF+12√FCD=417√FBD35FDF+12FCD=417FBD

35FDF+12√(2.83)=417√(32.98)35FDF+12(2.83)=417(32.98)
FDF=50 kN compressionFDF=50 kN compression

ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
45FDF=117√FBD+12√FCD+3045FDF=117FBD+12FCD+30
45(50)=117√(32.98)+12√(2.83)+3045(50)=117(32.98)+12(2.83)+30
40=4040=40 check
At joint F
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
45FDF=RA45FDF=RA
45(50)=4045(50)=40
40=4040=40 check

ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
FEF=35FDFFEF=35FDF
FEF=35(50)FEF=35(50)
30=3030=30 check

Summary