COURSE:

CE 201 (STATICS)

LECTURE NO.:

24 to 26

FACULTY:

DR. SHAMSHAD AHMAD

DEPARTMENT:

CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY:

KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM

& MINERALS, DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA

TEXT BOOK:

ENGINEERING MECHANICS-STATICS
by R.C. HIBBELER, PRENTICE HALL

LECTURE NO. 24 to 26
THE METHOD OF JOINTS AND
ZERO FORCE MEMBERS

Objectives:

To show how to determine the forces in the

members of a truss using the method of joints

To show how to
members of a truss

identify

the

zero-force

THE METHOD OF JOINTS

The method of joints for the analysis of a truss consists of
the following steps:

Determine the support reactions considering the equilibrium of

truss as a whole

Consider only one joint at a time

Draw the free body diagram for the joint into consideration,
indicating the magnitudes, directions, and the senses of the
known external forces, reactions, and member forces

Apply the conditions of equilibrium for the joint into consideration,

as:
Eq.1
Fx = 0
Eq.2
Fy = 0

Solve the equations of equilibrium (Eq.1 & 2) to determine the

forces in the members meeting at the joint into consideration

Go on considering the other joints of the truss one by one till the
forces in each of the members of the truss are determined

THE METHOD OF JOINTS

Important Points
Always assume the sense of the unknown member forces
acting on the joints free-body diagram as tension

If after analysis
to be negative,
compression.

the magnitude of a member force is

reverse its sense, i.e. the sense is

found
to be

In all cases, the analysis should start at a joint having at

least one known force or reaction and at most two unknown
forces, for example joint B in the above figure.

ZERO FORCE MEMBERS

The zero-force members of a truss support no

loading and are used to increase the stability of
the truss during construction and to provide
support if the applied load is changed.

Identification of the zero-force members of a

truss greatly simplifies the analysis of the truss,
using the method of joints.

Following two general rules may be helpful in

identifying the zero-force members:

ZERO FORCE MEMBERS

Rule-I
If only two members form a
truss joint and no external load
or support reaction is applied to
the joint, the members must be
zero-force members.
For example:

+PFy = 0 FDC sin = 0 FDC = 0

+OFx = 0 FDE + 0 = 0 FDE = 0

Initially, 9 members but reduced to

only 5 members after removing the
zero force members.

Fx = 0; FAB = 0
+ Fy = 0; FAF = 0

ZERO FORCE MEMBERS

Rule-II
If three members form a truss joint
for which two of the members are
collinear, the third member is a zeroforce member provided no external
force or support reaction is applied to
the joint.

For example:

+O Fx=0 FDA = 0
+P Fy = 0 FDC = FDE

+O Fx=0 FCA sin = 0

+P Fy = 0 FCB = FCD

FCA =

Initially, 7 members but reduced to

only 3 members after removing the
zero force members.

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 1

Determine the force in each member of the truss and state if
the members are in tension or compression. Set P1 = 500-lb
and P2 = 100-lb.

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 1

The support reactions can be calculated
by applying equilibrium conditions to the
above free-body diagram, as follows:

Fx = 0
The free-body diagram of the
entire truss is shown below:
A

Ax

C
Cy

Ay

Ax 100 = 0
Ax = 100 lb

(1)

Mabout A = 0

14 Cy + 500 6 + 100 8 = 0
Cy = 271.428 lb

(2)

Fy = 0
P2
= 100lb

B
P1 = 500lb

Ay + Cy 500 = 0
Ay + Cy = 500
Ay = 500 271.428 = 228.572 lb.

(3)

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 1

Fy = 0

271.43 FCB sin 45 = 0

FCB =

271.43
sin 45

= 383.86 lb (T)

Ans.

Fx = 0
FCA FCB cos 45 = 0
The magnitude and sense of the forces FCA = FCB cos 45 = 383.86 cos 45o
in each member of the truss may be = 271.43 lb = 271.43 lb (C)
Ans.
determined by considering free-body Joint A:
diagram of the joints, as follows:
The FBD of joint A is as follows:
Joint C:
8
271.43
100 lb
The free-body diagram of joint C is as
= tan 1 = 59.03
6

follows:
228.53 lb

FCA

Fx = 0

45o
FCB

271.43 lb
F.B.D. of joint C

sin = 0.8 and cos = 0.6

FAB

100 271.43 + FAB cos = 0

Ans.
FAB = 285.71 (T)

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 2

Determine the force in each member of
the truss and state if the members are
in tension or compression. Set P = 4
KN.

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 2

Applying equilibrium conditions at
joint A,
Fy = 0
4 FAE sin = 0
4

FAE = 0.447 = 8.948 kN

= 8.948 kN (C)

Ans.

Fx = 0
Analysis of the given truss may be
started from joint A without FAB + FAE cos = 0
calculating the support reactions FAB = 0.894 FAE = 0.894 ( 8.948)
= 8 kN (T)
Ans.
because at joint A there are only two
Joint B:
unknowns.
The FBD of joint B is as follows:
Joint A:
Fx = 0 8 + FBC = 0
The FBD of joint A is as follows:
FBC = 8 kN (T) Ans.
Fy = 0 8 FBE = 0
FBE = 8 kN
FBE = 8 kN (C) Ans.

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 2

Fy = 0

88.948sin+FEC sinFED sin = 0

8 + 8.948sin
= 26.836 kN (2)
FECFED= sin

Eq. (1) + Eq. (2)

2FEC = 17.88
FEC = 8.9458 kN (T) Ans.

Joint E:
The FBD of joint E is as follows:

From Eq. (1)

FED = 8.948 8.948 = 17.896 kN
FED = 17.896 kN ( C ). Ans.

Joint D:
The FBD of joint D is as follows:
Fy = 0
FDC 17.896 sin = 0
FDC = 8 kN (T) Ans.
Fx = 0
Fx = 0
8.948 cos +FEC cos + FED cos = 0
17.896 cos - Dx = 0
FEC + FED = 8.948
(1)
Dx = 17.896 0.894 = 16 kN

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 2

The magnitude and sense of the force

in each member of the truss is shown
below:
Joint C:
The FBD of joint C is as follows:

8 kN

4 kN

8 kN

4 kN

B
8 kN

8.9
48
kN

8 kN

Cy = 16 kN

kN
48
8.9

8 kN

Fx = 0

8 8.948 cos Cx = 0
Cx = 16 kN = 16 kN ()
Fy = 0
4 8 8.948 sin + Cy = 0
Cy = 16 kN ( )

Cx = 16 kN

17.

896

kN

Dx = 16 kN

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 3

Determine the force in each member of the truss
and state if the members are in tension or
compression considering only the self-weight of
the members @ 4 kg/m. Set P = 0.

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 3

PA = (mAB + mAE)
= (157 + 175) = 166 N
PB = (mAB + mBE + mBC)
= (157 + 78 + 157) = 196 N
PC = (mBC + mCE + mCD)
= (157 + 175 +157) = 245 N
PE = (mAE + mBC + mEC + mED)
= (175 + 78 + 175 + 175) = 302 N
Masses of members are calculated PD = (mED + mCD)
= (175 + 157) = 166 N
below using the unit weight and the
length of the members:
FBD of the truss showing loads at
joints is given below:
mAB = 4 4 = 16kg = 157N
mAE = 4 ( 4 + 2 ) = 17.88 kg = 175 N
2

mBE = 4 2 = 8 kg = 78 N
mBC = 4 4 = 16 kg = 157 N
mCE = 4 ( 4 + 2 ) = 17.88 kg = 175 N
2

Loads at joints of the truss are

calculated as follows:

166 N

196 N

245 N

Cx

Cy

E
302 N

D
166 N

Dx

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 3

166 N

196 N

245 N

Fy = 0 166 FAE sin = 0

Cx

Cy

166
FAE = 0.449 = 371.36 N

FAE = 371.36 N (C)

E
302 N

D
166 N

Dx

Ans.

Fx = 0 FAB + FAE cos = 0

FAB = FAE cos

Analysis of the given truss may be = (371.36)0.894 = 332 N (T)

started from joint A without
Joint B:
calculating the support reactions
The FBD of joint B is as follows:
because at joint A there are only two
unknowns.
Joint A:
The free-body diagram of joint A is as
follows:
Fx = 0 FBC 332 = 0
FBC = 332 N (T) Ans.

Fy = 0 196 FBE = 0

Ans.

FBE = 196 FBE = 196 N (C) Ans.

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 3

166 N

196 N

245 N

Eq. (1) + Eq. (2)

2FEC = 1114.09
FEC = 557 N (T)

Cx

Cy

From Eq. (1),

FED =371557=928N=928N (C) Ans.

302 N

D
166N

Dx

Joint D:
The FBD of joint D is as follows:

Joint E:
The FBD of joint E is as follows:

Fx = 0

FEC cos+ FED cos + 371 cos = 0

FEC + FED = 371
(1)
Fy = 0
196371sin 302+FECsinFED sin = 0
FECFED= 302 + 196 + 371 0.447 =1485.09N
0.447

Ans.

(2)

Fy = 0 FDC 928 sin - 166 = 0

FDC = 581 N ( T )

Fx = 0 928 cos - Dx = 0

Dx = 928 0.894 = 830 N

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 3

166 N

196 N

245 N

Cx

Cy

E
302 N

D
166N

Dx

Joint C:
The FBD of joint C is as follows:

The magnitude and sense of the force

in each member of the truss is shown
below:
196N

166N

332N

B
196N

371
.36
N

245N
332N

Cy = 1075N
581N
928
N

D
166N

Fx = 0 Cx 332 557 cos = 0

Cx = 830 N

Fy = 0 245 581557 sin +Cy = 0

Cy = 1075 N

Cx = 830N

N
5 57

E
302N

Dx = 830 N

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 4

Determine the force in each member of the truss and
state if the members are in tension or compression.
Set P1 = P2 = 4 kN.

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 4

Applying equilibrium conditions at
joint C,

Fy = 0 FCB sin 4 = 0
FCB = 8 kN (T)

Ans.

Fx = 0 FCD FCB cos 30 = 0

FCD= 6.93 kN = 6.93 kN (C) Ans.

Joint D:
Analysis of the given truss may be The free-body diagram of joint D is as
started from joint C without follows:
calculating the support reactions
because at joint C there are only two
D
unknowns.
Joint C:
The FBD of joint C is as follows:
Fx = 0 FDE 6.93 = 0
FDE= 6.93 kN= 6.93 kN ( C) Ans.

Fy = 0 FDB 4 = 0

FDB = 4 kN ( T) Ans.

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 4

Fy = 0

+FBA sin 30 FBE sin 30 4 8 sin 30 = 0

Joint B:
The FBD of joint B is as follows:

4+4
FBA FBE = 0.5 = 16

(2)

Solving, Eqs. (1) and (2),

FBA = 12 kN (T) and FBC = 4 kN (C)

Ans.

Support A
The FBD of support A, as follows:

Ay
Ax
12
=
=
By Sine Rule, Sin120 Sin150 Sin90

Fx = 0

FBA cos30 FBE cos30+ 8 cos30 = 0

(1)
FBA + FBE = 8

From the above equation, Ax and Ay

can be determined as:
Ax = 10.392 kN and Ay = 6 kN

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 4

The magnitude and sense of the force

in each member of the truss is shown
below:
Ay=6kN

Support E
FBD of support E, as follows:

Ax=10.392kN
12k
N

B
4kN

8kN

4kN

Ex=10.392kN
E

Fx = 0 Ex 6.93 4 cos30 = 0
Ex = 10.392 kN

Fy = 0 Ey 4 sin30 = 0
Ey = 2 kN

Ey=2kN

6.93kN

D
4kN

6.93kN

4kN

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 5

For the given loading, determine the zero-force
members in the Pratt roof truss. Explain your
answers using appropriate joint free-body diagrams.

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 5

FBC
B

FBK

FBA

F.B.D. of Joint B

Since, there is no external force or

reaction at joint B and FBA and FBC are
collinear, FBK = 0 (according to Rule
II)

FLB

FKC

FLA

FLK
FKL

FKS

F.B.D. of Joint L
F.B.D. of Joint K

Since, there is no reaction or external

force at joint L and FLA and FLK are Since, there is no external force or
collinear, FLB = 0 (according to Rule II) reaction at joint K, and FKL and FKS
are collinear, FKC = 0 (according to
Rule II)

PROBLEM SOLVING: Example # 5

Therefore, the zero-force members of
the given of truss are as follows:
LB, BK, KC, HF, FI, IE and EJ

Ans.

After
removing
the
zero-force
members, the truss diagram is shown
below:
Similarly, considering joints H, F, I,
and E,
FHF = 0
FFI = 0
FIE = 0
FEJ = 0

Multiple Choice Problems

1. The zero-force members of the truss as shown in
the following figure are

(a) EA and ED
(c) CA and CB

(b) DA and CA
(d) BA and BC

Ans: (b)
Feedback:
The members DA and CA are the zero-force
members by applying Rule II at joints D and C

Multiple Choice Problems

2. The magnitude and sense of the force in member
CE of the truss as shown in the following figure are

(a) 0
(c) 5 kN (C)
Ans: (c)
Feedback:

= 0 (at joint C)

5 + FCE = 0
FCE = 5 kN = 5 kN (C)

(b) 5 kN (T)
(d) none of these