PROBLEM 2.

101
The support assembly shown is bolted in place at B, C, and D and
supports a downward force P at A. Knowing that the forces in members
AB, AC, and AD are directed along the respective members and that the
force in member AB is 146 N, determine the magnitude of P.

SOLUTION

Note that AB, AC, and AD are in compression.

Have

d BA = ( −220 mm )2 + (192 mm )2 + ( 0 )2 = 292 mm

d DA = (192 mm )2 + (192 mm )2 + ( 96 mm )2 = 288 mm

dCA = ( 0 )2 + (192 mm )2 + ( −144 mm )2 = 240 mm

146 N
and FBA = FBAλ BA = ( −220 mm ) i + (192 mm ) j
292 mm 
= − (110 N ) i + ( 96 N ) j

FCA
FCA = FCAλ CA = (192 mm ) j − (144 mm ) k 
240 mm 
= FCA ( 0.80j − 0.60k )

FDA
FDA = FDAλ DA = (192 mm ) i + (192 mm ) j + ( 96 mm ) k 
288 mm 
= FDA [ 0.66667i + 0.66667 j + 0.33333k ]

With P = − Pj

At A: ΣF = 0: FBA + FCA + FDA + P = 0

i-component: − (110 N ) + 0.66667 FDA = 0 or FDA = 165 N

j-component: 96 N + 0.80 FCA + 0.66667 (165 N ) − P = 0 (1)

k-component: −0.60FCA + 0.33333 (165 N ) = 0 (2)

Solving (2) for FCA and then using that result in (1), gives P = 279 N

107
 PROBLEM 2.102
The support assembly shown is bolted in place at B, C, and D and
supports a downward force P at A. Knowing that the forces in members
AB, AC, and AD are directed along the respective members and that
P = 200 N, determine the forces in the members.

SOLUTION

With the results of 2.101:

FBA
FBA = FBAλ BA = ( −220 mm ) i + (192 mm ) j
292 mm 
= FBA [ −0.75342i + 0.65753j] N

FCA
FCA = FCAλ CA = (192 mm ) j − (144 mm ) k 
240 mm 
= FCA ( 0.80 j − 0.60k )

FDA
FDA = FDAλ DA = (192 mm ) i + (192 mm ) j + ( 96 mm ) k 
288 mm 
= FDA [ 0.66667i + 0.66667 j + 0.33333k ]

With: P = − ( 200 N ) j

At A: ΣF = 0: FBA + FCA + FDA + P = 0

Hence, equating the three (i, j, k) components to 0 gives three equations

i-component: −0.75342 FBA + 0.66667 FDA = 0 (1)

j-component: 0.65735FBA + 0.80FCA + 0.66667 FDA − 200 N = 0 (2)

k-component: −0.60FCA + 0.33333FDA = 0 (3)

Solving (1), (2), and (3), gives

FBA = 104.5 N, FCA = 65.6 N, FDA = 118.1 N

FBA = 104.5 N

FCA = 65.6 N

FDA = 118.1 N

108
 PROBLEM 2.103
Three cables are used to tether a balloon as shown. Determine the vertical
force P exerted by the balloon at A knowing that the tension in cable AB
is 60 lb.

SOLUTION
The forces applied at A are:

TAB , TAC , TAD and P

where P = Pj . To express the other forces in terms of the unit vectors

i, j, k, we write
JJJG
AB = − (12.6 ft ) i − (16.8 ft ) j AB = 21 ft
JJJG
AC = ( 7.2 ft ) i − (16.8 ft ) j + (12.6 ft ) k AC = 22.2 ft
JJJG
AD = − (16.8 ft ) j − ( 9.9 ft ) k AD = 19.5 ft
JJJG
AB
and TAB = TABλ AB = TAB = ( −0.6i − 0.8j) TAB
AB
JJJG
AC
TAC = TAC λ AC = TAC = ( 0.3242i − 0.75676 j + 0.56757k ) TAC
AC
JJJG
AD
TAD = TADλ AD = TAD = ( −0.8615 j − 0.50769k ) TAD
AD

109
PROBLEM 2.103 CONTINUED

Equilibrium Condition

ΣF = 0: TAB + TAC + TAD + Pj = 0

Substituting the expressions obtained for TAB , TAC , and TAD and
factoring i, j, and k:

( −0.6TAB + 0.3242TAC ) i + ( −0.8TAB − 0.75676TAC − 0.8615TAD + P ) j

+ ( 0.56757TAC − 0.50769TAD ) k = 0

Equating to zero the coefficients of i, j, k:

−0.6TAB + 0.3242TAC = 0 (1)

−0.8TAB − 0.75676TAC − 0.8615TAD + P = 0 (2)

0.56757TAC − 0.50769TAD = 0 (3)

Setting TAB = 60 lb in (1) and (2), and solving the resulting set of
equations gives

TAC = 111 lb

TAD = 124.2 lb

P = 239 lb

110