Activity 2.1.

7 Calculating Truss Forces

Purpose
Because of the rigidity of a truss shape, it is not difficult to find the familiar triangles
in many structures. Designers must accurately determine how much force occurs at
locations of a truss design. The designer may change the material, the amount of
material, or the number of members in a truss in order to make a design safer or
more efficient. The calculations for determining truss forces are also a good basis for
calculating forces for many other systems.

Equipment

Straight edge

Calculator

Procedure
In this activity you will make changes to given trusses to make them statically
determinate. You will then solve for the outside forces and forces at each pinned
connection of trusses.

Static Determinacy
It is important to know that a truss is statically determinate before attempting to solve
for the internal forces. If the truss is statically indeterminate, then you will not be able
to solve for all of the forces.

The trusses 1, 2, and 3 are statically indeterminate based on the formula 2J = M +

R. Use the formula to demonstrate that each truss is statically indeterminate, then
sketch a solution that would result in the truss being statically determinate.
Remember when you sketch solutions that each should retain triangular shapes in
order to remain rigid.
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Principles of Engineering Activity 2.1.7 Calculating Truss Forces Page 1

J = Number of joints

M = Number of members

R = Number of reactions within a

support

0r

1
J= 4
M= 5
R= 4
2(4) = 5+4
8=9

J= 4
2

M= 3
R= 4
2(4) = 3+4
8=7

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J= 4
3

M= 5
R= 4
2(4) = 5+4
8=9

Solving Statically Determinate Trusses

Use the method below to calculate the forces occurring at each pinned connection.

Draw a free body diagram of the entire truss. Label applied forces, known
dimensions, and replace supports with labeled reaction forces.

Sum the moments occurring about one or more pinned support(s) to solve for
reaction forces at supports. There may be occasions when this will not solve
any unknown reaction forces. If that happens, move to the next step.

Use method of joints to create free body diagrams for each joint to solve for
all of the forces acting at that joint. Precision (0.0).

MB= 0

FY= 0

0 = AX(3) -50(3)

0 = B Y - CY

FX= 0
0 = AX + BX
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0 = AX(3) -150

0 = BY 50 lb

150 = AX(3)

50 lb = BY

-AX = BX
-50 lb = BX

50 lb = AX

FY= 0

FX= 0

MB = 0

0 = DY(2) -1000(2)

0 = D X + CX

0 = -CX(2) +500(2) +500(4)

0 = DY(2) -2000

-DX = CX

-3000 = -CX(2)

2000 = DY(2)

1500 lb = C X

1000 = DY

Conclusion
1 What is the significance of including roller connections rather than pinned
connections?
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Principles of Engineering Activity 2.1.7 Calculating Truss Forces Page 4

The pin supports in two dimensions, while the roller pins in one dimension; in order
to ensure that a system is statically balanced there must be a way to increase
and decrease the reactions.

6 How does the triangle shape make a truss rigid?

Because of side-to-side-to-side congruent

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