4. TRUSSES
Trusses are essential structures composed of members that only carry axial forces, either tensile or compressive. The stability and determinacy of trusses are determined through the number of joints, reactions, and members, with specific equations of equilibrium applied for analysis. Understanding the principles of truss designs such as the Pratt and Howe trusses allows for effective application in real-world structures.
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What we have learnt
- Cables can only carry tensile forces, while trusses can handle both tensile and compressive forces.
- Trusses can be externally and internally determinate or indeterminate, impacting stability and analysis.
- The method of joints is a key technique used for analyzing force distributions in trusses.
Key Concepts
- -- Cables
- Flexible structures that can only carry tensile forces along their length.
- -- Trusses
- Structures that are composed of linear members that can carry both tensile and compressive forces.
- -- Statically Determinate
- A condition where all member forces in a truss can be determined using the equations of statics alone.
- -- Static Indeterminacy
- A situation in which the number of equations of statics is insufficient to determine all unknowns in the truss.
- -- Method of Joints
- An analytical approach used in truss systems for determining the forces in each member through equilibrium equations.
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