1

EXAMPLE 1: BAR
(a) Starting from the basic concept, prove that the balancing equation for
truss member at the global axis is as per below:
=
with both and is the force and displacement on node, is the
modulus of elasticity, while and are the cross sectional area and
length as shown in Figure 1(a) below.

(b) Three steel rods with the length of 1000 mm each with different
cross sectional area is arranged as shown in Figure 1(b) below. Joints 1
and 2 are both sustaining point load of 50 kN and 100 kN respectively.
Using the stiffness method, calculate the force reactions at both ends and
the internal forces for the rod. Assume = 200 kN/mm
2
.

2

Solution:
(a)


f
1

= 1
AE
L
o f
2

= - 1
AE
L
o



f
1

= - 2
AE
L
o f
2

= 2
AE
L
o




f
1
= f
1

+ f
1

= 1
AE
L
o - 2
AE
L
o
f
2
= f
2
+ f
2

= - 1
AE
L
o + 2
AE
L
o
or,

1 1
2 2
AE AE
f
L L
f AE AE
L L
o
o
(

(
( (
=
(
( (
(

(

(Proven)#
f
2

1
L
f
1

f
2

L
1
f
1

f
2

L
2
f
1

+

2
3

(b)





Modulus of elasticity, E = 200 kN/mm
2
Members stiffness: k or K as defined as above.
Member 1:
K
1
=
50 50
1000 1000
50 50
1000 1000
E
(

(
(
(

(

=
0.05 0.05
0.05 0.05
E
(
(

Member 2:
K
2
=
25 25
1000 1000
25 25
1000 1000
E
(

(
(
(

(

=
0.025 0.025
0.025 0.025
E
(
(

Member 3:
K
3
=
75 75
1000 1000
75 75
1000 1000
E
(

(
(
(

(

=
0.075 0.075
0.075 0.075
E
(
(

2 4
2
4
1 2
2 4
1 2
1
2
3 1
3
1
3
3
1
L
1
= 1000 mm
A
1
= 50 mm
2
L
1
= 1000 mm
A
1
= 25 mm
2
L
1
= 1000 mm
A
1
= 75 mm
2
1
50 kN 100 kN
2
2
4
1
3
3
3 1 2 4
4

Structures stiffness:

K
S
=
0.075 0.025 0.05 0
0.025 0.100 0 0.075
0.05 0 0.05 0
0 0.075 0 0.075
E

(
(

(
(
(

Followed by:
F = K
S


| |
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
S
F
F
K
F
F
A
( (
( (
A
( (
=
( ( A
( (
A


equals to,

1
2
3
4
50 0.075 0.025 0.050 0
100 0.025 0.100 0 0.075
0.050 0 0.050 0 0
0 0.075 0 0.075 0
E
F
F
A
( ( (
( ( (
A
( ( (
=
( ( (
( ( (

4
3
4
2
1
4 3
4
2 1
5

Therefore,
+0.075
1
0.025
2
= -50/E
-0.025
1
+ 0.100
2
= 100/E

0.075
0.025
: -0.075
1
+ 0.300
2
= 300/E
+ : 0.275
2
= 250/E
2
250
4.55
200 0.275
mm A = =

()
1
100
0.1(4.55)
200
1.8
0.025
mm

A = =

()
Therefore,
Displacement at node 1 = 1.8 mm (left direction)
Displacement at node 2 = 4.55 mm (right direction)

Reactions at support,
F
3
= 200 (-0.05) (-1.8) = 18 kN ()
F
4
= 200 (-0.075) (4.55) = -68 kN ( )
Therefore,
Reaction at node 3 = 18 kN (right direction)
Reaction at node 4 = 68 kN (left direction)

1
2
2
3
3
1 3
6


Rod internal force:

1
2
1
0.05 0.05 0 18
200
0.05 0.05 1.8 18
f
kN
f

( ( ( (
= =
( ( ( (


(compression)


1
2
2
0.025 0.025 1.8 31.75
200
0.025 0.025 4.55 31.75
f
kN
f

( ( ( (
= =
( ( ( (

(tension)


1
2
3
0.075 0.075 4.55 68
200
0.075 0.075 0 68
f
kN
f

( ( ( (
= =
( ( ( (


(compression)