Method of joints
In the method of joints, the member forces are determined using the equilibrium conditions at that particular joint. The procedure is explained as follows:
- Check the stability and assess it's determinacy of the truss.
- If the truss is of cantilever type, the reactions need not be computed in general. If the truss is stable and determinate where one support is hinge and the other support is on rollers.
- Draw the free body diagram at each joint and analyse the member forces at a joint where only two members meet. Then, consider the adjacent joint where only two unknown forces to be determined. This process is repeated till the analysis of all joints are completed.
- The results are tabulated along with magnitude of member forces and the natureof forces. The forces are tensile if they are pulling the joint. The forces are compressive in nature if they are pushing he joint.
