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/mm2.

1
Solution:
(a)
f1’ 𝛿1 f2’

AE
f1’ =  f2’ = - AE 1
L 1 L
+
𝛿2
f1’’ f2’’

f1’’ = - AE 2 f2’’ =
AE

L L 2

𝛿1 𝛿2

f1 f2

AE AE
f1 = f1’ + f1” = 1 - 
L L 2

AE AE
f2 = f2’+ f2” = - 1 + 
L L 2

or,
 AE AE 
f 1   L    1 
L
    AE AE    (Proven)#
f 2    2 
 L L 

2
(b) 3 1 2 4
50 kN 100 kN
3 4
1 1 2 2 3

L1 = 1000 mm L1 = 1000 mm L1 = 1000 mm

A1 = 50 mm2 A1 = 25 mm2 A1 = 75 mm2

Modulus of elasticity, E = 200 kN/mm2

Rods’ stiffness: k or K′ as defined as above.
Rod 1:
3 1
3 1
 50 50 
E  0.05  0.05
 3 3  3
K′1 = E  1000 1000  =
 50 50   0.05 0.05  1
  1  
 1000 1000 

Rod 2:
1 2
1 2
 25 
25 
1  0.025  0.025  1
K′2 = E  1000 1000  = E 
 25 25   0.025 0.025  2
 
  2
 1000 1000 

Rod 3:
2 4
2 4
 75 75 


1000 
2  0.075  0.075  2
K′3 = E  1000 = E 
75 75   0.075 0.075  4
  4  
 1000 1000 

3
Structure’s stiffness:

1 2 3 4

4
 0.075  0.025  0.050 0 1
 0.025 0.100 0  0.075  2
KS = E  
  0.050 0 0.050 0 3
 0  0.075 0 0.075  4
 

Followed by:

F = KSΔ

F 1   1 
F   
 2  K  2
F 3  s 
 3
   
F 4   4 

equals to,

 50   0.075  0.025  0.050 0   1 

 100   0.025 0.100 0  0.075   
  E    2
 F3    0.050 0 0.050 0  0
 F   0  0.075 0 0.075   
 4     0 

Therefore,

+0.075Δ1 – 0.025Δ2 = -50/E 1

-0.025 Δ1 + 0.100Δ2 = 100/E 2

0.075
X 2 : -0.075Δ1 + 0.300Δ2 = 300/E 3
0.025
3
1 + 3+ : 0.275Δ2 = 250/E

4
 250
 2   4.55 mm (→)
200  0.275

100
 0.14.55 
 1  200  1.8 mm (←)
 0.025

Therefore,

Displacement at node 1 = 1.8 mm (left direction)

Displacement at node 2 = 4.55 mm (right direction)

Reactions at support,

F3 = 200 (-0.05) (-1.8) = 18 kN (→)

F4 = 200 (-0.075) (4.55) = -68 kN (←)

Therefore,

Reaction at node 3 = 18 kN (right direction)

Reaction at node 4 = 68 kN (left direction)

5
Rod internal force:

f   0.05  0.05   0   18 
Rod 1:  1   200  kN (compression)
f 2  1  0.05 0.05   1.8  18
    

f   0.025  0.025    1.8  31.75 

Rod 2:  1   200  4.55    31.75  kN (tension)
f  0.025 0.025
 2  2     

f   0.075  0.075  4.55   68 

Rod 3:  1   200  kN (compression)
f 2  3  0.075 0.075   0   68
    

END.