Method Of Sections

In the method of joints we are dealing with static equilibrium at a point.

Method of sections. Method of sections analysis of simple trusses. The method of sections is another method to determine forces in members of a truss structure. The method of sections is an alternative to the method of joints for finding the internal axial forces in truss members.

The method involves breaking the truss down into individual sections and analyzing each section as a separate rigid body. We usually divide the truss at the members we want to know. The method of sections is usually the fastest and easiest way to determine the unknown forces acting in a specific member of the truss.

The method of sectionsis a process used to solve for the unknown forces acting on members of a truss. To remain each section in equilibrium the cut members will be replaced by forces equivalent to the internal load transmitted to the members. It works by cutting through the whole truss at a single section and using global equilibrium 3 equations to solve for the unknown axial forces in the members that cross the cut section.

The method of sections involves analytically cutting the truss into sections and solving for static equilibrium for each section. It involves taking a cut through a number of members to evaluate their axial forces and use this as our basis to solve the rest of the truss structure. So first let s look at an example question.

In order to find unknown forces in using the method of sections sections of the truss structure must be isolated. The sections are obtained by cutting through some of the members of the truss to expose the force inside the members. The method of sections is used to solve larger truss structures in a fast simple manner.

In this method we will cut the truss into two sections by passing a cutting plane through the members whose internal forces we wish to determine.