Zero Force Members, Special Conditions to Identify, Example
Zero force members are used to increase the stability of truss and to provide additional support if the loading is changed. Read more in this article
Vikalp Tiwari23 Nov, 2023
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Zero Force Members
- In truss analysis, a zero-force member refers to a member within the truss structure that carries no load under the applied external forces.
- Zero force members are used to increase the stability of truss and to provide additional support if the loading is changed.
- Identifying zero force members is essential in structural analysis as it helps simplify the analysis process, reduces the number of unknowns, and enhances our understanding of the truss behavior.
Special Conditions to Identify Zero Force Members by Inspection
Identifying zero force members in a truss requires a systematic approach, and certain conditions can be checked to determine their presence:Case 1:
If there are only two non collinear members at a joint, then both the members will be zero force members provided there is no external load on the joint.
Case 2:
If there are three members at a joint of which two are collinear, then the third member will be zero force member provided there is no external load on the joint.
Case 3:
If there are two non collinear members at a joint and an external force is acting the joint in the direction of one of the members then the other member is a zero-force member.
Example Problem
What is the total number of zero force members in the truss shown below?
Through the application of specific rules for identifying zero-force members, it becomes easy to identify zero-force members in the provided truss. We can easily identify
five zero-force members
(CD, CF, HG, GF, and EF) in the provided truss.
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