Statics › Section F · Equilibrium of structures › Topic F.5
The method of sections
When you need the force in one member in the middle of a long truss, working joint by joint from the end is slow. The method of sections cuts straight to it: slice the truss, keep one piece, and often a single moment equation gives the answer.
In this topic
- Cut through the members you want
- Three equations, three unknowns
- The procedure
- Choosing moment points
- Worked example: a Pratt bridge, the chords
- Worked example: a Pratt bridge, the diagonal
- Worked example: a roof truss with sloping chords
- A truss behaves like a deep beam
- Joints or sections?
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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