Statics › Section F · Equilibrium of structures › Topic F.1
Structures and two-force members
Bridges, cranes, pliers and ladders are all structures: several rigid bodies joined together. Before solving any of them, it pays to spot the members that carry force at only two points, because their force direction comes for free.
In this topic
- What counts as a structure
- Trusses, frames and machines
- Two-force members
- Why the forces must be collinear
- Tension, compression and the sign convention
- Three-force members
- Worked example: a strut-braced bracket
- Worked example: a ladder against a smooth wall
- Spotting member types
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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