Pratt Bridge Truss — Method of Sections

Multi-panel Pratt bridge truss solved by method of sections; a single diagonal cut through three members isolates the required forces without solving every joint — the canonical demonstration of sections efficiency over joints.

Category: truss · Difficulty: Advanced

Solution

Support reactions (solver-verified)
SupportRx (N)Ry (N)Mz (N·m)
A0300
G0300
Member axial forces (solver-verified)
MemberAxial force (N)Sense
Member 1330Tension
Member 1430Tension
Member 1560Tension
Member 1660Tension
Member 1730Tension
Member 1830Tension
Member 19-60Compression
Member 20-90Compression
Member 21-90Compression
Member 22-60Compression
Member 23-42.426Compression
Member 24-42.426Compression
Member 250
Member 26-30Compression
Member 270
Member 28-30Compression
Member 290
Member 3042.426Tension
Member 3142.426Tension
Member 3242.426Tension
Member 3342.426Tension

Open this example in StatIQ

All reaction values are computed by the StatIQ structural engine, not generated text. Signs follow the solver's convention: a positive Ry acts upward, a negative Ry downward; a positive M is counter-clockwise.