96
EQUILIBRIUM
OF
FORCE
SYSTEMS
Consider
now
the
three
concurrent forces
at the
lower left-hand
panel point.
Of
these three
forces the left
reaction, Y-X\,
is
com-
pletely
known and
the
directions of the other
,two,
X\-\
and
1-Y,
are
known. Since
these
three forces are
in
equilibrium,
their force
polygon
must close.
Hence,
to
determine the
mag-
nitudes
of the last two forces a line is
drawn in
Fig.
102(6)
through
Xi
parallel
to
Xi-1,
and a line is
drawn
through
Y
par-
allel
to
1-Y.
These lines intersect in the
point 1,
and the
mag-
nitudes
of
the
stresses
are indicated
by
the
lengths
of the lines
Xi-1
and
1-Y
in
the force
polygon.
It will be noted
that
the
pressure
of the member
X\-l
on
the
pin
at the lower end
is
down-
ward
to
the
left and
hence the member
is in
compression.
i
FIG. 102.
As soon
as
the stresses
in
the
various
members
are found
arrow-heads
should be
placed
on the
members
indicating
whether
the stresses
are
tensions or
compressions.
The second lower
panel
point
should next be taken. The stress
in the member
Y 1 is
now known and in order that the
polygon
for this
joint
shall close
it
is
evident that the
point
2
must
coincide
with
1.
Therefore
the
stress in 12
is
zero
and the stress
in
2 Y is
the
same as the
stress
in Y-l. The first
upper panel point
can now
be taken
and
the stresses
in
.XV-3
and
3-2
may
be found.
The forces
at the
remaining
joints
may
be found
in
a
similar
manner.
The student
should
follow
through
the
construction
(Fig.
1026)
and build
up
the
complete
polygon.