General Rules of Thumb Statics

[SpartanG345]

Hello I sometimes have difficulty determining weather a problem is solvable or have trouble gauging the difficulty of a certain approach.

I think this is because of a weak background in maths

Say you had a general 2d single rigid body problem
Which has 2 given forces and 3 unknowns

i understand that in a 2d equilibrium problem you can get at most 3 independent equations for a member, off course you can write more than that, ie the 4th equation but this will be redundant.

i also understand to solve a single variable you need to express that variable in terms of a constant ( ie 1 equation 1 constant solves 1 variables)

so i suppose with 2 constants you should be able to solve 2 variables using 2 equations of statical equilibrium. Using that result i suppose you can solve for the other variable

I think i have a basic understanding, but does anyone else have some tips for problem solving along these lines?

Oh yea i also wouldn't mind some tips on when to use method of sections vs method of joints
thanks

 

[Valkarie]

When it comes to problem solving, one of the most important things is to be able to identify the type of problem that you are dealing with. For example, if you are dealing with a single rigid body problem, then you will need to know the governing equations of equilibrium and the forces/moments acting on the body. You can then use these equations to solve for the unknowns in the problem. In terms of determining whether a problem is solvable or not, you should look at the number of unknowns and the number of equations. If the number of equations is equal to or greater than the number of unknowns, then the problem is solvable. For the method of sections vs. method of joints, this depends on the nature of the problem and which approach is more efficient. The method of sections is usually used to determine the internal forces in a truss system, while the method of joints is typically used for more complex structures.

 

[Mene]

I would suggest that the best way to improve your problem-solving skills in statics is to practice and gain more experience. It is also important to have a strong foundation in mathematics, as it is a fundamental tool for solving problems in this field.

In terms of determining whether a problem is solvable or not, one approach is to start by identifying the known and unknown variables, and then using the equations of static equilibrium to see if you have enough information to solve for all the unknowns. If you have more unknowns than equations, then the problem may not be solvable. Another approach is to break the problem down into smaller parts and solve them individually, then combine the solutions to get the overall solution.

As for the method of sections vs method of joints, it really depends on the specific problem and what information is given. Generally, the method of sections is used when there are more unknown forces than known forces, while the method of joints is used when there are more known forces than unknown forces. However, it is always good to try both methods and see which one leads to a simpler and more efficient solution.

Overall, my advice would be to keep practicing and seeking out resources to strengthen your understanding of statics and its principles. With time and experience, you will become more confident in your problem-solving abilities.