Statics - Finding Reaction at Supports

[adam640]

Hey I'm just going over a past paper and I've lost the section of my notes RE this topic.

I understand how to draw the free body diagram when there is a pin involved, but not when it is connected at 4 points, the fact that they're at an angle is not helping.

Any help greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5587/12603314.png

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[lewando]

I don't see the horizontal member to the right of X contributing any force. It can be removed to simplify your analysis.

 

[CWatters]

Been 30 years sinvce I did this but ...

The lower supports are fixed so can point X be temporaily replaced by a fixed support? The 20kN load is therefore shared equally between the one support to the left and the temporary support at X. The vertical load on the temporary support X is then transferred down to two lower supports.