Diagram of a "free" body with all the known and unknown external forces (represented by arrows and their corresponding point) acting on the body while maintaining the shape and dimension of the body
A body in equilibrium in which all forces are acting on only two points in the body with no couple moments
These forces can be summarized/simplified as Tension or Compressive Forces since these forces will cancel each other out to maintain the body's equilibrium
In the two points of application, the resultant forces should be equal in magnitude but opposite in direction
A truss member which does not experience internal force or has zero-member force
Case 1: If only two noncollinear members form a truss joint and no external load or support reaction is applied to the joint, the two members are both zero-force members
Case 2: If three members form a truss joint for which two of the members are collinear, the third member is a zero-force member provided that, there is no applied external force or support reaction on that joint
Special Case of Case 2: If two members form a truss joint in which one of them is collinear to an external force applied to the joint, then the other member is a zero-force member
There is a corresponding set of action-reaction forces in a point of connection where a frame member is dismembered or disconnected. These forces will not appear unless the member is dismembered from the point/s of connections.
Type of connector in structures that can resist translation but not rotation
If a pin connects two or more bodies, it is recommended to treat the pin as a separate body or consider it to be part of a specifically identified body
There is a corresponding set of action-reaction forces between a pin and a member when the pin is disconnected or dismembered. If the pin is reconnected, these action-reaction forces will disappear since they will cancel each other.