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Internal forces in members of structure are the forces that act within the structure itself. These forces are typically caused by the external loads placed on the structure and the reactions of the supports. They are important to consider in structural analysis and design as they help determine the strength and stability of the structure.
Internal forces can cause stress and strain within a structure, which can affect its stability. If the internal forces exceed the strength of the structure, it can result in failure or collapse. Therefore, it is important to consider the internal forces when designing a structure to ensure it can withstand the expected loads and remain stable.
The three main types of internal forces in members of structure are tension, compression, and shear. Tension is a pulling force that elongates the material, compression is a pushing force that shortens the material, and shear is a sliding force that causes one part of the material to move relative to another part.
Internal forces can change within a structure due to various factors such as changes in external loads, changes in support conditions, and changes in the geometry or material properties of the structure. These changes can result in different internal forces being present at different locations within the structure.
Internal forces can be calculated using structural analysis methods such as the method of joints, method of sections, or finite element analysis. These methods involve breaking down the structure into smaller sections and analyzing the forces acting on each section to determine the internal forces. Computer software programs are also available that can perform these calculations automatically.