Although the method of joints and the method of sections described in the preceding sections can be used individually for the analysis of compound trusses, the analysis of such trusses can sometimes be expedited by using a combination of the two methods. For some types of compound trusses, the sequential analysis of joints breaks down when a joint with two or fewer unknown forces cannot be found. In such a case, the method of sections is then employed to calculate some of the member forces, thereby yielding a joint with two or fewer unknowns, from which the method of joints may be continued. This approach is illustrated by the following examples.
