Objective:

To determine the forces in numbers of a plane truss with different loading position.
Theory:
Structural Analysis
A truss, or also known as framework is an assembly of bars connected in both ways
slanting or straight by hinged or pinned. Bridges, roof supports, and many other such
structures are common example of trusses. Eiffel tower in Paris is one of the famous and
well know trusses in the whole world. The arrangement of the members in a truss makes
it an efficient system for carrying loads.
But there are few assumptions to make simple concept from statics alone to analyses a
truss. Without use of these assumptions, truss analysis require complex procedures and
yet the solution will be very tedious. These assumptions are:
All forces are applied at the joints.
All joints are formed by frictionless pins.
Weight of the bars/members shall be neglected or ignored because the force
supported by each member is usually much greater than its weight.

Each member will act as a two force member, and therefore the forces acting at each end
of the member will be directed along the axis of the member. If the force tends to
elongate the member, then the member is said to be under tensile force, whereas if it
tends to shorten the member, then it is under compressive force.



Apparatus:
1. A truss model (Figure 1).
2. A screw jack for applying load to the truss (Figure 1).
3. A comprehensive digital display unit (Figure 2).
4. Channel switcher (Figure 3).

Figure 1 Truss model and configuration






Figure 2 Display Unit Figure 3 Channel Switcher

Screw Jack
Members
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
Apparatus set up:
1. Place one end of the roof truss model on the roller support and the other on the pin
support (please ensure that the centre of the joint is located on the knife edge and at
the centre of the roller).
2. Connect the screw jack to the channel 1.
3. Connect the members to the channel switcher by the sequence shown in Figure 1.
4. Make sure that all cables of the load cell are supported on table or on the frame to
avoid extra load added to the truss.
Procedure:
1.The screw jack was attached to the joint to be loaded as shown in Figure 1.
2.The screw jack was loosen so that the truss was free from applied load.
3.The load cells was connected to the display unit, each load cell occupied with on
terminal on the display.
4.The display was switched on and start beginning with channel 1 ,the initial reading
was recorded for each channel in Table 1.
5. The screw jack was used to apply upwards load to the truss.
6.The reading of each load cell was recorded. This represents the force in the member.
7.The load at loaded joint was increased by 10N each time up to 50N and for each
increment, the corresponding load cell reading was recorded.
8. The screw jack was loosen so that the truss was free from applied load.
9. The screw jack was change to the end join and the step 3 to 8 was repeated and the
reading was recorded in Table 2.


RESULT:
Screw Jack
(N)
Member 2
(N)
Member 3
(N)
Member 4
(N)
Member 5
(N)
Member 6
(N)
Member 7
(N)
0 1.4 0.2 -18.9 15.9 24.3 -70.7
10 1.4 0.3 -30.2 15.7 24.3 -54.3
20 1.4 0.4 -41.6 15.7 24.3 -38.4
30 1.4 0.2 -52.5 15.7 24.4 -22.6
40 1.3 0.1 -62.4 15.9 24.5 -7.2
50 1.3 0.1 -73.6 15.8 24.4 8.2
Table 1: Measured Forces in Members of Truss

Screw Jack
(N)
Member 2
(N)
Member 3
(N)
Member 4
(N)
Member 5
(N)
Member 6
(N)
Member 7
(N)
0 -5.1 -4.0 -11.9 21.7 30.3 -71.6
10 11.7 7.5 -34.3 10.8 18.7 -55.6
20 27.4 19.0 -56.2 0.2 7.5 -39.8
30 42.9 29.9 -77.7 -10.3 -3.3 -24.7
40 58.6 41.2 -99.5 -21.5 -14.3 -9.6
50 74.3 52.2 -120.9 -31.9 -25.6 6.0
Table 2: Measured Forces in Members of Truss


Discussion:
Screw Jack (N) Member 4(N) Actual Force(N)
0 -18.9 -18.9-(-18.9)=0
10 -30.2 -30.2-(-18.9)=-11.3
20 -41.6 -41.6-(-18.9)=-22.7
30 -52.5 -52.5-(-18.9)=-33.6
40 -62.4 -62.4-(-18.9)=-43.5
50 -73.6 -73.6-(-18.9)=-54.8
Actual Forces in Members 4 of Truss from Table 1
Screw Jack(N) Member 7(N) Actual Force(N)
0 -70.7 -70.7-(-70.7)=0
10 -54.3 -54.3-(-70.7)=16.4
20 -38.4 -38.4-(-70.7)=32.3
30 -22.6 -22.6-(-70.7)=48.1
40 -7.2 -7.2-(-70.7)=63.5
50 8.2 8.2-(-70.7)=78.9
Actual Forces in Members 7 of Truss from Table 1
Screw Jack(N) Member 2(N) Actual Force(N)
0 -5.1 -5.1-(-5.1)=0
10 11.7 11.7-(-5.1)=16.8
20 27.4 27.4-(-5.1)=32.5
30 42.9 42.9-(-5.1)=48.0
40 58.6 58.6-(-5.1)=63.7
50 74.3 74.3-(-5.1)=79.4
Actual Forces in Members 2 of Truss from Table 2
Screw Jack(N) Member 3(N) Actual Force(N)
0 -4.0 -4.0-(-4.0)=0
10 7.5 7.5-(-4.0)=11.5
20 19.0 19.0-(-4.0)=23.0
30 29.9 29.9-(-4.0)=33.9
40 41.2 41.2-(-4.0)=45.2
50 52.2 52.2-(-4.0)=56.2
Actual Forces in Members 3 of Truss from Table 2
Screw Jack(N) Member 4(N) Actual Force(N)
0 -11.9 -11.9-(-11.9)=0
10 -34.3 -34.3-(-11.9)=--22.4
20 -56.2 -56.2-(-11.9)=-44.3
30 -77.7 -77.7-(-11.9)=-65.8
40 -99.5 -99.5-(-11.9)=-87.6
50 -120.9 -120.9-(-11.9)=-109.0
Actual Forces in Members 4 of Truss from Table 2
Screw Jack(N) Member 5(N) Actual Force(N)
0 21.7 21.7-21.7=0
10 10.8 10.8-21.7=-10.9
20 0.2 0.2-21.7=-21.5
30 -10.3 -10.3-21.7=-32.0
40 -21.5 -21.5-21.7=-43.2
50 -31.9 -31.9-21.7=-53.6
Actual Forces in Members 5 of Truss from Table 2
Screw Jack(N) Member 6(N) Actual Force(N)
0 30.3 30.3-30.3=0
10 18.7 18.7-30.3=-11.6
20 7.5 7.5-30.3=-22.8
30 -3.3 -3.3-30.3=-33.6
40 -14.3 -14.3-30.3=-44.6
50 -25.6 -25.6-30.3=-55.9
Actual Forces in Members 6 of Truss from Table 2
Screw Jack(N) Member 7(N) Actual Force(N)
0 -71.6 -71.6-(-71.6)=0
10 -55.6 -55.6-(-71.6)=16.0
20 -39.8 -39.8-(-71.6)=31.8
30 -24.7 -24.7-(-71.6)=46.9
40 -9.6 -9.6-(-71.6)=62.0
50 6.0 6.0-(-71.6)=77.6
Actual Forces in Members 7 of Truss from Table 2