1.

0 Introduction
In engineering, a truss is a structure that "consists of two-force members only, where the
members are organized so that the assemblage as a whole behaves as a single object". (Plesha,
Gray, & Costanzo, 2013) A "two-force member" is a structural component where force is
applied to only two points. Although this rigorous definition allows the members to have any
shape connected in any stable configuration, trusses typically comprise five or more
triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints
referred to as nodes. In this typical context, external forces and reactions to those forces are
considered to act only at the nodes and result in forces in the members which are either
tensile or compressive. For straight members, moments (torques) are explicitly excluded
because, all the joints in a truss are treated as revolutes, as is necessary for the links to be
two-force members.

[3] Trusses are used in a broad range of buildings, mainly where there is a requirement for
very long spans, such as in airport terminals, aircraft hangers, sports stadia roofs, auditoriums
and otherleisure buildings. Trusses are also used to carry heavy loads and are sometimes used
as transfer structures. This article focuses on typical single storey industrial buildings, where
trusses are widely used to serve two main functions:

To carry the roof load

To provide horizontal stability.

Figure 1.1 show member under axial force Figure 1.2 show type of roof truss

1- Compression axial force

2- Tension Axial force
2.0 APPARATUS
Control box

Load cell

Truss members

Loading mechanism

Aluminium working frame

Figure 2.1 Trust member Figure 2.2 Load cell

Figure 2.4 Control box Figure 2.3 aluminium working frame

3.0 OBJECTIVE
-To understand force experience and strain on truss member

-To understand compression and tension force.

- To verify experimental result with theoretical result.

- To understand of method of section,

-To understand of joint resolution.

4.0 PROCEDURE
1 The load cell, truss member and loading mechanism is setup as shown in Figure 1.
2 The main power supply on the control box is switched on and wait for 15 minutes to
allow the load cell and display meter warm up.
3 The UP button on the digital force meter and digital strain meter is pushed once to
reset the readings to zero.
4 The initial reading of each trusses for loading weight = 0 is recorded.
5 The length of each members are measured and recorded in a table.
6 The load is then applied by tighten the loading mechanism until the digital load
reading shows the load reached 10N.
7 The reading of each truss members are recorded and tabulated.
8 Step 6 until 7 is repeated with the load 20N and 30N.

Figure 4.1 Set up of the experiment

5.0 Result
 RESULT

Member Labels Reading, N

Load, L Z3F1 0 10 20 30
BC Z3F2 -149.3 -143.8 -139.8 -116.9
DF Z1F1 -40.96 -53.42 -59.41 -64.8
EG Z1F2 11.25 19.12 17.64 20.86
CD Z1F3 -16.55 -22.70 -25.77 -28.88
FH Z1F4 -45.10 -61.38 -71.22 -80.08
CE Z1F5 10.62 17.10 16.07 19.12
DE Z1F6 -3.04 -2.98 -2.64 -2.77
GH Z2F1 0.12 14.52 22.03 69.20
AB Z2F2 -36.88 -43.72 -48.88 -76.88
AC Z2F3 -2.10 -2.06 -5.43 1.80
FG Z2F4 13.34 30.02 41.65 101.47
DG Z2F5 -16.50 -8.22 -4.72 23.15
BD Z2F6 -27.92 -32.28 -35.88 -55.72

Force, N (10N load) Force, N (20N load) Force, N (30N load)

Membe Label Experimenta theoretica Experimenta theoretica Experimenta theoretica
r s l l l l l l
(Reading- (Reading- (Reading-
Initial Initial Initial
reading) reading) reading)
Load, L Z3F1 10 10 20 20 30 30
BC Z3F2 5.5 2.5 9.5 5 32.4 7.5
DF Z1F1 -12.46 -7.5 -18.45 -15 -23.84 -22.5
EG Z1F2 7.87 5.0 6.39 10 9.61 15
CD Z1F3 -6.15 -3.54 -9.22 -7.07 -12.33 -10.61
FH Z1F4 -16.28 -10.61 -26.12 -21.21 -34.98 -31.82
CE Z1F5 6.48 5.0 5.45 10 8.5 15
DE Z1F6 0.06 0 0.4 0 0.27 0
GH Z2F1 14.4 7.5 21.91 15 69.08 22.5
AB Z2F2 -6.84 -3.54 -12 -7.07 -40 -10.61
AC Z2F3 0.04 2.50 -3.33 5 3.9 7.5
FG Z2F4 16.68 7.5 28.31 15 88.13 22.5
DG Z2F5 8.28 3.54 11.78 7.07 39.65 10.61
BD Z2F6 -4.36 -2.50 -7.96 -5 -27.8 -7.5

Calculation:

L= 10N,

AC=CE=EG=GH=27cm,
 = 45o

FAB= FCD, FAC= FBC, FCE =FGE, FGH =FFG

FDE = 0N

MA =0 Fy= 0
FG (0.81) Hy (1.08) = 0 7.5 10 + AY = 0
10 (0.81) Hy (1.08) = 0 Ay= 2.5N
Hy = 7.5N

Joint A Joint H
Ay = FAB sin 45 Hy = FFH cos 45
2.5 = FAB sin 45 7.5 = FFH cos 45
FAB = 3.54 N (T) FFH = 10.61 (T)

FAC = 2.5 N (C) FFH = 7.5 N (C)

Joint B Joint F

FAB sin 45 = FBD FDF = 7.5 N (T)

3.54 sin 45 = FBD FFG = 7.5 N (C)

FBD = 2.5 N (T)

Joint C Joint G

FCD sin 45 = FBC FDG cos 45 + FGF = 10N

FCD sin 45 = 2.5 FDG cos 45 + 7.5 = 10N

FCD = 3.54 N (T) FDG = 3.54 N (C)

FCE = FAC + FCD cos 45 FDG cos 45 + FGE = FGH

FCE = 2.5 + 3.54 cos 45 3.54 cos 45 + FGE = 7.5

FCE = 5.0 (N) FGE = 5.0 (C)

6.0 Discussion
Through out this experiment, we found out that tension and compression force are being
devided when a load is added in to it. Comparing to a single truss member more stress will
act on it, however when there is a lot truss member the load ( tension and compression
forces ) will be devided and reduce among each truss member. The resultant force in each
trust taken by placing the measuring gauge between the link of the structure. The reading is
shown is the displaying monitor.

There are several uncertainty happen during the recording of the result. Measurement result
taken from the displaying monitor is not constant from time to time when recording the same
result from the same truss member. This situation occur maybe due to over sensitive of the
measureing gauge, when there is slightly movement or vibration on the structure member
may cause most of the result to alter. To overcome such problem we have taken the average
value of the result to increase its accuracy.The reaction force is then being identify and
calculated and compare it with the theoratical reaction force.

7.0 Conclusion
In a nut shell, every truss structure will be subjected to tow force that is tension and
compression load when force is being added to the truss structure. A system with lots of truss
member will help to minimized the force act on each member of truss when comparing to a
single truss member all load is focus on it and hence creating a very high tension and
compression on a single member causing it to fracture and break.

8.0 Reference
1) (2013). In M. E. Plesha, G. L. Gray, & F. Costanzo, Engineering Mechanics: Statics (2nd
ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.
2) (2014). R.C Hibbeler, Mechanics of Materials ninth eddidiion. United States of America:
Pearson Prentice Hall.

3) B. (2013, November). Trusses. Retrieved April 18, 2016, from,

http://www.steelconstruction.info/Trusses

4) H. (2001). Truss Bridges: Beam Bridges With Braces. Retrieved April 18, 2016, from
http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/civil/bridge4.htm

9.0 Apendix
Figure 9.1 Collecting data from control box Figure 9.3 Truss member

Figure 9.2 Load cell setting up with truss Figure 9.3 Load cell to control the load

Member On the member

Figure 9.5 Set up of the whole experiment