Introduction

A truss is a structure that is made of slender elements connected together by pin joints.
They are either supported by a hinge or a roller. The number of hinges or rollers
determinate if the structure is unstable, just stable or hyper stable. The structure is
unstable if it cannot support its own load or by any means any load bearing placed upon
it. Just stable trusses are trusses which can support their own weight as well as a
specified load bearing, for a just stable structure it has to have a minimum number of
elements connected in order for the structure to be stable. If any of the members are
removed, then the truss is no longer stable and will fail under any load bearing. Although
this is not the only factor it is the most important for truss stability. However, the way the
truss has been assembled, the materials used, and the load that the truss is supporting
also have a major effect on its stability. These structures are said to be statically
determinate and the forces applied to each joint can be worked out mathematically.
Trusses that have members which can be taken out are said to be statically
indeterminate and the forces on each joint cannot be worked out mathematically as they
have too many unknowns and not enough equations. Primarily, if the truss is to be
stable in open space then it follows that the sum of all its forces both vertical and
horizontal and the moment at each joint much be in equilibrium and so must equal zero
(Moganraj, 2010). The structure is also assumed to have all its members in tension or
compression with no bending forces occurring at any point or member.
To determinate whether we could solve a structures stability mathematically, as in it is
just stable it has to obey the following formula: b+r=2j where b= number of elements r=
number of reactions and j= number of joints.
Due to their simplicity as well as stability trusses are one of the most widely used
structures in bridges and roofs. Not only this, they decrease the amount of materials
needed and in turn have a positive impact both financially and environmentally.
Description of equipment needed

Perspex model cantilever truss, this is made of a memory plastic called Perspex.
They are joined together in a truss manner to examine how its effected by a load.
We also know the required lengths in the truss.
Demountable mechanical (Demec) gauge which operates over a 200mm gauge
length. It is an extremely accurate, reliable and relatively quick method in
measuring strains with an average accuracy rate of about 5x10-6 (Bestech, 2010)
A Perspex tensile test specimen to help determine Youngs modulus as well as
aiding in determining the strain/time characteristics of the Perspex truss.
A 40Ib weight consisting of two 20Ib steel plates.

Procedure
a) Truss
1. Before placing any loads, we took zero readings on all the members including
between HI and JC. We also repeated these readings thrice and got an average
which helped increase the accuracy of our results.
 2. We carefully simultaneously applied a load of 20Ib at point D and 20Ib at point C,
at which moment we also started a timer.
3. Took readings of all members again, however we also noted down the time
interval between placing the loads and the taking the readings as how long the
Perspex is subject to the force has an effect on the values.
4. Removed the loads after taking the required readings and after about 10 minutes
took another zero load readings of all the truss members.
5. Recorded all of our results in a suitable table.

b) Tensile specimen
1. We started by taking a zero load reading on the tensile specimen which is
between K and L.
2. Without removing the Demec gauge we carefully placed a 40Ib load and
immediately started taking readings at 20 second intervals for a 5 minute period.
3. After 5 minutes, we carefully removed the 40Ib load and took zero load readings
for a further 5 minutes.
4. We then recorded our results in suitable tables.

Measurements and results

Truss:

Zero load readings: After 10 minutes of rest:

Member Readings
Member Readings
A-B 858
A-B 849
B-C 856
B-C 852
B-D 842
B-D 845
D-C 855
D-C 855
A-D 1344
A-D 1340
E-D 860
E-D 855
F-G 827
F-G 822
H-I 713
H-I 711
J-C 1021
J-C 1021
 Difference between zero reading and after 10
minutes for Perspex truss
1400
1340 1344
1200

1000
1021 1021
800 855 860
849 858 852 856 845 842 855 855 822 827
600 711 713

400

200
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
A-B B-C B-D D-C A-D E-D F-G H-I J-C

Zero Load After 10 Minutes rest

Applying a 20Ib force at points D and C

Member Reading Time (s)

A-B 893 25

B-C 908 48

B-D 703 82

D-C 802 113

A-D 1467 155

E-D 716 184

F-G 830 209

H-I 704 229

J-C 2391 253

Applying a 40Ib load to the tensile specimen Zero Load: 824

Time (s) Readings Time (s) Readings Time (s) Readings

0 912 120 936 220 941

20 918 140 940 240 940

 40 923 160 942 260 940

60 926 180 941 280 939

80 931 200 940 300 941

100 932

Readings after removing the 40Ib on the Tensile specimen

Time (s) Readings Time (s) Readings Time (s) Readings

0 833 120 827 220 827

20 832 140 828 240 827

40 831 160 828 260 826

60 830 180 828 280 826

80 830 200 828 300 826

100 829
Behaviour of Perspex under load:
Firstly, the strain for the first 120 seconds increases linearly meaning the Perspex is showing
some elastic behaviour. It then starts to level off and reaching a constant value of about 940.
Due to strain being equal to the change of length over the original length, it shows that the
plastic is elongating constantly for the first 120 seconds. It then reaches its maximum strain
and therefore the maximum elongation and then levels off. The graph begins with linear
creep up until its point of plastic deformation, as this point the Perspex has reached its
maximum strain and therefore cannot increase any more. The slight change in the readings
could be a parallax error as there were quite a few human errors such as not reading off the
time exactly at the right time, this could have been avoided by using an automatic timer
which takes readings every 20 seconds.
In conclusion, I believe that the cause of the gradual change in the readings was due to the
fact that due to the Perspexs behaviour the molecules inside do not come full strain straight
away but rather gradually. This means that the material is less brittle and more able to
survive impacts as well. Although Under load, segments of the molecules of the material
rotate and flow relative to one another at a rate controlled by the time for which the material
has been stressed (Princeton university).

References
https://www.scribd.com/doc/27381814/Truss-Full-Report

http://www.bestech.com.au/demountable-mechanical-strain-gauge/

http://press.princeton.edu/chapters/s9774.pdf