LAB 5

FAKULTI TEKNOLOGI KEJURUTERAAN

MEKANIKAL DAN PEMBUATAN
UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA
BMMM 2303 SOLID MECHANICS

LAB SHEET 5

FORCES IN TRUSSES 2

Learning Outcome LO2 Identify and display appropriate experimental techniques in

(LO): mechanics of material through laboratory experiments.

Program Outcome: PO5 Ability to select and apply appropriate techniques, resources and
modern engineering tools, with an understanding of their limitations.

Synopsis: This lab activity will enrich students’ knowledge on forces in trusses. Students
are exposed to the concept of determining the internal forces and normal or axial
strains in statically determinate and statically indeterminate cantilever truss
members subjected to a given loading.

Related Lecture’s 1. Equilibrium of a deformable body (Topic 1)

Topic:
2. Strain (Topic 2)

3. Mechanical properties of material (Topic 3)

4. Axial load (Topic 4)

Prepared by: Dr Olawale Friday Ifayefunmi Date: 20 Apr 2020

Approved by Dr Muhammad Ilman Hakimi Chua Bin Date

LM/SLM/HOD Abdullah

QMS : REVISION RECORDS

 Date
Revisio Approved by
Description (DD/MM/YY Prepared by :
n No LM/SLM/HOD:
)

1.0 THEORY

A truss is a structure composed of slender members joined together at their end joints. The members
commonly used in construction consist of wooden or metal struts or bars. The end connections are
usually formed by bolting or welding the ends of the members to a common plate called a gusset
plate, as shown in Figure 1-b, or by simply passing a large bolt or pin through each of the members,
Figure 1-b.

Figure 1 Internal forces truss

To design both the members and the connections of a truss, it is necessary to determine the force
developed in each truss member when the truss system is subjected to a given loading. In this
regard two important assumptions will be made:
a. All loadings are applied at the joints.
b. The truss members are joined together by smooth pins.
Because of the two assumptions, each truss member acts as a two-force member and therefore the
forces at the ends of the member must be directed along the axis of the

member. If the force tends to elongate the

member, it is a tensile force (T), Figure 2(a), and if it tends to shorten the member, it is a
compressive force (C), Figure 2(b).
In static equilibrium the truss members will satisfy the following conditions:
 Fx = 0 (1)
 Fy = 0 (2)
M = 0 (3)
When material properties are used to determine force in truss member the following equation will be
needed.
Figure 2 Tensile and compressive force in a bar
From Hooke’s law :  = E (4)
where
 = Stress in the member (N/m2)
E = Young’s modulus (N/m2)
 = Displayed axial strain produced in truss member
and  = F/A (5)
where
F = Force in member (N)
A = Cross-sectional area of member (m2)
From equations (4) and (5),
 F = AE (6)

2.0 EQUIPMENTS/ EXPERIMENT APPARATUS/ CONSUMABLE MATERIALS

Layout of the apparatus and its schematic diagram are shown in Figure 4.

1. Fixed base
2. Roller base
3. Steel bars with strain sensor (strain gauges)
4. Load controller

3.0 PROCEDURES/ METHODOLOGY

Experiment 1 –Forces in a Statically Determinate Cantilever Truss

 Figure 3: Statically Determinate Cantilever Truss

Statically Determinate Cantilever Truss is a common structures. They are usually used for bridges
and in cantilevered form for crane booms.

1. Make sure the Redundant Member’s thumbwheel is loosened.

2. Apply loads until 250 N in the increment of 50 N and record the strain readings in table 1.
3. Record all the readings.
4. Assume that Esteel = 210 GPa for all truss members. Rod diameter = 5.98 mm:.

Experiment 2 –Forces in a Statically Indeterminate Cantilever Truss

Figure 4: Statically Indeterminate Cantilever Truss

Statically Indeterminate Cantilever Truss is also a common structure. They are usually used for
bridges and in cantilevered form for crane booms.

1. Make sure the Redundant Member’s thumbwheel is tightened by fingers.

2. Apply loads until 250 N in the increment of 50 N and record the strain readings in table 3.
3. Record all the readings.
4. Assume that Esteel = 210 GPa for all truss members. Rod diameter = 5.98 mm.

5.98X10-3

4.0 RESULTS

EXPERIMENTAL DATA (EXPERIMENT 1)

Table 1 Experiment Member Strains Results for an Idealised Cantilever Truss:

Load (N) Member strains ()

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
50 -9 -29 -33 -33 -26 N/A 20 50
100 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 64
150 11 -48 -24 -70 --28 N/A 48 78
200 20 -57 -32 -88 -28 N/A 61 91
250 30 -67 -41 -107 -29 N/A 74 104

Table 2 Comparison of Experimental and Theoretical Forces at 250 N.

Theoretical Forces Error (%)

Member Experimental Forces (N)
(N)
1 30
2 -67
3 -41
4 -107
5 -29
 6
7 74
8 104

EXPERIMENTAL RESULT (EXPERIMENT 1)

1. Theoretically, calculate internal force in each member with a load of 250 N. (E steel = 210 GPa)
and write down in Table 2.
2. By using the measured data, calculate internal force (experimental force) in each member with
a load 500 N. (Esteel = 210 GPa) and write down in Table 2.
 3. Determine the percentage of error between the experimental and theoretical force. Complete
Table 3 and write down in Table 2.

EXPERIMENTAL DATA (EXPERIMENT 2)

Table 3 Experiment Member Strains Results for an Idealised Cantilever Truss:

Load (N) Member strains ()

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
0
50 -11 -25 -3 -26 -28 29 16 47
100 -2 --33 -11 --42 -27 28 28 57
150 14 -39 -20 -58 -22 22 43 67
200 26 -42 -28 -69 -17 15 55 70
 250 42 -45 -36 -81 -11 6 68 74

Table 4 Comparison of Experimental and Theoretical Forces at 250 N.

Theoretical Forces Error (%)

Member Experimental Forces (N)
(N)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

EXPERIMENTAL RESULT (EXPERIMENT 2)

1. Theoretically, calculate internal force in each member with a load of 250 N. (E steel = 210 GPa)
and write down in Table 4.
2. By using the measured data, calculate internal force (experimental force) in each member with
a load 500 N. (Esteel = 210 GPa) and write down in Table 4.
3. Determine the percentage of error between the experimental and theoretical force. Complete
Table 3 and write down in Table 4.
5.0 DISCUSSION
For discussion, you should answer all questions as follows:

 Analyze or interpret and comment on the tabulated and graphical results obtained for both
experiments. Explain the relationship exists between the variables involve in this work.
 Discuss and explain the differences between the experimental and theoretical results.
 Identify which truss members are in compression and tension for both experiments. Give the
reason to this behaviour / observation and explain which members will be of the more critical
to be known its behaviour in order to avoid structural failure / collapse.

 State the factor of errors or discrepancies for both experiments. Justify your argument and
suggest how these errors may be eliminated or minimized.
6.0 CONCLUSION

Give your conclusion of this experiment work / report. Summarize its main findings.

7.0 OTHERS
The report must be prepared as APPENDIX.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

Your response to each task will be graded separately based on the checklist attached. To obtain
maximum marks, ensure that your response addresses each of the tasks in the question accordingly.

Assessment checklist for Lab Activity 1

Assessment tasks Mark allocation LO PO C/P/A level

Procedure (Ability to choose lab for 10 LO2 PO5

statically determinate and statically
P1 - Perception
indeterminate cantilever truss and
use equipment)

Work Process (Ability to construct 10 LO2 PO5 P2 - Set

and understanding of statically
determinate and statically
indeterminate cantilever truss
activity)

Work Process (Ability to show data 15 LO2 PO5 P4 – Mechanism

– Fotography skills)

Outcome (Results - strain data in 25 LO2 PO5 P4 – Mechanism

each truss member)

Outcome (Explanation of the 15 LO2 PO5 P5 - Complex Overt

results) Response

Outcome (Discussion) 15 LO2 PO5 P5 - Complex Overt

Response

Discipline (Ability to perform lab 10 LO2 PO5 P2 - Set

and safety regulations)

TOTAL 100

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION

1. Answer in ENGLISH .
2. Must include list of references .
3. Submit your assignment ONCE only in a SINGLE file.
4. Submit your assignment ONLINE.
5. Submission date: Week 4
6. This lab report/activity accounts for 5% of the total marks for the course.