1.1.

Data input

The truss girder will be modelled as a plane structure in the X-Z plane. 1.1.1. Define geometry: nodes

Node coordinates can be defined either graphically or in a table format. Nodes shall be defined in the order they were numbered. Display nodes on the screen using Settings>Display>Labels [Nodes]. Snap settings can be changed from Settings>Options>Grid&Cursor.

1.1.2.

Define geometry: lines

Lines can be defined either graphically or in a table format. Lines shall be defined in the order they were numbered. Display lines on the screen using Settings>Display>Labels [Nodes].

1.1.3.

Define material: steel

1.1.4.

Define cross-sections

Choose a trial cross-section. The truss is statically determined, therefore internal forces will not be affected by cross-section properties. Deflections will however be affected by cross-section size.

1.1.5.

Define truss elements

Assign the same cross-section to all elements.

Node and truss element numbering is presented in the following figure.

1.1.6.

Define supports

Node 1: Rx=Rz=1010, all other directions are set to 0. Node 7: Rz=1010, all other directions are set to 0. 1.1.7. Degrees of freedom

Specify degrees of freedom for all nodes as "Truss in plane XZ".

1.1.8.

Define load cases

Define two load cases: ULS and SLS.

1.1.9.

Assign loads

Assign loads P1 and P2 to nodes, for each load case. Gravitational loads are entered as negative values along the Fz direction.

1.1.10. Run static analysis

1.1.11. Display axial force diagram for the ULS loads

1.1.12. Display results in a table

Write down obtained results. Find the maximum (in absolute value) axial force for each type of truss girder element: bottom chord, top chord, diagonals, and struts. Positive axial force denotes tension. Element number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Crosssection 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Length [m] 2.000 4.000 4.000 4.000 4.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.828 2.828 2.828 2.828 2.828 2.828 2.828 2.828 2.828 2.828 Nx [kN] 0 638.40 957.60 957.60 638.40 0 -359.10 -359.10 -837.90 -837.90 -997.50 -997.50 -837.90 -837.90 -359.10 -359.10 -399.00 -79.80 -79.80 -79.80 -79.80 -79.80 -399.00 507.84 -394.99 282.14 -169.28 56.43 56.43 -169.28 282.14 -394.99 507.84 Elements type max Nx [kN]

bottom chord

957.6

top chord

-997.5

column

struts

-79.8

column

diagonals

+507.8 -395.0