1D Static Analysis of Balcony Truss

Problem: Consider the balcony truss as shown below with dimensions. It is required to determine the deflection
of each joint under the loading. All members are made from Douglas-fire wood with a modulus of elasticity of E
6 2 2
= 1.9x10 lb/in and a cross-sectional area of 8 in . It is also required to calculate the average stresses in each
member. Solve the problem using ANSYS.

GUI Solution:

1. Starting: Click start ANSYS ANSYS product launcher: Launch ANSYS

Multiphysics File management browse the directory for saving and retrieving the files.
Click run

2. Preferences tick structural select h-method ok

3. Title: Utility menu File Change title Balcony Truss ok.

Utility menu plot replot

4. Element: Main menu Preprocessor element type add add structural Link 2D spar 1
(LINK1) ok
5. Real Constant: Main menu Preprocessor real constant add ok enter the c/s area

6. Material Properties: Main menu Preprocessor material prop material models structural linear
elastic isotropic enter EX = 1.9e+05 & NUXY = 0.3 ok

7. Modeling:
(a) Main menu Preprocessor Modeling create nodes in active CS.
(b) Enter node number as 1 and its location (x,y,z values) apply & continue for other nodes ok N1
0,0 ; N2 36,0 ; N3 0,36 ; N4 36,36; N5 72,36 Note: ensure that no duplicate of node
numbers are entered

(c) Utility menu plot ctrls numbering node numbers ok Utility

menu plot nodes
(d) Main menu Preprocessor Modeling create elements auto numbered through nodes
select by cursor node 1& 2 apply select node 2 & 3 apply select node 3 & 4 apply select
node 2 & 4 apply select node 2 & 5 apply select node 4 & 5 ok.

(e) Utility menu plotctrls numbering element numbers ok Utility

menu plot elements

8. Boundary Conditions and Loads:

(a) Main menu solution define loads apply structural displacement on nodes select by
mouse node 1 & 3 select all DOF ok
(b) Main menu solution define loads apply structural force/moment on nodes select
by mouse node 4 & 5 apply enter FY = -500 ok

9. Solution:
Main menu Solution solve current LS

10. Post Processing:

Gen. post processor element table define table add enter ETABLE as axforce
select by sequ/num select SMISC and enter 1 apply

enter ETABLE as axstress select by sequ/num select LS and enter 1 apply

Main menu Gen. post processor element table plot elem table select axsress ok ( for
plotting the axial stress in the members)

Main menu Gen. post processor element table plot elem table select axforce ok ( for
plotting the axial force in the members)

Main menu Gen. post processor element table list elem table select axsress, axstress ok (
for listing the axial stress & force in the members)