E14 Truss Lab Name: _______________

Part 1
o Load the center of a flat beam by adding weights (grab whatever you can
find) to a bucket until the beam collapses. Record the weights used (for later
use).
**Try to increase the weight in small increments if possible.**

Part 2
o Using the same weight that caused the beam to collapse, load the full truss
(truss A) as shown above. **Make sure you support the truss with your
hands so it only experiences loading in the plane.**
The truss (circle one): Is Rigid / Wobbles / Collapses

o Continue to load truss A until it fails.

Where did the truss fail? (Which member or pin failed?) ____________

Part 3
Trace your truss onto a piece of foamcore and cut it out except this time
remove members BF and DF (truss B).
o Using the same weight that caused the beam to collapse, load the new
truss (truss B). **Again, make sure you support the truss with your hands so
it only experiences loading in the plane.**
The truss (circle one): Is Rigid / Wobbles / Collapses

o Continue to load truss B until it fails.

Where did the truss fail? (Which member or pin failed?) ____________
What amount of weight did truss B support at failure relative to truss A?
(give an approximate percent): _______ %

Post Lab:
1. Both the truss and the beam were designed to span the same distance with
the same amount of material.
The truss supports Less / The Same / More weight than the beam

2a. Was there any difference between where truss A and B failed? Yes / No
2b. Why do you think this occurred?
3. Complete the full truss analysis (all parts of problem 2 in the prelab).