Department of Mechanical Engineering Tutorial for 25.

108 (Introduction to Engineering)

ANALYSIS OF TRUSS
USING AUTOCAD, FEMAP & ALGOR

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:

Fig 1. Truss configuration

INTRODUCTION:

A statically determinant truss can be analyzed using either a static analysis computed by
hand, or it can be solved with the aid of a finite element analysis program. A statically
determinant truss is such that a person can write as many equations to find reactions as
there are unknowns for the given truss.

A truss utilizes pinned connections and has components (members) that can only sustain
compressive and tensile forces. Because of this, the truss will be modeled using single
elements for each individual member of the truss.

The pre-processing program for this tutorial will be AutoCAD and FEMAP, processing
program will be ALGOR and post-processing will be ALGOR.

PRE-PROCESSING USING AUTOCAD

1. Create Lines

Start AutoCAD
The truss layout will be created by using command line.

Click “ ”or type “line”in command window.

Fist point: (Pick a point at any convenient position)

Next point: @0.5,0 (line AI)
Next point: @1,0 (line IH)
Next point: @1,0 (line HG)
Next point: @1,0 (line GF)

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Next point: <ENTER>

Click “ ”or type “line”in command window.

Fist point: Pick point A using object snap

Next point: @0.5<60 (line AB)
Next point: Pick point I using object snap (line BI)
Next point: <ENTER>

Click “ ”or type “line”in command window.

Fist point: Pick point I using object snap

Next point: @1<60 (line IC)
Next point: Pick point H using object snap (line CH)
Next point: <ENTER>

Click “ ”or type “line”in command window.

Fist point: Pick point H using object snap

Next point: @1<60 (line HD)
Next point: Pick point G using object snap (line DG)
Next point: <ENTER>

Click “ ”or type “line”in command window.

Fist point: Pick point G using object snap

Next point: @1<60 (line GE)
Next point: Pick point F using object snap (line EF)
Next point: <ENTER>

Click “ ”or type “line”in command window.

Fist point: Pick point A using object snap

Next point: Pick point B using object snap (line AB)
Next point: Pick point C using object snap (line BC)
Next point: Pick point D using object snap (line CD)
Next point: Pick point E using object snap (line DE)
Next point: Pick point F using object snap (line EF)
Next point: <ENTER>

Now, you will get the drawing on the screen as shown in Fig. 2.

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Fig. 2. Truss layout

2. Save File

~ Select File → Save AS…

“Saving drawing as”window popup.

In the “Files of type”field, specify the following type:

“AutoCAD 2000 DXF (*.dxf)”

In the “File name”field, enter a file name, e.g. “Truss”

Press Save when done.

3. Exit AutoCAD

~ Select File → Exit

Press “No”when you are asked to save in AutoCAD drawing format.

PRE-PROCESSING USING FEMAP

It is suggested that you save your file after every step, because there are only a
few specific times in this tutorial that will instruct you to save your file.

NOTE: All the necessary commands will be explained fully. Therefore, no previous
experience with this software is required. If for some reason you have not
executed a particular step correctly or feel as if you may have made some mistakes
during the step, then you may execute the following commands to erase the last
completed command. The steps are as follows:

~ Select Tools → Undo

Once this command is executed, you can then proceed to complete the erased
step.

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1. Preparing the Workplane

Steps: Start FEMAP or if you already have work in FEMAP

~ Select File → New to begin a new modeling session

~ Select Tools → Workplane…

Turn off Draw Workplane by clicking off the check

Select the Snap Options…

Turn off Draw X Ruler and Draw Y Ruler by clicking on theor

respective checks

Press OK when done

2. Importing the geometry from AutoCAD

~ Select File → Import → Import to popup “Geometry File to import”window

In the “Files of type”field, specify the following type:

“AutoCAD DXF (*.dxf)”

In the “File name”field, select the file saved in AutoCAD, e.g. “Truss.dxf”

Press Open when done.

Then, “DXF Read Option”window popup,

Check on all boxes,

Press OK when done.

3. Defining Material and Property

~ Select Model → Material…

Click “Load…”Button to popup “Select From Library”window.

Select “AISI 4340 Steel”for “Library Entry”field

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Press OK when done to close “Select From Library”window.

The dialogue box should now look similar to Fig. 3.

Fig. 3. Define material for truss

Press OK when done.

Press Cancel to close the reappeared “Define material”window.

~ Select Model → Property…

Click or <Tab> into the Title Field and type in a title, e.g. Truss Elements

Press the down arrow on the Material

Choose 1.. AISI 4340 Steel

Press the Elem/Property Type box

Choose Rod under Line Elements

Click OK when done

The value for the area of the members now needs to be specified.

Enter Area, A = 0.001 in Property Values

The dialogue box should now look similar to Fig. 4.

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Fig. 4. Define Properties for truss

Press OK when done

Press Cancel to close the reappeared “Define Property – ROD
Element Type”window.

4. Generation of Nodes and Elements

~ Select Mesh → Mesh Control → Size Along Curve…

Choose Select All

Press OK

FEMAP now displays a Mesh Size Along Curves dialogue box

In the Mesh Size field,

For Number of Elements

Enter a value of 1

Make sure the Node Spacing field is set to Equal (a black dot should
be visible in the circle next to it).
Press OK when done

~ Press Cancel to exit command

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5. Meshing the Model Geometry

~ Select Mesh → Geometry → Curve…

Choose Select All

Press OK

In the displayed dialogue box:

Click the down arrow on Property

Select 1.. Truss Elements

Under Generate make sure that

Elements and Nodes is selected (a black dot will be on if chosen)

Your screen should look similar to Fig. 5.

Fig. 5. Geometry Mesh Options

Press OK when done

6. Checking Created Geometry

Merging Coincident Nodes:

This command checks to see if multiple nodes have been created at or near

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the same spatial location and merges them together.

During the process of “building”the virtual truss in FEMAP, the program may
create multiple pin joints (nodes) at the same physical position in space. It is
the modeler’s responsibility to merge these multiple joints into a single joint.

~ Select Tools → Check → Coincident Nodes…

Choose Select All

Press OK

FEMAP will display a dialogue box that reads:

OK to Specify Additional Range of Nodes to Merge?

Choose No (if you were choosing multiple sets of nodes, then you would
choose yes to continue the process)

In the Options Field,

Click on the Merge Coincident Entities box, a check will come on

Press OK

FEMAP should display a message in the lower left-hand side of the screen that the
model now has 21 nodes merged.

Checking for Coincident Elements:

This command checks to see if more than one element is defined for the
same space. If so, the program will delete the extra element if told to do so.

~ Select Tools → Check → Coincident Elem…

Choose Select All

Press OK

In the displayed dialogue box:

Press OK

FEMAP should display a message in the lower left-hand side of the screen that no
Coincident Elements were found.

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7. Applying a Set of Forces to the Model

~ Select Model → Load → Set…

Enter a Title for constraint set 1, e.g. Load Set

Press OK this names the loading set

~ Select Model → Load → Nodal…

Using the mouse, select the node related with point I in Fig.1 (the second
node from left on the bottom).

Press OK when completed.

The loads are to be defined in terms of force and will be input in

directional components.

In the Load Field,

Click off the checks for Fx and Fz

Enter a value Fy = - 4. *(4 kN in the negative y-direction

with respect to the global coordinate system)

Your screen should look similar to Fig. 6.

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Fig 6. Nodal Loading

Press OK to create the defined nodal load

Next, using the mouse, select the node related to point H in Fig. 1. (the third
node from the left on the bottom).

Press OK when completed

The load to be defined is 2 kN in the negative y-direction.

In the Load Field,

Click off the checks for Fx and Fz

Enter a value Fy = - 2. *(2 kN in the negative y-direction

with respect to the global coordinate system)

Press OK to create the defined nodal load

~ Press Cancel to exit command

Your screen should now look similar to Fig. 7.

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Fig 7. Model with defined load

8. Constraining the Model

The truss will be constrained (fixed in space) by using pin and roller connections.
For a truss resting in the x-y plane, the pin will prevent motion of that joint in the x-y
plane, and the roller will prevent translation of its joint in the y-direction.

~ Select Model → Constraint → Set…

Enter a Title for constraint set 1, e.g. Boundary Conditions

Press OK this names the constraint set

~ Select Model → Constraint → Nodal…

Using the mouse, select the node on the bottom left of the truss.

Press OK when completed

Toggle on TY and TZ box under DOF (Degree of Freedom). A check
will appear when toggled on. This prevents the truss from translating
(moving) in the y and z directions, but allows translation in the x
direction.

Press OK, this defines a roller support for the left end of the truss

Using the mouse, select the node on the bottom, right of the truss.

Press OK when completed

Press Pinned

Press OK, this pins the right end of the truss

Your model should look similar to the one shown in Fig. 8.

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Fig 8. Model with defined load and defined constraints

9. File Save

~ Select File → Save

10. Exporting the Analysis Model

~ Select File → Export → Analysis Model…

Choose ALGOR as the analysis package to be used

Set the Type to 1.. Static

Press OK when completed.

“Write Model to ALGOR”Window popups.

Input a file name in the “File name”field without any extension, e.g. Truss.
(ALGOR will not read the file if it has any extension associated with its
name. This file-extension quirk is a feature of ALGOR).

Press Write when completed

“ALGOR Model Write”window pops up.

Press OK without any change.

Choose Select All

Press OK

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Department of Mechanical Engineering Tutorial for 25.108 (Introduction to Engineering)

PROCESSING AND POST-PROCESSING USING ALGOR

1. Importing model to Superdraw

Steps: Start ALGOR FEA

~ Select Tools → Transfer To Superdraw

The Superdraw ? Interface appear.

~ Select File → Import → Previous ALGOR Model…

“Import”window pops up.

In the “Files of type”field, specify the following type:

“Pre-Release 12 Files (*.*)”

In the “File name”field, select the file saved in FEMAP, e.g. “Truss”

Press Open when done.

Press Done after the ALGOR translation is compete.

A warning window may pop up. If it does, press OK

A window may pop up that a unit system is not selected, Press OK

Your model should look similar to the one shown in Fig. 9.

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Fig. 9. Model in Superdraw III

2. Export the model to the FEA Editor for Processing

~ Select File → Export to FEA Editor

The Superdraw III window will disappear, and the FEA Editor window appear
(Shown in Fig. 10.).

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Fig. 10. Model in ALGOR FEA Editor

~ Select View → Orientation →XY Top

~ Select Analysis → Perform Analysis

(Need patience to wait)

When analysis finished, a Superview window will appear.

Switch to Superview interface.

~ Select View → Pre-Defined Views →XY Top

~ Select Zoom → In…

Specify a window in screen to fit the truss.

Press Done after Zoom In…

Your model should look similar to the one shown in Fig. 11.

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Fig11. Model in Superview

3. Forces Inquiry for truss

~ Select Results → Beam and Truss Stress

Your model should look similar to the one shown in Fig. 12.

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Fig. 12 Stress contour of truss

~ Select Inquire → Get Value…

Click on an element, the stress value of the element will be shown in the bottom of
the window (Shown in Fig. 13).

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Fig. 13. Stress for the left element

The message display area under the model screen display a Rod Axial Stress
value

Force = Stress X (Cross-section Area)

Note: the negative sign associated with the displayed number indicates
compressive stresses in the member and should be reported accordingly.
To find the force in the member, simply multiply the displayed value by the
cross-sectional area of the member, 0.001 m2 in this case. The remaining
member forces may be obtained by executing the previous set of
commands.

The force of each member of truss is shown in Table 1.

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Table 1. Stress and Force for each member of the truss

Stress Cross-Section Area Force
Rob
(Pa) (M2) (KN)
AB -5.004E+003 0.001 -5.004
AI 2.502E+003 0.001 2.502
BI 2.502E+003 0.001 2.502
BC -4.333E+003 0.001 -4.333
IC 2.117E+003 0.001 2.117
IH 2.694E+003 0.001 2.694
CH 3.849E+002 0.001 0.3849
CD -2.887E+003 0.001 -2.887
DH 1.924E+003 0.001 1.924
HG 1.924E+003 0.001 1.924
DG -9.623E+002 0.001 -0.9623
DE -1.667E+003 0.001 -1.667
GE 9.623E+002 0.001 0.9623
GF 9.623E+002 0.001 0.9623
EF -1.924E+003 0.001 -1.924

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