TRUSSES

2.1 2D Trusses Or Plane Trusses:

Every truss member is identified as a truss element. Each truss element is in direct

tension or compression. In a truss element all the loads and reactions are applied only at

the pin joints.

Hence we may define a truss element as a two nodded element having two degrees of

freedom at each node. As shown in fig., for node ‘i’ the d.o.f. no. along the horizontal and

vertical directions are 2i-1 & 2i resp. the corresponding displacements at node i are

identified as Q2i-1 & Q2i.

Compared to the 1D problems, plane truss may make inclination θ° with X-axis or (90-

θ)° with y axis. We may define local & global co-ordinates for a truss element. The local

co-ordinate system has only one co-ordinate x1 which is located along the truss element

axis. The global co-ordinate system has 2 co-ordinates x & y of cartesian co-ordinate

system.
x11 q4 sin θ

q21
q3cos θ

2
θ q4
2 q3
y q2sin θ

Deformed Element
q1cos θ q11
1
q1 = q1cos θ + q2 sin θ
1 q2 q21 = q3cos θ + q4sin θ
θ
x 1
q1
Fig.2.1 Local coordinates & Global coordinates of truss element
Let q11& q12 be the displacement of nodes 1 & 2, respectively in the local co-ordinate

system. Hence, the element displacement vector in the local co-ordinate system is

denoted by
q11
{q1} = q12

In terms of global co-ordinate system, q1 & q2 are the displacements of node 1 along x &

y, q3 & q4 are displacement of node 2 along x & y.

∴ The element displacement vector in the global co-ordinate system is denoted by

q1
q2
{q} =
q3
q4

Now we should relate {q1} & {q}

From fig. 2.1 it can be noted that

q11 = q1 cosθ + q2 sinθ ………………………………………………………………(2.1)

q21 = q3 cosθ + q4 sinθ ………………………………………………………………(2.2)

Writing (2.1) & (2.2) in matrix form

cosθ sinθ 0 0 q1
1
q1 q2
= 0 0 cosθ
q12 q3
sinθ
q4

We can write l = cosθ & m = sinθ

where ‘l’ & ‘m’ are the direction cosines.

q1
q11 l m 0 0 q2
1 =
q2 q3
0 0 l m
q4
OR

{q1} = [L] {q} ………………………………………………………………………..(2.3)

where [L] is called ‘transformation matrix’.

l = cosθ = (x2-x1)/le & m=sinθ = y2-y1)/le

where le = length of truss element = sqrt ((x2-x1) 2+(y2-y1)2)

2.2 Element Stiffness Matrix:

It may be noted that the truss element is a 1D structural element when viewed in the local co-

ordinate system (i.e. along x1).

∴ Element stiffness matrix in the local co-ordinate system is

[ke1] = AE/le 1 -1 …………………………………………………………(2.4)

-1 1

Since we know only global co-ordinates, we would like to express the element stiffness

matrix in terms of global co-ordinates.

Consider the strain energy of the element. In terms of local co-ordinates it can be given as

Ue = 1/2 {q1 }T[ke1] {q1} ………………………………………………………………(2.5)

But {q1} = [l] {q}

∴ {q1}T = {q}T[l]T

Substituting. in (5) we get ,

Ue = ½ {q}T[l]T[ke1][l]{q}

=1/2 { q }T [ ke1 ] { q }
T
where [ ke ] = [ L ] [ ke1 ] [ L ] is the element stiffness matrix in terms of the global

coordinates.
 l 0
1 -1 l m 0 0
m 0 AE/le
[ke] = -1 1
0 l
0 0 l m
0 m

l2 lm -l2 -lm

lm m2 -lm -m2
∴ [ke] = AE/le
-l2 -lm l2 lm

-lm -m2 lm m2

2.3 Strain in element :

Change in length q12 – q11
ε = =
Original length le

q11
= [-1 1]/ le
q12

= [-1 1]/ le [ L ] { q }

2.4 Stress in element :

σ = Ee E

= E/le[-1 1] [ L ] { q }

= E/le {-l -m l m} { q }