Group: 3 Section 1-25

Members: Rating ___________

FLESTADO, Joshua C.
FLORES, Margaret E . (Leader for Exp. 1) Date submitted: February 28, 2019
FRANCO, Laurence S.
GAVINA, Jan Vincent P.
GOMEZ, Kyle Eric Francis L.

ACTIVITY # 1
Simply Supported Truss
I. Objectives
At the end of this activity, the students should be able to:
1. Build a simply-supported truss bridge using the Truss Set based on the given design
parameters;
2. Compare the computational and experimental values of the member forces from the
given dead load and moving load; and
3. Analyze the effect of a dead load and a moving load combination to the truss members
of the bridge.

II. Data and Results

Table 1. Dimension
Actual Dimensions Required Dimension Remarks
Bridge Length 54.8 cm
Bridge Height 27.8 cm
Bridge Span 21.3 cm

Table 2. Units (in N) for Experimental and Computational Value

Percent
Member Experimental Computational
Error
Bottom Chord -0.74 -1.88 0.81 8.64%
Simulation 1
Top Chord 1.50 0.90 1.63 7.98%
– Dead Load
Web -1.27 -1.33 1.15 10.43%
Bottom Chord 0.08 0.12 0.10 2.31 95.67%
Simulation 2 –
Top Chord 0.20 0.16 0.18 1.15 84.35%
Moving Load
Web 0.06 0.02 0.04 1.63 97.55%
Simulation 3 – Bottom Chord -1.16 -1.19 -1.32
Dead Load and Top Chord 1.96 1.94 2.00
Moving Load Web -1.20 -1.07 -1.12
Legend:
 Bold – experimental values needed for the computation of % error. For Simulation 1 and Simulation 2.
III. Proofs (Pictures and Calculations)

Table 3.A: Simulation 1 – Dead Load

Given: and

BOTTOM CHORD
Experimental Value Computational Value Percentage Error

TOP CHORD
Experimental Value Computational Value Percentage Error

WEB
Experimental Value Computational Value Percentage Error

Table 3.B: Simulation 2 – Moving Load

Given: and

BOTTOM CHORD
Experimental Value Computational Value Percentage Error

TOP CHORD
Experimental Value Computational Value Percentage Error
 WEB
Experimental Value Computational Value Percentage Error

PICTURES:

Img 3.1: Reference for Img 3.2: Construction Img 3.3: Installation of
computations of values of Truss Bridge computer program for
member forces

IV. Observation and Summary

A simply supported truss is made of a

number of bars, connected by joints (illustrated by
Fig 4.1). The joints are assumed to be hinges which
permit free rotation of the bars. In result, the bars
can only support magnitude of force N, aligned in
the direction of the bars. The force on the truss
structure are defined as positive when
corresponding to tension, then negative when
representing compression. The experimental values
are measured through the use of computer program
Sparkvue.
Fig 4.1: Sample Truss with bars and joints
 Using the experimental and theoretical processes, the reactions at the three cells
connected to the truss bridge, one each for a bottom chord (BC), a top chord (TC), and a web
(W) are measured under various loading conditions. After performing and computing the
gathered data, the difference between the results of Simulation 1 – Dead Load and Simulation
2 – Moving Load are highly evident. With that being said, the results from the Simulation 1
has a relatively small percentage error, on all members, with only 8.64% (BC), 7.98 % (TC)
and 10.43% (W) respectively (Table 3.A) . Whereas, on the Simulation 2 has a relatively large
computed value, in which the accepted percentage error for such experiments are at the
maximum of 15% (Table 3.B). Consequently, possible error sources include the actual
construction of the truss or the application of the weight exactly at the specified distances.
Since, the basis of the Simulation 2 is a moving cart recorded by a camera unlike on the
Simulation 1 which is through the placement of a dead load by manual installation.
Additionally, another source of error could come from the calibration of the scale which may
result to false reading. The final source of error is with the fact that the readings of the data
through human eye and/or digital yield to rounding errors.

In conclusion, the experiment presented has contrasting results on different conditions;

the experiment should be suitable for testing reactions at the supports of a simply-supported
beam if only the possible errors were controlled.

References:
I. Scribd. (2019). Simply Supported Trusses | Beam (Structure) | Experiment. [online]
Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/254944575/Simply-Supported-Trusses
[Accessed 28 Feb. 2019].
II. Tamuc.edu. (2019). [online] Available at:
https://www.tamuc.edu/academics/colleges/scienceEngineeringAgriculture/departments/e
ngineeringTechnology/documents/safety/SE11044e.pdf [Accessed 28 Feb. 2019].