Experiment no.

08

Consider the three-dimensional truss shown in the figure below. The Cartesian
coordinates of the joints with respect to the coordinate system are given in feet.
Determine the deflection of each joint, stress in each member and reaction forces. All
members are made from aluminum with a modulus of elasticity of E = 10.6 x 106 lb/in2
and a cross-sectional area of 1.56 in2.

Figure: 8.1

Procedure:

Working in ANSYS Mechanical APDL.

Preferences:
In this step Analysis Type was selected.
>ANSY Main Menu- Preferences-STRUCTURAL- h Method-OK
 Pre-Processors: Figure: 8.2

1. Define Element Type:

In this step type of element was selected.
>Element type-Add/Edit/Delete-Add-link,3D Finite stn 180-Ok-Close.

Figure: 8.3

2. Define Element Real Constants:

Since truss have five links so five elements has been taken. Real constants-
Add/Edit/Delete-Add-OK-Real constants Set No-1- Cross-sectional AREA1-Enter
value of Cross-sectional Area of element 1-Apply-and Repeat the same procedure for
element 2, 3, 4 and5.

Define the area of each element

Cross-sectional areas are to be put in respective Real Constants.
Real Constant Set No. 1 , Cross Sectional Area = 1.56 in2
Real Constant Set No. 2 , Cross Sectional Area = 1.56 in2
Real Constant Set No. 3 , Cross Sectional Area = 1.56 in2
Real Constant Set No. 4 , Cross Sectional Area = 1.56 in2
 Real Constant Set No. 5 , Cross Sectional Area = 1.56 in2
Real Constant Set No. 6 , Cross Sectional Area = 1.56 in2

Figure: 8.4

3. Material Properties:

In this step we have defined the material properties i:e Poisons’ Ratio, Modulus of
Elasticity .
>Material Properties- material models- Structural- Linear- Elastic- Isotropic-EX-
10.6e6-PRXY-0.3-OK-Close

Figure: 8.5

4. Defining Nodes:

Nodes are defined in this step. As we have 5 nodes so we have to enter the values of
nodes one by one. Values have been assigned in inches.
Node number 1 , Location in active CS X, Y ,Z= 0 , 0 , 36
Node number 2 , Location in active CS X, Y ,Z= 72, 0 , 0
Node number 3, Location in active CS X, Y ,Z= 0 , 0 , -36
Node number 4, Location in active CS X, Y ,Z= 72 , 0 , 0
 Figure: 8.6

5. Defining Elements:

Location of Elements is defined in this step. i.e Element 1, Section1 and Material 1 is
located between 1 and 3.

> Modeling-Create- Elements-Element Attributes-Element 1, Section1, Material 1

OK.
Same procedure was repeated for each element.

Figure: 6.6

Figure: 8.7

6. Re-sizing elements:
Thickness of the elements is increased in this step.
>Plotcrtls-style-size and shape- Display of elements shapes based on real constant
values- On-Ok-
 Figure: 8.8

7. Defining Boundary Conditions:

In this Step we have defined the applied loads.
>Loads-Define Loads- Apply-Structural- Displacement-On Nodes-Pick node 1-Ok
DofsTo be constrained-UX UY UZ- OK. Similar step was repeated for node 3(UX is
constrained) and 4(UX and UY are Constrained)

Figure: 6.8

Figure: 8.9

8. Defining Loads:

Load has been applied on Node 2 and five in y direction in this step i:e -200
>Loads-Define Loads- Apply-Structural-Force/Moment- On Nodes-Pick Node–
Apply-Direction of Force/ Moment – FY Value-200(-ve value)-OK
 Figure: 8.10

Solution:

9. Displaying of Solution:
In this step, solution of the problem has been displayed.
> Solution-Solve-Current-Current LS-OK (Solution done is displayed)- Close

Figure: 6.10

Figure: 8.11

Post- Processors:
10. Plotting Results:
Deformations have been plotted in this step.
>Plot Results-Nodal Solution-DOF Solution-x component of Displacement-ok
 Figure: 8.12

11. Listing Deformations on Nodes:

Deformation on each node has been displayed in this step.
List Results-Nodal Solution-DOF Solution - Displacement vector sum- OK
(Displacement is displayed with Node Number)

Figure: 8.13

12. Listing Reactions at Boundaries:

Reaction Solution at nodes has been displayed in this step.
List Results-Reaction Solution- all items-OK
 Figure: 8.14

13. Nodal Displacement Plotting:

Nodal displacements have been plotted in this step.
>Plot Results-Contour Plot- Nodal Solution- DOF Solution- Displacement vector
Sum- Ok

Figure: 8.15

14. Defining Additional Element Table Items:

>Element Tables- Define Table- Add – user table for item “Axstress” – B sequence
number – LS-LS1 – OK- Close
 Figure: 8.16

15. Listing Element Table:

Element Table has been listed in this step.
>Element Table- List Element Table- Select “Axstress” – OK ( Axial stress values of
each element is diaplayed)

Figure: 8.17

16. Plotting Element Table:

In this step Element table was plotted

 Figure: 8.18

17. Animation:
In this step animation of the component is done.
>Animation: PlotCrtls- Animate- Deformed Shape- def+Undeformed Ok.

Figure: 8.19

18.Results:
Joint deformation:

Node Deformation (in) Deformation

Number vector sum (in)
ux uy uz
1 0 0 0 0
2 -0.6629x10-3 -0.3126x10-2 -0.1088x10-3 0.3197x10-2
3 0 0.1088x10-3 -0.2177x10-2 -0.2434x10-3
4 0 0 0 0

Table 8.1

Axial stress in members:

Element Number Axial stress (lb/in2)

1 -71.669
2 32.051
3 0
4 -71.669
5 181.33
6 0
Table 8.2

Support reactions:

Node Number Reactions (lb)

Fx Fy Fz
1 100 0 0
2 0 0 0
3 100 0 0
4 -200 200 0
Table 8.3

5.7 Comments:

 Trusses are used to carry heavy loads and to provide distribution of loading
pattern among the members of trusses to facilitate it. Therefore we can
determine deformations, forces and reactions of each node. So, that we can
modify or manipulate the design according to our requirement.
 Red area in figure 8.15 shows high stress concentrations due to maximum
load distribution among particular joined elements.