ECS426

Structures And Materials Laboratory

Experiment on Pin-jointed Truss

Learning Outcome
A truss is a type of framework comprising of struts (compression
members) and ties (tension members). All the joints in truss are consider
to be pinned. The members are arranged in triangular sub-element and
are supported so that the truss is stable. There are four main
assumptions made in the analysis of truss:-
• Truss members are connected together at their ends only.
• Truss is connected together by frictionless pins.
• The truss structure is loaded only at the joints.
• The weights of the members may be neglected.

Objectives
• To determine the internal forces and displacement in a statically
determinate pin-jointed truss.
Introduction

At the end of the laboratory activities, students should be able to:

• Identify and use the correct apparatus/tools to carry out experiment

on statically determinate pin-jointed truss;

• Work in a group to undertake the task; and

• Collect and analyze the data correctly and produce the lab report.
Apparatus Joints Digital
force
display

Pinned Members
suppor
t
Roller
suppor
t
Digital
Strain Electronic
load cell
Procedure
1. Turn on the Digital Force Display.

2. Measure the diameter of the rod and its length.

3. Make sure no load is apply on the load cell by roughly zero the
reading using the control on the front of the load cell. Record the
initial strain reading for each member.
4. Apply load in the direction of loading (using the control of the load
cell).
5. Record the strain reading for each member.

Example: Strain data

Adjust the display input

control to get strain data for
each member

6. Repeat step 4 and 5 with another increment of load.

Details of Truss
Diameter of rod = 6.71 × 10−3𝑚
E𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙 = 210 𝐺𝑁/𝑚2

6 10

7
2 3 9 13
30° 5 11
1 4 8 12

120 cm 120 cm 120 cm 120 cm

Analysis
1. Draw the truss and indicate the loaded joint.
2. Calculate the average force in each member for each load
increment. Remember to subtract the initial reading from the data
acquired for each load increment.
3. Fill the result in table.
4. Plot the graph of forces in the members versus the applied load for
the experimental and theoretical case.
5. Determine the percentage error by calculating the slope of each
graph.
Data set 1
Strain (µɛ) reading for each member.
Load (N)
Member
0 15 30 45 60 75 90
1 1 2 4 5 7 9 11
2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 -2
3 -1 0 1 1 0 1 0
4 1 2 4 5 7 -9 10
5 2 1 0 1 1 1 1
6 1 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 -12
7 -1 2 4 6 8 11 12
8 0 2 3 5 7 9 10
9 2 1 2 2 0 1 0
10 2 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 -12
11 1 0 1 1 0 1 1
12 2 2 3 5 7 9 10
13 1 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 -12
Data set 2
Strain (µɛ) reading for each member.
Load (N)
Member
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
1 1 6 11 18 23 29 35
2 0 -7 -13 -20 -27 -34 -40
3 -1 1 1 0 -1 0 -1
4 1 6 12 18 23 29 34
5 2 1 1 2 0 1 2
6 1 -7 -13 -20 -27 -34 -40
7 -1 7 14 20 27 34 41
8 0 6 12 18 23 28 36
9 2 1 0 1 0 1 1
10 2 -7 -13 -20 -27 -35 -40
11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
12 2 6 12 17 23 29 35
13 1 -7 -13 -20 -27 -34 -40
Data set 3
Strain (µɛ) reading for each member.
Load (N)
Member 0 100 200 300 400 500 600
1 1 11 23 35 47 58 70
2 0 -13 -27 -40 -54 -67 -81
3 -1 1 1 1 1 1 1
4 1 11 23 35 47 58 70
5 2 0 1 1 0 1 0
6 1 -13 -27 -40 -54 -67 -81
7 -1 14 27 40 4 67 81
8 0 11 23 35 47 58 70
9 2 0 1 2 0 1 2
10 2 -13 -27 -40 -54 -67 -81
11 1 0 2 1 0 1 1
12 2 10 23 35 45 58 70
13 1 -14 -27 -40 -54 -67 -81
Thank You