Surigao State College of Technology

College of Engineering and Information Technology

1st Sem., A.Y. 2020-21

APPLICATION OF NUMERICAL METHODS TO TRUSS BRIDGE USING

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS (FEA)

Jabay, Benmark
Ignacio, Shiloni A.
Fabio, Ailyn
Barola, Reymund

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Page
A. Problem and Setting ……………………………………………………………………. 5
B. Numerical Method and its Background Theory ………………………………………... 6
C. Showcase of the Numerical Analysis …………………………………………………... 7
D. Significance of the Numerical Technique ………………………………………………
E. Recommendations for Further Studies/ Improvement ………………………………….

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MAIN CONTENTS:

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REFERENCES:

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A. PROBLEM AND SETTING

Nowadays the trend is towards new, technology and complex advanced structures,
including the building of bridges as a road to transportations and other uses for the convenience
of people.
• This study will find solution and answers to the following problems:
General Problems:
1. How to predict the Siargao-Surigao Truss Bridge performance of design, understand the
physical behaviors of a modal and identify the weakness of the design accurately to
obtain the safety.
2. How to use Finite Element Method on the said structure/bridge using Excel.
Specific Problem:

Our Siargao-Surigao truss bridge has seven (7) nodes and eleven (11) members, but in
this study we will just going to solve only the Triangular Truss of the bridge with a
vertical load of 3.0 and horizontal load of 2.0 (both) at node six (6) (and seven (7)).
Calculate or find the deflections and axial force in member 3.

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 Building truss bridge is one of the civil engineering problems that need numerical
solutions through application of numerical methods. A truss is a rigid assembly of elements that
serves as a load-bearing structures, such as for bridges. It is a basic structural element of complex
structures, consists of members and nodes interlocking in a triangular geometric pattern. Thus,
truss analysis which is required in designing to meet its basic structural requirements plays a
vital role in civil engineering world. Bridges are designed to withstand loads, either dead or live.
The inherent rigidity of triangular geometric pattern derives its strength. On the application of
imposed load, tension and compression loads are transmitted along the length of the member.
Therefore, throughout the building of a truss bridge, it involves application of numerical methods
for truss analysis considering all the forces applied and displacements at all nodes. Hence, the
objective of this paper is to calculate vertical and horizontal displacements at all nodes, stresses,
reaction forces and member forces by using finite element analysis. Finite Element Analysis is a
numerical method to solve engineering problems and mathematical physics. A truss is
subdivided into smaller elements called members. Then the assemblage of these members
connected at a finite number of joints called nodes. The properties of each type of member are
obtained and assembled together and solved as whole to get solution. Static analysis of truss is
done by stiffness method where formulation is simpler for most structural analysis problems.

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B. NUMERICAL METHOD AND ITS BACKGROUND THEORY

While it is difficult to quote a date of the invention of the finite element method,

the method originated from the need to solve complex elasticity and structural analysis problems
in civil and aeronautical engineering. Its development can be traced back to the work by A.
Hrennikoff and R. Courant in the early 1940s.
Finite Element Analysis is a useful tool widely used by almost all structural design
engineers in the field of civil engineering for numerically approximating physical structures that
are too complex for regular analytical solutions. Finite element analysis applications include
stress analysis, slope stability analysis, soil structure interactions, seepage of fluids in soils and
rocks, analysis of dams, tunnels, bore holes, propagation of stress waves and dynamic soil
structure interaction. When referred to the analysis of structures the finite element analysis is a
powerful method for computing the displacements, stresses and strains in a structure under a set
of loads. In this case, this paper is likewise to compute vertical and horizontal displacements at
all nodes, stresses, reaction forces and member forces through using the finite element analysis.
Finite Element Analysis is a numerical method to solve engineering problems and mathematical
physics. One of the purposes using finite element method is predict the performance of design,
understand the physical behaviours of a modal and identify the weakness of the design accurately
to obtain the safety. In this study, the truss is subdivided into smaller elements called members.
Then the assemblage of these members connected at a finite number of joints called Nodes. The
properties of each type of member are obtained and assembled together and solved as whole to
get solution.

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C. SHOWCASE OF THE NUMERICAL ANALYSIS

The figures shown below are the design of truss bridge and the number of nodes and
members/elements. The truss bridge has seven (7) nodes and eleven (11) members, with a
vertical load of 3.0 and horizontal load of 2.0 both at node six (6) and seven (7).

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 A truss is essentially a frame with no flexural resistance. Therefore, to analyze a truss the
member moment of inertia needs to be set near zero. Each node is at the end of at least one
member, and no nodes are unconnected. The effect of having an unconnected node, all output

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values change to “!NUM” error message, the same as also the effect of a zero-length member, all
output values likewise will change to “#DIV/0!” error message.
As a summary of the result of the numerical analysis using Excel through FEA
application, the truss bridge node has calculated deflections of 0.003 vertical and 0.002
horizontal. The maximum member axial force is 3.54 in member 3.
Deflection of a truss is generally based on the amount of vertical movement from its
original position due to the loads applied to the members. The amount of deflection depends on
the magnitude of the loads applied.
TRUSS BRIDGE (TRIANGULAR PART) USING FEA
(5 NODES, 5 MEMBERS)
[len] [len] [for/len] [for/len] [for/len] [for*len] [force] [force] [for*len] [force] [force] [rad] [length] [length]
NODE DATA: Support Springs Input Forces Support Reactions Output Deflections
Node x y k_rot k_x k_y Mom Fy Fx Mom Fy Fx Rot Dy Dx
1 0 0 999999 999999 0 -2.5 -2 0 0 0
2 10 0 999999 0 -0.5 0 0 0 -0.001
3 5 5 3 2 0 0 0 0 0.003 0.002
4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.005 -0.001
5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.005 -0.001

[len^2] [len^4] [for/len^2] [for/len] [for*len] [force] [force] [for*len] [force] [force]
MEMBER DATA: Output Member Forces
Mem i_node j_node Axx Izz E_mod Uni_Load Len Mi Vi Pxi Mj Vj Pxj
1 1 2 7 0.001 1000 10 0 0 0.5 0 0 -0.5
2 2 3 7 0.001 1000 7.07 0 0 -0.71 0 0 0.71
3 3 1 7 0.001 1000 7.07 0 0 -3.54 0 0 3.54
4 4 2 0.001 0.001 1000 10 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 5 2 0.001 0.001 1000 10 0 0 0 0 0 0

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D. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NUMERICAL TECHNIQUE

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is an extremely useful tool in the field of civil engineering
for numerically approximating physical structures that are too complex for regular analytical
solutions. Consider a truss bridge with support at both ends, facing a concentrated load on its
center span. The deflection at the center span can be determined mathematically in a relatively
simple way, as the initial and boundary conditions are finite and in control, thus, help to
designing part and avoid failure of any sorts.

The feature in this study is to explore a practical method and to provide a solid
technological foundation for the safety operation and assessment of truss bridge. The use of
advanced FEA tools, with tremendous benefit to the civil engineering sector, has not only led to
more innovative and efficient products but also furthered the development of accurate design
methods.

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E. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES/ IMPROVEMENT

 Should analyze other factors of the bridge such as the beam, beam on elastic foundation,
foundation and etc.
 It is much better if the whole bridge or all the nodes and members will be analyze, in
order to know the full capability of the bridge.
 Upon using Excel for FEA analysis, future research must study deeper about the
application of FEA using excel in order to easily analyze the data.
 Future research must use appropriate Numerical Method for their specific choice of
study.

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