ENG1001 Project 1 Semester 1 2021

Monash Entrance Overhead ‘Signage’ Truss Structure.

 You will be undertaking this project in your project teams, working both independently and
together with your fellow team members, in your allocated practical class times and at mutually
agreed times. Use your team expectations from teamwork activity 1 to ensure the smooth
running of this project.
 This project, together with the teamwork activities and related labs, is worth 17% of the unit
marks. Your final project report is due in week 6. You will be informed closer to the date of the
exact date and method of submission. It will be an online submission, with only one submission
required per team.
 Every student will be required to complete a CATME (Comprehensive Assessment of Team
Member Effectiveness) peer assessment survey, once reports have been submitted. The final
distribution of marks for each student within a team will then be a function of the overall team
project mark and the results of your CATME survey.

1.0 The Problem & Site

Monash University Clayton Campus has decided to install overhead signage and cameras/scanners
at its Wellington Road entrance/exit. It has been decided that a steel truss framework structure would
be an economical solution for the signage supporting structures. Refer Figure 1 & 2 for an artist’s
impression of the structure.

truss WELCOME TO MONASH WE HOPE YOU HAVE A

depth UNIVERSITY PLEASANT STAY
Clear height

Truss span

Optional Central column

truss WELCOME TO MONASH WE HOPE YOU HAVE A

depth UNIVERSITY PLEASANT STAY
Clear height

Truss span
Figure 1: Entrance Signage Structure (Artists impressions of single span and two
span structure. Not to scale)

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 WELCOME TO WE HOPE YOU HAVE A
MONASH UNIVERSITY PLEASANT STAY

Figure 2: Google maps image of proposed site with artists impression of structure
(not to scale)

As shown in Figure 1, the structure can either be a single span, or a two span system with a central
column in the median strip. The vertical faces of the 3D truss structure is to comprise identical
planar vertical trusses, 900mm apart, which allows access to construction and maintenance
workers. These planar trusses will do all the work of transferring all vertical loads to the columns
and into the ground. The signage is connected directly to these planar trusses and the
cameras/scanners are supported in-between where they are protected and can be easily accessed
by maintenance workers.

2.0 Task overview

As the Structural Engineers on this project, your job is to develop a concept design for the entire
structure and then carry out an ultimate limit state (strength) design of the columns and a typical
planar vertical truss as the main structural component of the 3D structure. This will require
you to;
1. Decide on a suitable overall structure and member arrangement (number of truss spans,
spanning distance, truss depth, diagonal member arrangement, clear height etc.)
2. Calculate all the vertical loads acting on the system.
3. Analyse a typical planar vertical truss based on Ultimate Limit State (ULS) loading using the
Method of Joints and Method of Sections (week 3 content).
4. Carry out an ULS design of (the members in) your typical vertical planar truss AND columns.
5. Consider horizontal wind loading as a separate load case, and do a quick ‘back of the envelope’
check to see if your vertical truss members sizes are sufficient in strength to transfer the
horizontal loading.
6. Produce (standalone) structural site layout and fabrication drawings of your structure.
7. Present all of the above in a clear and concise document as detailed in Section 4.0

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3.0 Methodology
Structure, Location & Truss member Arrangement
View the Wellington road entrance site on Google Maps 37°54'55.4"S 145°08'04.7"E and determine
a suitable location along the road between the entrance and the roundabout. From here estimate
the span distance of the structure, noting that it is to also pass over any pedestrian footpaths as well
as the roadway. Hint: To do this, ensure you are in Satellite view in Google maps and right click to
bring up a menu with the option to ‘measure distance’. This will bring up a ruler that you can move
around on the map to estimate distances. This level of accuracy measuring distance will suffice for
this project. Feel free to come to campus to view the site in person! For the clear height (head room)
under your truss, research minimal height requirements of bridges/overhead structures based on the
type of vehicles you think will be entering the campus.
A general rule of thumb for steel truss designs, is to have a span-to-depth ratio between 10-20,
where the span is the distance between supports and the depth is the truss depth, as shown on
Figure 1. Decide on the depth of your signage truss structure based on this rule-of-thumb.
e.g. if the truss span = 20m, the truss depth should be between 1.0 and 2.0 m
Note, you have the option of a central column in the median strip which will half the overall spanning
distance, as shown in Figure 1. The trusses are to be simply supported between the columns.
This will ensure they are ‘determinate’ and thus can be analysed by hand.
Which ‘type’ of truss you choose, with respect to the diagonal member arrangement is up to you.
Try googling information on the different types of truss types. Note: Diagonal members in your planar
trusses should be angled between 40-50 degrees for member efficiency. We will be asking each
team to confirm their truss details in the practical classes in week 3.
As well as two vertical trusses making up the 3D structure, there also needs to (be at least) one
‘horizontal’ truss located at the top and/or bottom face of the system. Try googling images of simple
truss structures and look for the horizontal trusses in the framework systems. These horizontal
trusses act to; a) stabilise the vertical trusses under vertical loading and also, b) to transfer any
horizontal forces acting on the structure to the column supports and into the ground. The design of
the horizontal truss members is not part of this project, however, you are required to include such
members in your drawings and note them as ‘members not part of the project detailed design’. Take
note that the top and bottom chord members in the vertical planar trusses double up as the chord
members in the horizontal trusses.

Truss Loading
The loading on the structure comprises the following components;
 truss self-weight (dead load),
 signage and camera/scanner weights (dead load)
 maintenance access flooring, positioned between the two planar vertical trusses (positioned
900mm apart), and safety barriers (dead load).
 Maintenance live loading on the platform (live load)
 Horizontal wind loading (wind load)

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Note;

 All truss and column members are to be steel square hollow sections (SHS), details of which
can be found on the project block on the unit Moodle site. As the truss member sizes have not
yet been chosen (this is actually the main aim of this project), their weights are thus an unknown.
This loading must be however initially be estimated, as to ignore it would be un-conservative,
and thus unsafe. For initial truss self-weight dead load calculations, assume all of the vertical
truss members weigh 20 kg/m. Once you have calculated the weight of your vertical trusses,
increase this load by a further 20% to allow for the weight of the horizontal members joining the
two vertical trusses together and any ‘nuts and bolts’.

 You will find literature related to the maintenance flooring system and safety barriers in the
Project 1 resources folder on Moodle. The safety barrier system is to comprise, at a minimum,
a handrail, knee rail and kick strip. Seek confirmation of these load values from staff before
moving on to your truss analysis. Ensure you provide all relevant information and calculations
in an Appendix in your report.

 There are four steel signs loading the trusses, two welcoming people into the campus and two
seen on departure, as shown in Figure 1. Each of the signs measures 2.5 m high x 6.0 m wide
x 0.0025 m thick and is to be positioned above incoming and exiting traffic lanes. Allow an extra
50 kg per sign for lighting equipment and fixings. You will need to decide where the signs attach
to the truss structure as part of defining and locating the signage loads. This should be clearly
explained in your report.

 The cameras/scanners are cylindrical, 200 mm diameter and 500 mm long, and weigh 150 kg
each. One camera/scanner is required over each traffic lane.

 For live/imposed loading, find relevant extracts from Australian Standard AS1170.1: Structural
design actions Part 1: Permanent, imposed and other actions, also found in the Project 1
resources folder on Moodle. The live load acting on this structure is due to workmen
maintaining/repairing the signage and cameras (or possibly students demonstrating up there!!!).

 Assume ultimate horizontal wind loading of 0.7kPa acting on the signage (only). This is to be
looked at as a separate loading case to the ULS vertical loads.

Once all these individual loading components have been found, they are to be combined and applied
to a typical planar truss according to where they physically act, in order to carry out an Ultimate
Limit State design. Please note, consider the self-weight of the truss, flooring system and barriers
and any live loading to act as a uniformly distributed load along the truss span (kN/m), which will be
‘idealised’ as equivalent point loads acting at the truss joints, when carrying out your Method of Joints
(MofJ) analysis. The signage and camera loads are to be considered to act as point loads. Ensure
this is all briefly, but clearly, mentioned in your calculations.

Method of Joints & Sections Analysis & Load Path check

You are required to:

 Analyse a single vertical planar truss based on ULS vertical dead and live loading, to find the
internal forces acting in every truss member. Note, both vertical sides of the 3D structure will

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 be identical and carry equal vertical loading, thus only a single planar vertical truss requires
analysis. For arrangements with a central column, the truss spans either side of the medium
strip column are independent (not joined) and thus only one truss span requires designing.
 Find the maximum axial force acting in the chord members of the ‘horizontal truss’ based on the
ultimate horizontal wind load provided. Check to see whether this force is smaller or larger than
the forces designed for as part of the vertical loading. Briefly discuss.
 Design your columns based on ULS dead and live load only (ignore wind load).

You are to analyse your planar truss under vertical ULS loading using the Method of Joints (MoJ).
Once the loading on the structures has been agreed on, start by calculating support reactions based
on assuming a pin and roller support provided by the columns. Start your MoJ at a support joint
and work your way through the entire structure one joint at a time – or half way if your truss is
symmetrical - until the internal forces in all members are found. You are also required to do at least
one Method of Sections (MoS) check, at an appropriate location in the truss, in order to self-check
your MoJ results are correct.
For the horizontal wind loading, as only the most critically loaded chord member force is required to
be found, a MoS analysis at the appropriate location is all that is required. Assume again a single
pin and roller support at either end of the truss as provided by the columns. As well as this you are
required to clearly explain the load path and structural actions by which any horizontal wind
loading will be transferred from the signage into the ground.

Member Design
Once you have completed your analysis, you can commence designing your truss members and
columns. All members are to be designed as steel square hollow sections (SHS). Design Tables of
section member properties can be found on Moodle in the Projects section. Take the Young’s
modulus of steel as 200,000 MPa.

Note, Grade 350 steel in the sections tables means the yield strength of the steel is 350 MPa.

For truss member design, it is common practice (for construction convenience and truss aesthetics)
to design a single member size for all bottom chord members; all top chord members; all diagonals
members and also vertical members (if you have them), i.e. 4 member designs. Tension members
are to be checked for yielding failure, and compression members for yield and buckling failure.
Assume all truss members to be pinned between the joints (discuss).

To confirm: you are not required to design every member in your truss. Design check the members
in each group ( top chord, bottom chord, etc.) that experiences the greatest compression and tension
force and also the members in compression of the greatest length.

When checking your members against the wind loading, if the internal member forces found in the
chorded members are less than those in the same members under vertical ULS dead and live
loading, you can safely conclude these members will be strong enough to resist wind loading.

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The support columns are to be designed in a similar way as the truss members as they are axially
loaded members. It is not required to detail the fixing connection to the trusses. Only axial load is
required to be considered for the design load case, not wind load.

Please note that it is not necessary to carry out a serviceability limit state (SLS), excessive deflection
check, as generally speaking, trusses are stiff structures and SLS conditions are not critical.

Drawings
Engineering drawings are used to visually communicate details of components and geometry
necessary to construct an engineered item and/or to communicate how that item functions.
Engineering drawings with any ancillary documents can also protect against liability if an end item is
found to be faulty. Engineering drawings should be seen as standalone documents that
contain enough information for a fabricator to purchase and manufacture components, and
a construction team to build an item.
As part of this project you are required to produce ‘engineering’ drawings of your Overhead Signage
truss structure. Your drawings should appear at the very end of your report. For guidance please
refer to the sample drawings provided also in the Project 1 resources folder on Moodle. Note;
Site Layout Drawings: It is expected you will produce drawings similar to the proposed site plan
drawing and drawings 1001-2 and 1001-3 of the sample drawings. You are required to show one
plan (birds eye/top) view, one front face elevation and one section cut view. Note, these drawings
must include;

 dimensions of span lengths, height and width These dimensions are to be ‘centre-to-centre’
dimensions i.e. dimensions from the centre of one member to the centre of the other.

 the signage, flooring and handrails, with these items also dimensioned and labelled.

 your structure plan view MUST be shown in relation to the proposed site (an outline sketch can
be obtained from a google maps image however you are NOT to use a screen shot of the google
maps image). Refer to the proposed site plan in the sample drawings, however this level of
information i.e. exact tree positioning etc, is not required.
Fabrication Drawings: You are expected to produce drawings similar to drawings 1001-4 and 1001-
5 of the sample drawings which show plan, section and elevation views of the overall structure to
fabricate. All members here are represented as thin lines. Be sure to also include member
scheduling and steelwork notes as well as detailed dimensions. Though not designed, your plan
view(s) should also show all horizontal members. A minimum of two sections of your designed truss
footbridge will be required; one cutting through the truss and another at the end of the truss with
columns shown.
Note, drawing 1001-1 and 1001-6 have been included, for your information only. If you have the
right pdf reader look closely at drawing 1001-6 which allows the bridge to be viewed from any angle.
Any attempt at perspective/3D drawings may be awarded bonus marks.
Hand drawings, if comprising all the required information will be awarded the same marks as
CAD drawings, thus it is NOT necessary to use any drawing packages. If you do wish however
to utilise a package refer Section 5. Note, your drawings can also be used as the basis for any
Figures appearing within the main body of your reports in reduced format as well as in your srawing
appendix.
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4.0 Assessment
This project is worth 17% of your final assessment, and includes;
 a written report (14%)
 two teamwork activities (2x0.5%) and
 two practical labs (2x1%).

Written Report Marks Breakdown (14%)

Report structure & quality & clarity (see below for suggested report format) (3%)
Concept design & Loading (2.5%)
Truss Analysis (2.5%)
Member design, load paths and horizontal loading considerations (3%)
Drawings (3%)

Report Format
A report template WORD file, as well as a calculation sheet template have been provided to you on
Moodle in the Projects & Labs block, to assist you to produce a professional technical project
document.

For assistance on technical report writing, refer to the following link as well as your Teamwork 2
Activity: https://www.monash.edu/rlo/assignment-samples/engineering

‘Suggested’ report section headings:

 Summary – Give a brief overview of the aim, method, and your results. Check out this video
 Contents – Provide section, sub-section and page numbers in a clear layout
 Introduction – Explain the topic, the aims of the project, and the purpose of the report.
 Assumptions – State any assumptions made in your analyses and design of your trusses.
 Concept Design - Present your workings to show how and why you chose the location, height,
truss depth, number of spans etc.
 Loading – Provide a clear explanation of your loading
 Analysis – A brief statement of your analysis method with results clearly and concisely
presented (on diagrams and in tables wherever possible). Detailed calculations to be provided
in the Appendices.
 Design – A brief statement of the design member checks done and results presented (on
diagrams or in tables wherever possible). Detailed calculations to be provided in the
Appendices.

 Discussion and Conclusion (no more than half to one page of text is necessary). This should
include
- A summary of all your structure dimensional choices and member design.
- A comparison of your final truss member sizes (weight), with that initially assumed. Please
note, we do not expect you to redo your analysis with the revised member self-weight
loading, but just to discuss the differences and what they mean.
 Personal contribution and learning – No more than a third of a page by each individual

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 member of the team outlining:
a) your contribution to the project.
b) what you learned from the project.
 Appendices – Containing all detailed calculations and drawings.

Only key calculation results should be presented in the body of the report, with all detailed
calculations of loading, analysis and design presented in the appendices. When referring the reader
to an appendix for further details of data, which has been summarised in a figure or table in the body
of the report, please repeat the same figure/table in the relevant appendix also. Remember, a
picture says a thousand words, so when explaining the loading and the results of your MoJ
do so using figures showing your truss with these values clearly shown and labelled on them.

All calculations in your report must be done in neat handwriting using pen/paper or a tablet and
stylus – NOT typed . The calculation sheet paper provided (see Moodle) must be used for this
and all calculations are to be presented in an Appendix of your report. Each page of calculations
MUST also be signed by the original person doing the calculations AND also by the ‘checker’ of the
calculations in the boxes provided on the sheets. This can be electronically done. Marks will be lost
if this is not done.

The report text, excluding figures and tables, personal contribution statement, references and
appendices, should be no more than 3-5 pages in length. A signed assessment cover sheet must
be used and signed by all (electronically). Remember, all calculations in your report must be done
in neat handwriting – NOT typed – and presented on calculation sheet paper provided (see Moodle).
All source documents must be clearly referenced by name where they are used in your report, as
well as in a reference section at the end of your report.

Weekly practical classes can be used to ask questions about the project as well as any weekly
help desks running.

5.0 Other useful resources

There are many resources on the web relating to truss structures, so have a search yourselves.
Two potentially useful sites are
https://www.basiccivilengineering.com/2019/06/trusses-types-trusses.html
https://skyciv.com/docs/tutorials/truss-tutorials/types-of-truss-structures/

For useful free truss analysis packages to model variations of your truss geometry to try and refine
your design try;
http://jfmatrix.com
http://engsci.stevenhe.com/trusssolver
http://www.federicobonfigli.com/EN/TrussSolver.aspx

For useful free drawing packages try;

SketchUp: https://www.sketchup.com/products/sketchup-for-web)
Autodesk Revit: use your Monash email to download the software for free.

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