TRUSS

STRUCTURE
Name: Zawar Memon
Student number: SUKD1703021
Group ID: F5
Course: BME
Subject Title: Laboratory Experiments 1
Subject Code: EME3401
Lecturer: Dr. Sia
Date of Experiment: 13/3/18

Date of Submission: 20/3/1

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 1. ABSTRACT
A truss structure is one in which the internal member forces can be
determined at various portions of the structure. A truss structure in
its basic form is the concept of weight distribution of a triangle. The
experiment aimed to measure the internal member loads of a truss
structure when different external loads are applied on it.

The main reason of this experiment is to find out the relationship or

the connection between each truss member and applied load on it,
There-fore we will be adding weights of 10-60N to the truss
structure.

After receiving the experimental data, we will compare it with the

theoretical data via a graph.

In the discussion, we will be discussing certain factors that caused

the difference in data and ways we can overcome with such
problems.

2. OBJECTIVE
To establish relationship between each truss member and
the applied load.

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 3. INTRODUCTION
A truss is a triangular shaped structure where members are
connected or joined together at their end points by welding or
bolting and are supported by pins and roller support, enabling the
structure to function as a single object. The truss is also made up of
single bars which are either in compression or tension.

3.1 Uses of truss

In the industry of construction, the uses of truss are applied for some
construction. A truss bridge is one of the example of uses of truss.
Truss bridge is composed of connected elements which maybe
stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response
to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of
bridges. A truss bridge is also economical to construct because of its
efficient use of materials.

The basic and common types of truss bridges:

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The uses of truss also can be applied in the roof construction. Roof
trusses are frames made up of timber that is bolted together to form
a structurally independent shapes of a great strength.

The basic types of roof structures are:

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4. APPARATUS
1. A modular truss kit.
2. A set of weight for applying load go the truss.
3. A 16 channels data acquisition system.

5. Procedure
1. The data acquisition module was switched on 10 minutes before taking
readings.
2. The truss structure was set up with the configuration as shown in the
diagram in Results.
3. Checked the truss according to the selected configuration.
4. One end of the plane truss was placed in the roller support and the
other end on the pin support.
5. The pinned support was checked to be properly secured to the frame.
6. A weight hook was hooked/attached to the joint to be loaded.
7. Emptied the weight hook so that the truss was free from applied load.
8. The wire was connected from the load cell to the data acquisition
module, each load cell occupied once channel of the module.
9. The module was turned on by pressing the 'On’ button on the module
dialog box.
10. Switched on the channels that were connected to the truss members
and the loading jack.
11. Some figures were displayed in the boxes of the chosen channels. These
figures were the loads in the members measured in Newton's.
12. The initial readings were recorded for (0 Newton’s) in Member 2,

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 Member 3, Member 4, Member 5 and Member 6.
13. Started to put up the weight to the hook to apply loads in the
downward direction and observed the readings for all 6 channels.
14. Repeated step 13 for more load increments.
15. At the end of the experiment, exported the data to the excel
spreadsheet and carried out the necessary analysis.

6. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Initial
Member
Readings Final Reading in Members (N)
s
(N)

Load/Jac
0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00
k

Member 79.00 86.50 93.00 100.50 107.00 112.50 119.50

2

Member 79.50 86.00 93.00 100.00 107.00 113.00 121.00

3

Member -6.00 -10.50 -14.50 -18.50 -22.00 -24.00 -27.50

4

Member 3.50 -1.00 -5.50 -8.50 -12.00 -16.00 -19.00

5

Member 0.00 -9.50 -18.00 -29.50 -38.50 -48.50 -55.50

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Table 1: Experimental Values

I. Draw the truss and indicate the loaded joint.

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 Member 2 Member 6 Member 3

Member 5 Member 4

Diagram 1: Truss Structure diagram

II. 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.

Members Average Force in Each Member (N)

Load/Jac
10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00
k

Member 7.5 14 21.5 28 33.5 40.5

2

Member 6.5 13.5 20.5 27.5 33.5 41.5

3

Member -4.5 -8.5 -12.5 -16 -18 -21.5

4

Member -4.5 -9 -13 -15.5 -19.5 -22.5

5

Member -10.00 -9.5 -18.00 -27.50 -48.50 -55.50

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Table 2: Average Force for Experimental Case.

Members Average Force in Each Member (N)

Load/Jack 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00

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 Member 2 -7.07 -14.14 -21.21 -28.28 -35.35 -42.42

Member 3 -7.07 -14.14 -21.21 -28.28 -35.35 -42.42

Member 4 5 10 15 20 25 30

Member 5 5 10 15 20 25 30

Member 6 10 20 30 40 50 60

Table 2: Average Force for Theoretical Case.

III. Fill the results in Table 1

IV. Plot the graph of forces in the members versus the applied load for the experimental
and theoretical case.

80

60

40

20

0
k l l l l l al al al al al
J ac ta ta ta ta ta tic tic tic tic tic
-20ad/ en en en en en e e e e e
im im im im im or or or or or
Lo p er p er p er p er p er he he he he he
T T T T T
-40 Ex Ex Ex Ex Ex r2 r3 r4 r5 r6
2 3 4 5 6
e r e r e r e r e r be be be be be
b b b b b em em em em em
m
e-60 em em em em M M M M M
M M M M M
-80

10N 20N 30N 40N 50N 60N

Graph 1: Graph to compare the Applied Load for Experimental and Theoretical Case

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 80

60
f(x) = 2.13 x − 3.01
R²
f(x)= =0.97
1.79 x − 3.34
R² 40
f(x)= =0.96
1.35 x − 0.31
R² = 1 20N
20
Linear (20N)
40N
0
Linear (40N)
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
60N
-20
Linear (60N)

-40

-60

-80

Graph 2: Graph to determine Experimental Slope.

80

60
f(x) = 2 x
R² = 1
f(x) = 1.67 x + 0
R² = 1 40
f(x) = 1.33 x
R² = 1 20N
20 Linear (20N)
40N
Linear (40N)
0 60N
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 Linear (60N)
-20

-40

-60

Graph 3: Graph to determine Theoretical slope.

V. Determine the percentage error

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Percentage Error =(Theoretical Slope−Experimental Slope)/Theoretical Slope X 100 %
= (2-1.7903)/2 X 100%

= 10.485 %

7. DISCUSSION
The graph above shows that there is a significant difference between the
results of experimental and theoretical case. Theoretical case has a more
consistent result. By observing the graph, we can view a directly proportional
relation between the load applied to the system and the force produced in the
members.

The theoretical values are different from the practical values because of
certain inevitable external factors.

Besides that, the condition of the laboratory was not in a proper vacuum state,
therefore the air molecules colliding with our weight hooked on the truss
structure that’s why our values was changing time to time. When the weight
was attached to the hook, the air molecules collided with the weight hook and
caused it to be in motion. As an outcome, the value at the data acquisition
module was changing at a significant amount. This was resolved by slowly
adding weights and by producing an equal force from the opposite direction to
stop the swinging.

The data acquisition module was switched on 10 minutes before taking

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readings to ensure the consistency of the readings.

The negative value noted in the data acquisition module shows the member
undergoes compression. Similarly, a positive value indicates that the data
acquisition module undergoes an extension.

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8. CONCLUSION
The applied load is directly proportional to the truss member. There is a
10.485% error between the experimental case and the theoretical case. The
objective of the experiment has been reached.

9. REFERENCES
1.John, W. 2008. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics.

7th ed. Bedford Row: Thomas Higher Education.

2.David. H. Loyd. 2008. Physics Laboratory Manual. 3rd ed. Belmon:

Thomas Higher Education.

3.Randall. D. Knight. 2008. Physics for Scientists and Engineers A strategic

approach. 3rd ed. Bedford Row: Pearson Education.

4.Prof. Dr S.L. Kakani. 2008. Comprehensive Physics Concepts &

Problems. 1st ed. Darya Ganj: CBS Publishers & Distributors.

5.Douglas. C. Giancoli. 2005. Physics Giancoli. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River:

Pearson Education Inc.

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