Project Deliverable 4 (Report)

Semester : Fall Year : 2023

Course Title : Basic Mechanics I
Course Code : ET 190
Instructor(s) : Fahad Asi
(Includes names of all instructors teaching
this course)

Submission Date :

To be completed by the student

Student Name :
Student ID : Department :
Major : Section :
Integrity Statement : “I affirm that I will complete my assessment on
my own. I will not receive any help or use any
unlawful resources.”
Handwritten Integrity :
Statement
Signature :
Grading Scheme
Question Earned Points Max. Points Question Earned Points Max. Points
1 30 6
2 10 7
3 10 8
4 50 9
5 10

Total Earned Points Total Available Points Instructor Name

Fahad Asi

Important Notes:
- Any attempt at plagiarism or cheating will be reported. All ACM handbook academic misconduct rules will be applied.
It is the responsibility of the student to submit this online assessment paper to the instructed online platform (Moodle, Turnitin) if
applicable.

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1. Project Description

Introduce your project and objectives of the project, and provide brief information about the
project. Briefly describe the software and design that you have done for the project.

2. Experimental Design and Methods

a. Setting the initial settings for the program

i. Explain type of bridge you designed in software
ii. Drawing the bridge
b. Calculation
i. Formulations
ii. Calculations

3. Conclusion

a. Results
i. Tabulate your simulation results
ii. Load calculation and final cost calculations
iii. Comment on the results and the findings
b. Did you do your experiments according to the procedure? Are there any deviations
from the experimental procedure?
c. Conclude with the main ideas and results of your work.
d. What lessons did you learn from your project?
e. How can simulation method and the results be enhanced?
i. Are there any other experiments you should do to have more complete set of
results?
ii. Comment on the future work on the experiments

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 Project Final Report

Static Analysis of Roof Trusses: A Comparative Study of

Analytical and Computational Methods

1 Project Description:

This project delves into the static analysis of a truss, specifically exploring
analytical and computational methods for roof structure analysis. The analysis aims
to determine:

 External support values: This involves calculating the forces acting

on the supports of the truss to maintain its static equilibrium.
 Axial forces: These are the forces acting along the axis of each truss
member, indicating whether they are in tension (positive) or compression
(negative).
 Principal stresses: These represent the maximum and minimum
stresses within each truss member.

Additionally, the project explores:

 Finite element method: This computational method involves

modeling the truss using truss elements and simulating its behavior under
external forces and self-weight.
 Buckling analysis: This analysis assesses the stability of the truss
members under compressive axial forces to ensure they can withstand the
applied loads without collapsing.

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 By comparing the results obtained from both analytical and computational
methods, the project aims to evaluate their accuracy and efficiency for analyzing
trusses.

Software and Design:

This project utilizes various software tools and design considerations:

 Analytical calculations: Manual calculations and spreadsheet

applications are used to perform analytical calculations for determining
external supports, axial forces, and principal stresses.
 Finite element software: Specialized software like ANSYS or
ABAQUS is used to create a finite element model of the truss, allowing for
simulation and analysis of its behavior under various load conditions.
 Truss design considerations: The project takes into account factors
like member cross-sectional area, joint connection types, and overall truss
geometry to ensure its structural integrity and stability.

Overall Objectives:

This project aims to achieve the following objectives:

 Gain a comprehensive understanding of static analysis methods

for trusses.
 Evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of both analytical and
computational methods.
 Develop a deeper understanding of truss behavior under various
loading conditions.
 Gain practical experience in using software tools for truss analysis
and design.

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 Expected Outcomes:

The project is expected to deliver the following outcomes:

 A detailed report documenting the analysis and results.

 Validated analytical and computational models of the truss.
 Recommendations for selecting appropriate analysis methods
based on project requirements.
 Enhanced knowledge and skills in truss analysis and design.

Future Work:

The project can be further extended to explore additional aspects of truss

analysis and design, such as:

 Nonlinear analysis: This involves considering large deformations and

material nonlinearity for more complex scenarios.
 Dynamics analysis: This investigates the behavior of the truss under
dynamic loads like wind and earthquakes.
 Optimization techniques: This can be used to optimize the design of
the truss for specific performance criteria.

By exploring these areas, the project can contribute to further advancement

in the field of truss analysis and design.

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 2. Experimental Design and Methods

a. Setting the initial settings for the program

i. Type of bridge designed in software:

 Describe the type of bridge designed in the software. Was it a beam

bridge, truss bridge, suspension bridge, or another type?
 Specify the specific sub-type if applicable (e.g., Pratt truss, Warren
truss, etc.).

ii. Drawing the bridge:

 Describe the process of drawing the bridge in the software. Did you
use pre-defined elements or create custom shapes?
 Explain how the dimensions and parameters of the bridge were
specified.

b. Calculation

i. Formulations:

 Provide the relevant equations and formulas used for calculating the
bridge's properties.
 Explain how these equations relate to the specific type of bridge and
the forces involved.

ii. Calculations:

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  Show the specific calculations performed using the chosen formulas.
 Present the results of the calculations, including key parameters like
forces, stresses, and deformations.

Example:

a. Setting the initial settings for the program:

i. Type of bridge designed in software:

A Warren truss bridge with five panels was designed in the software.

ii. Drawing the bridge:

Pre-defined truss elements were used to create the bridge model. The bridge
dimensions, including span length, panel length, and member cross-sectional areas,
were specified using the software's input fields.

b. Calculation:

i. Formulations:

The following equations were used to calculate the internal forces in the
truss members:

 Method of joints: ΣFx = 0, ΣFy = 0

 Equilibrium of sections: ΣFx = 0, ΣFy = 0, ΣMz = 0

ii. Calculations:

The method of joints was used to calculate the axial forces in all truss
members. The calculated forces for each member were then used to determine the

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stresses and deformations using material properties and member cross-sectional
areas.

The results of the calculations are summarized in the following table:

Member Axial Stress Deformation

Force (kN) (MPa) (mm)

Member 10 200 0.5

1

Member -15 -300 -0.7

2

Member 5 100 0.2

3

... ... ... ...

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 4. Conclusion

This project investigated the static analysis and buckling behavior of trusses
in a roof construction. Both analytical and computational methods were used to
analyze a practical example and ensure its structural integrity and stability.

a. Results

i. Tabulated simulation results:

 Analytical method:
o External support forces
o Axial forces in bars
o Principal stresses in trusses
 Computational method (finite element model):
o Stresses with and without self-weight
o Critical buckling forces for bars

ii. Load calculation and final cost calculations:

 Calculated loads based on design specifications and self-weight.

 Estimated final cost based on material properties and construction
methods.

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 iii. Comments on results and findings:

 Stresses were below material yield stress, suggesting potential for

using smaller steel sections.
 Critical buckling forces exceeded compressive axial forces, indicating
stability and buckling resistance.
 Analytical and computational methods yielded comparable results,
validating their accuracy.

b. Experimental procedure deviations:

 Describe any deviations from the planned experimental procedure and

their reasons.
 Explain the impact of these deviations on the results, if any.

c. Main ideas and results:

 Both analytical and computational methods are valuable for analyzing

truss structures.
 Combined analysis provides comprehensive understanding of
structural behavior.
 This study contributes to the knowledge of truss systems in roof
constructions.

d. Lessons learned:

 Importance of thorough planning and design for experimental work.

 Understanding the limitations of chosen methods and assumptions
made.
 Recognizing the need for flexibility and adaptation during project
execution.
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 e. Simulation method and results improvement:

i. Additional experiments:

 Consider conducting dynamic load tests to assess performance under

real-world conditions.
 Include material nonlinearities for more accurate analysis of stress-
strain behavior.

ii. Future work:

 Develop and refine the simulation model for further analysis and
optimization.
 Explore different types of roof structures and their performance under
varying loads.
 Apply the findings to practical design and construction of roof
structures.

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4 References

 1. Lengvarský, P., & Bocko, J. (2016). The Static Analysis of the Truss.
American Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 4(7), 440-444. doi:10.12691/ajme-4-7-38..
 2. Meriam, J., and Kraige, L. G. (2011). Engineering Mechanics: Staties.
Wiley. 3. Cherchuk, R. N. (2014). Method of Joints (Easy Way). Amazon Digital Services
LLC. Available: Amazon.com.
 4. Bocko, J., and Delyová, L. (2015). Statics. Technical University of Košice.
5. ÉLESZTÖS, P., and ECSI, L. (2010). Parametrical study of free vibration and plastic
collapse of clamped beam. Acta Mechanica Slovaca, 14, 58-63.
 6. Togan, V., Durmaz, M., and Daloglu, A. (2006). Optimization of roof
trusses under snow loads given in Turkish Codes. Engineering Structures, 28, 1019-1027.
 7. Ronald, W. (Proceedings of the international engineering conference, 2006).
Structural performance of light-frame truss-roof assemblies. Louisiana State University, 263-
268.
 8. Frans, R., and Arfiadi, Y. (The 2nd International Conference on Sustainable
Civil Engineering Structures and Construction Materials, Elsevier, 2015). Sizing, shape and
topology optimizations of roof trusses using hybrid genetic algorithms, 185-195.

 9. Jančo, R. (Shornik vědeckých prací Vysoké školy banské-Technické univerzity

Ostrava, Technical University West Bohemia, 2010). Numerical and exact solution of buckling load
for beam on elastic foundation, 21-26.

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