ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
Experiment on Pin-jointed Truss
ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
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.
ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
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.
ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
Apparatus Joints Digital force
display
Pinned Members
support
Roller
support
Digital Strain
Display Electronic
load cell
ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
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.
ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
4. Apply load in the direction of loading (using the control of the load
cell).
ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
5. Record the strain reading for each member.
Strain data
Example:
Adjust the display input
control to get strain data for
each member
6. Repeat step 4 and 5 with another increment of load.
ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
Details of Truss
Diameter of rod = 6.71 × 10−3 𝑚
E𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙 = 210 𝐺𝑁/𝑚2
6 10
7
2
3 5 9 11 13
30°
1 4 8 12
120 cm 120 cm 120 cm 120 cm
ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
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.
ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
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
ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
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
ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
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
ECS426
Structures And Materials Laboratory
Thank You
