TABLE OF CONTENT ( COMPACTION)

Content
Introduction
Objective
Theoritical Background
Apparatus
Procedure
Result
Analysis
Discussion
Conclusion
Appendix

No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

TITLE

Page
2
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2-3
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6-9
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EXPERIMENT ON PIN-JOINTED TRUSS

INTRODUCTION
A truss is an assemblage of long, slender structural elements that are connected at their
ends. Trusses find substantial use in modern construction, for instance as towers, bridges,
scaffolding. In addition to their practical importance as useful structures, truss elements have
a dimensional simplicity that will help us extend further the concepts of mechanics
introduced in the modules dealing with uniaxial response. This module will also use trusses
to introduce important concepts in statics and numerical analysis that will be extended in
later modules to more general problems.

OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this laboratory experiment is to determine the internal forces and
displacement in a statically determinate pin-joint truss.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
A truss is a structure constructed with straight members connected together at their ends
referred to as joints. Triangular configuration is usually used for trusses because of the
structural stability of the shape and the joints are usually assumed to be pin-jointed.

Suppose that m is the total number of members in a truss and j the total number of joints.
Then, noting that initially there are three members and three joints, the above relationship
may be written.
m - 3 = 2(j - 3)
So that,
m=2j 3
If the equation above is satisfied, the truss constructed from a series of triangles is a
statically determinate structure. If m < 2j - 3, the structure is unstable, and if m > 2j - 3, the
structure is statically indeterminate.
A

determinate

truss

can

be

analysed

using

any

of

the

following

methods:

1.method of joints
2.method of sections
3.graphical method

The assumptions on which the analysis of trusses is based are as follows :

(i) The truss members are connected at their ends by frictionless pins.
(ii) The truss is loaded and supported only at its joints.
(iii) The forces in the truss members are purely axial, either tension or compression force.

APPARATUS
1. Test frame
2. Truss framework
3. Pinned support
4. Rolling support
5. Bearing
6. Pin
7. Thumbwheel
8. Reductant member
9. Digital force display
10. Load cell
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11. Indicator arm

12. Measuring tape and vernier caliper

PROCEDURE

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.

8.

The Digital Force Display was switched on.

With no load on the load cell (the pin should turn), the reading was made zero using
the set zero dial on the front of the load cell.
The digital indicator was ensured that it is touching the top support of the framework
and switched it on.
The Digital Strain Display was switched on and the leads to the numbers on the
sockets were ensured to be matching and the strain gauges were connected to the
strain display. The gauges was leaved to warm up for a few minutes and the reading
becomes stable.
The thumbwheel on the redundant member unscrewed.
A pre-load of 100N downward was applied and the load cell and the digital indicator
was made zero.
A load was carefully applied and the strain readings (microstrain, ) and the digital
indicator reading was recorded. The initial strain readings was subtracted (include
the signs).
The applied load was increased and steps 8 and 9 was repeated 5 more readings.
The applied load was ensured to not exceeding 350N.

RESULTS
1. E = 210MPa
2. Rod diameter =

0.055 mm

Table 1 : Strain readings and frame deflections

Load
(N)
5

-309

-127

-100

-149

-191

-62

150

-70

Displace
ment
( mm)
0.006

10

-308

-128

-100

-150

-191

-62

151

-68

0.012

15

-306

-128

-101

-152

-191

-62

153

-67

0.013

20

-305

-129

-101

-153

-190

-61

154

-65

0.015

25

-304

-129

-102

-155

-190

-61

156

-64

0.016

Table 2 : Experiment Internal Forces (m)

Load
(N)

-1.734

-0.8015

-0.6374

-1.003

-1.128

-344.33

1.0449

-0.285

10

-1.722

-0.8193

-0.647

-1.003

-1.128

-344.33

1.069

-0.2612

15

-1.704

-0.8311

-0.659

-1.057

-1.128

-344.33

1.080

-0.2434

20

-1.698

-0.837

-0.6709

-1.0805

-1.128

-344.33

1.098

-0.232

25

-1.686

-0.849

-0.706

-1.0983

-1.128

-344.33

1.1102

-0.14

Load
(N)

-10

-10

-10

-20

14.142

14.142

10

-20

-20

-20

-40

28.28

-28.28

15

-30

-30

-30

-60

42.43

-42.43

20

-40

-40

-40

-80

56.57

-56.57

25

-50

-50

-50

-100

70.71

-70.71

Table 3

ANALYSIS
To determine whether the truss is determinate or indeterminate, we used the equation :
m=2j - 3
Member = 8
Joint = 5
8=2(5) - 3
8=7
Thus, m > 2j - 3 the structure is statically indeterminate.
Graph

MEMBER 1

MEMBER 2

MEMBER 3

MEMBER 4

MEMBER 5

MEMBER 6

MEMBER 7

MEMBER 8

To calculate the internal force, for table 2 we used this formula :

E=

F
A

Where;
F= force in the member
A= cross section area in the member
E = Youngs Modulus
= stress in the member
= Elongation
= Strain

DISCUSSION

The experimental forces were different to the theoretical value. This is because the
error in the apparatus that affect the actual readings. This may cause by the condition of the
machine which may be old, and maintenance may not be done. The error was happened at
the digital indicator, which has function of measuring the displacement of the truss. We used
10N, 20N, 30N, 40N, 50N in our experiment. Every load had different strain readings in each
members and displacement.
Before we design or construct a structure, we must include all aspects to prevent the
structure from failure. We must include all knowledge to design a structure. For the truss in
the experiment, the redundant member was excluded in the truss to make the truss is
statically indeterminate. The truss is sufficient to determine the unknown support reactions
without the redundant member. If the redundant member was included, the truss will become
internally statically indeterminate structure, which is the redundant member is within the
truss. In this experiment, the redundant member was unscrewed, making it ineffective
member.
9

In the calculation, we used the Youngs modulus of steel of 210 MNm -2. Using that
value, we managed to get the strain in the unit of micro strain such as 10 for the member
1 with load 10N. For the future work, we noticed that the apparatus should be calibrated
more precisely so that the error will not happen again.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we had achieved the objective which is determined the internal forces
and displacement in a statically determinate pin-joined truss. We manage to find that the
truss was statically indeterminate by using the formula m=2j 3. We also noticed that the
length and diameter of the members in the truss is needed to be taken, so that it can be
used in solving the problem related to truss. From the data, we found out that the area of the
cross section of the rod is 2.8310-5 2.95 105 and the formula for the strain is
=F/ EA . The unit is in .
The value of force in each member was founded by using method of joint. From the
analysis, the value for each member at truss with 10N, 20N, 30N, 40N, 50N load was made
by method of joints and was filled in the table in results. From the graph of displacement
versus load, the graph was made best fit and the line is linear.

10

A truss is a structure constructed with straight members connected together at their

ends referred to as joints. Triangular configuration is usually used for trusses because of the
structural stability of the shape and the joints are usually assumed to be pin-jointed.
Based on our experiment, the equipment may not in a good condition. It could be
impractical, for engineer to evaluate the bridge design by building a full size prototype. To
prevent this error we suggest making the maintenance and make sure all the apparatus is
set in right position before take the value or result. The consequences of this error, we may
not find the correct result for the experiment.
In short, the objective of the experiment had been achieved by our group by
calculating all the result that we had got. The clear version is on the tables shown in the
results.

APPENDIX

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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SARAWAK
LABORATORY MANUAL

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