Faculty : Civil And Environment Page 01

Engineering
Department : Structure And Material Edition 2
Engineering Checking No
Title : Effective Date 11/07/2005
SPACE FRAME Amendment 5/7/2005
Date

1.0 OBJECTIVE

To varify member forces obtain from experiment with tension coefficient method

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME

2.1 Application of theoritical engineering knowledge through practical

application
2.2 .To enhance the technical competency in structural engineering through
laboratory application.
2.3 Communicate effectively in group.
2.4 To identify problem, solving and finding out appropriate solution through
laboratory application.

Prepared by:
Name : Ahmad Zurisman bin Mohd Ali

Signature :

Date : 10 Okt 2002

 Faculty : Civil And Environment No Mukasurat 02
Engineering
Department : Structure And Material Edisi 2
Engineering No.Semakan
Title : Tarikh Efektif 11/07/2005
SPACE FRAME Tarikh Pindaan 5/7/2005

3.0 THEORY

If the members of a truss system is situated not in a two dimensional plane,

then the truss is defined as a space frame truss. In other words, space truss has
components in three axis i.e. x, y and z.

Consider a member with nodeA (xA,yA) and B (xB,yB).

Y B(xB,yB)
TAB

A(xA,yA)

X
Assume the force in the member is TAB (+ve tension) and length LAB

Definition of tension coefficient (t), tAB = TAB

LAB
At A, the horizontal component TAB is:
TABcosӨ = tABLABcosӨ = tABLAB (xB-XA)
LAB
= tAB (xB-xA)

Used the same method , the vertical component at A is:

= tAB(yB – yA)

At B, the horizontal component TAB = tAB(xA-xB)

Vertical component TAB=tAB(yA-yB)
Using statics, write the equation for each joint using the coordinate value and
solve for t. Convert it into force using:

TAB= tABLAB = tAB √ (xB-xA)2 + (yB-yA)2

 Faculty : Civil And Environment No Mukasurat 03
Engineering
Department : Structure And Material Edisi 2
Engineering No.Semakan
Title : Tarikh Efektif 11/07/2005
SPACE FRAME Tarikh Pindaan 5/7/2005

4.0 PROCEDURES

Part 1:

1. Select any weight between 10 to 50 N.

2. Ensure distance a = 500mm and place load hanger on D.
3. Measure the distance b,c dan d and record it in Table 1.
4. Record the dynamometer readings for members S1, S2 dan S3.
5. Put the selected load on the hanger at D and record the
6. Repeat step (2) to (4) with different value of a.
7. Calculate the theoretical member forces and record it in Table 1

z
y
S2
x
S1
a D

w
S3
c

Part 2:

1. For part 2, use a distance of 350 mm for a.

2. Place the hanger on D.
3. Measure the distance b, c and d. Record the dynamometer readings
for member S1, S2 and S3 in Table 2.
4. Put a load of 5N on the hanger and record the dynamometer
readings..
5. Repeat step 2 to 4 using different load.
6. Complete Table 2 by calculating the theoretical member value.
7. Plot the graph of force against load for the theoretical and
experimental results
 Faculty : Civil And Environment No Mukasurat 04
Engineering
Department : Structure And Material Edisi 2
Engineering No.Semakan
Title : Tarikh Efektif 11/07/2005
SPACE FRAME Tarikh Pindaan 5/7/2005

5.0 RESULT

1. Compare the graph of theoretical and experimental results. Comment on the

results.

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2. Gives reasons for any discrepancy in the results.

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