Ftool

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane

truss and result visualization
Version 4.00
June 2017
https://www.alis-sol.com.br/ftool

This tutorial:
https://www.alis-sol.com.br/docs/ftool/downloads/tutorialtruss.zip

Pr of . Luiz Fernand o Mart ha - PUC-Rio Rua M ar quês de São V ic ent e, 225 - CEP 22451-900 - Rio de J aneir o, RJ
Tel. +55 21 3527-1190 - Fax. +55 21 3527-1195 - E-mail: lfm@tecgraf.puc-rio.br - URL: http://www.tecgraf.puc-rio.br/~lfm
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Table of Contents
Specification of units and number formatting ................................................................................................................... 3
Grid of coordinates and grid point spacing with attraction (snap); insertion of first member ............................................... 3
Insertion of second member ............................................................................................................................................. 4
Insertion of third member ................................................................................................................................................ 4
Insertion of fourth member .............................................................................................................................................. 5
Selection transform operation with copy (Leave Original) ................................................................................................ 5
Translation operation (Move), with copy (Leave Original), in keyboard mode ................................................................... 6
Repeat translation (Move) operation with copy (Leave Original) twice .............................................................................. 6
Fit image of entire model on screen.................................................................................................................................. 7
Delete dangling member remaining for last move-with-copy operation.............................................................................. 7
Create a file for truss model (command "Save as... ")........................................................................................................ 8
Creation of new material, selecting its type and name ....................................................................................................... 8
Assignment of created material to all selected members .................................................................................................... 9
Creation of new cross-section for all members.................................................................................................................. 9
Selection of C-shape cross-section type for all members ................................................................................................. 10
Definition of cross-section dimensions and assignment to all members............................................................................ 10
Definition of a pin support and assignment to left inferior node....................................................................................... 11
Definition of a simple support and assignment to right inferior node ............................................................................... 11
Selection of a single node followed by selection of all nodes through a rectangular fence using the mouse (with Shift key)12
Application of a complete hinge to all selected nodes ..................................................................................................... 12
Creation of a concentrated force load for left superior node............................................................................................. 13
Definition of name of concentrated force load at left superior node ................................................................................. 13
Definition of X and Y component values of concentrated force load and application to left superior node ......................... 13
Creation of concentrated force load for the other superior nodes ..................................................................................... 14
Definition of name and Y component value of concentrated force load and application to other superior nodes ................. 15
Creation of dimension lines to indicate model global dimensions .................................................................................... 15
Visualization of model deformed configuration response ................................................................................................ 16
Visualization of axial force result in truss members ........................................................................................................ 16
Visualization of support reactions .................................................................................................................................. 17

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 2
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Specification of units and number formatting

Grid of coordinates and grid point spacing with attraction (snap);

insertion of first member

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 3
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Insertion of second member

Insertion of third member

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 4
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Insertion of fourth member

Selection transform operation with copy (Leave Original)

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 5
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Translation operation (Move), with copy (Leave Original), in keyboard mode

Repeat translation (Move) operation with copy (Leave Original) twice

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 6
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Fit image of entire model on screen

Delete dangling member remaining for last move-with-copy operation

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 7
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Create a file for truss model (command "Save as... ")

Creation of new material, selecting its type and name

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 8
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Assignment of created material to all selected members

Creation of new cross-section for all members

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 9
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Selection of C-shape cross-section type for all members

Definition of cross-section dimensions and assignment to all members

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 10
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Definition of a pin support and assignment to left inferior node

Definition of a simple support and assignment to right inferior node

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 11
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Selection of a single node followed by selection of all nodes through a

rectangular fence using the mouse (with Shift key)

Application of a complete hinge to all selected nodes

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 12
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Creation of a concentrated force load for left superior node

Definition of name of concentrated force load at left superior node

Definition of X and Y component values of concentrated force load and

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 13
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

application to left superior node

Creation of concentrated force load for the other superior nodes

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 14
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Definition of name and Y component value of concentrated force load and

application to other superior nodes

Creation of dimension lines to indicate model global dimensions

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 15
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Visualization of model deformed configuration response

Visualization of axial force result in truss members

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 16
 Ftool – Version 4.00 Copyright  Jun. 2017 – Luiz Fernando Martha

Visualization of support reactions

Tutorial for creation and analysis of a plane truss and result visualization 17