FAKULTI TEKNOLOGI KEJURUTERAAN MEKNIKAL &

PEMBUATAN
UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

SOLID MECHANICS

BMMM 2303 SEMESTER 2 SESSION 2019/2020

LAB 4 : FORCE IN TRUSSES 1

DATE 12/03/2020

NAME OF GROUP MEMBERS & 1. NUR ZAIM AIZAT BIN NOR ZAINUDIN B091810108
MATRIX NUMBER
2. NIK MUHAMMAD KHAIRI BIN NIK KHALID B091810471

3. AHMAD FARID BIN ABU SEMAN B091810212

4. MUHAMMAD BIN AZMI B091810482

5. MANMITH SINGH A/L GIAN SINGH B091810480

6.

NAME OF INSTRUCTOR 1. EN. KHAIRUL AMRI BIN TOFROWAIH

2. EN. WAN SHAHIB IGAL BIN WAN HASHIM

EXAMINER’S COMMENT VERIFICATION STAMP

TOTAL MARKS

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OBJECTIVE OF EXPERIMENTAL WORK
To determine the internal forces and normal or axial strains in truss
members by using the concept of static equillibrium, stress-strain
relations (Hooke’s Law) and material properties of the truss system
subjected to a given loading.

LEARNING OUTCOMES(N.B Students should not rewrite these to

be part of their report)
At the end of this laboratory session, students should be able to:
1. To understand the behaviour of truss system subjected to point
loading.
2. To determine the internal forces for each member of the truss
system by using joint method or/and section method.
3. Identify and specify whether the truss members in tension or
compression through the analytical analysis and compare with the
experimentally measured strains data.
4. Understanding of basic laboratory practice, including design of
experiments, write a clear and well-presented technical report,
data acquisition, interpretation and analysis, and the relationship
between experiments and theory.

THEORY
A truss is a structure composed of slender members joined together at
their end joints. The members commonly used in construction consist of
wooden or metal struts or bars. The end connections are usually formed
by bolting or welding the ends of the members to a common plate called
a gusset plate, as shown in Figure 1-b, or by simply passing a large bolt
or pin through each of the members, Figure 1-b.

Figure 1 Internal forces truss

To design both the members and the connections of a truss, it is

necessary to determine the force developed in each truss member when
the truss system is subjected to a given loading. In this regard two
important assumptions will be made:
a. All loadings are applied at the joints.
b. The truss members are joined together by smooth pins.

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Because of the two assumptions, each truss member acts as a two-force
member and therefore the forces at the ends of the member must be
directed along the axis of the member. If the force tends to elongate the

Figure 2 Tensile and compressive force in

a bar
member, it is a tensile force (T), Figure 2(a), and if it tends to shorten
the member, it is a compressive force (C), Figure 2(b).
In static equilibrium the truss members will satisfy the following
conditions:
 Fx = 0 (1)
 Fy = 0 (2)
M = 0 (3)
When material properties are used to determine force in truss member
the following equation will be needed.
From Hooke’s law :  = E
(4)
where
 = Stress in the member (N/m2)
E = Young’s modulus (N/m2)
 = Displayed axial strain produced in truss member
and  = F/A (5)
where
F = Force in member (N)
A = Cross-sectional area of member (m2)
From equations (4) and (5),
F = AE (6)

APPARATUS
1. Fixed base
2. Roller base
3. Steel bars with strain sensor (strain gauges)
4. Load controller

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PROCEDURES

Experiment 2 – Forces in a Idealised Warren Girder

Layout of the apparatus and its schematic diagram are shown in Figure
4.

Steel bar with

sensor

Roller base
Fixed base Load
controller

Dial
B D

E
A
C

W
Figure 4: Idealized Warren Grider
Warren girders are common structures. They are usually used for simple
bridges and in cantilevered form for crane booms.

1. The equipment was set up properly.

a. The preload of 100 N applied and the assembly was checked in
stable condtion.
b. The load gradually increased to 500 N and the frame was
checked in stable and secure condition.
c.The load returned to zero.

2. The loads applied until 500 N in the increment of 100 N and the
strain readings recorded in Table 4.

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3. The initial reading subtracted (be careful with your signs) and
completed in Table 5.

EXPERIMENTAL DATA (EXPERIMENT 2)

Table 4 Strain reading for each truss

Load Strain reading ()
(N) AB BC AC BD CD CE DE
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
100 -29 10 -3 -20 3 -17 -16
200 -40 21 3 -30 14 -11 -27
300 -49 30 8 -38 23 -7 -36
400 -59 39 14 -47 33 -1 -45
500 -69 50 20 -57 43 4 -56

Table 5 True strain reading for each truss

Load True Strain reading ()
(N) AB BC AC BD CD CE DE
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
100 -29 10 -3 -20 3 -17 -16
200 -40 21 3 -30 14 -11 -27
300 -49 30 8 -38 23 -7 -36
400 -59 39 14 -47 33 -1 -45
500 -69 50 20 -57 43 4 -56

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EXPERIMENTAL RESULT (EXPERIMENT 2)

1. From the measured data, plot graph Load (N) against True Strain
() for all members on the same axis.

2. Theoretically, calculate internal force in each member with a load of

500 N. Assume that Esteel = 210 GPa for all truss members.
3. By using the measured data, calculate internal force (experimental
force) in each member with a load 500 N. (Esteel = 210 GPa)
4. Using a suitable method calculate the theoretical member forces for
the frame work with a load of 500 N.
5. Determine the percentage of error between experimental and
theoretical force. Complete Table 6.

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 Table 6Experimental and theoretical forces at 500N
Experimenta Theoretical
Member Error (%)
l force (N) force (N)
AB
BC
AC
BD
CD
CE
DE

DISCUSSION (N.B This section of your report must be written in the

paragraphs form)

 Analyze or interpret and comment on the tabulated and graphical

results obtained for both experiments. Explain the relationship
exists between the variables involve in this work.
 Discuss and explain the differences between the experimental and
theoretical results.
 Identify which truss members are in compression and tension for
both experiments. Give the reason to this behaviour / observation
and explain which members will be of the more critical to be
known its behaviour in order to avoid structural failure / collapse.
 State the factor of errors or discrepancies for both experiments.
Justify your argument and suggest how these errors may be
eliminated or minimized.

CONCLUSION (N.B Content of this section should not more than 150
words)

Give conclusion and summarize the main findings of this

laboratory work.

QUESTIONS (For Formal Report Only)

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1. There are two methods that may be used to analyze forces in truss
members. Explain briefly how these methods may be employed to
analyze trusses problems.
2. Give two examples of truss structure/member are used in practice to
support loads. Draw the appropriate diagram to support your
answer.
3. Failure by buckling is considered one of the critical aspects need to
be avoided in designing the truss members. Explain briefly how this
phenomenon may occur under the current study.

REFERENCES (For the Formal Report Only)

List at least 3 main references that have been referred to write the
formal report of this laboratory exercise.

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