EXPERIMENT 1

1.0 TITLE :
FORCES IN MEMBERS OF PLANE TRUSS

2.0 OBJECTIVE
To determine the internal forces in the frame imposed by external loads

3.0 THEORY
By knowing the forces of tension and compression in members of the frame, will allows the engineer
to design of appropriate and safe trusses as well as evaluating the displacement of points of
interconnection frame, is under the action of force system applied when the load is acting. The theory
applied is:

∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 0

∑𝑀 = 0

For longer spans, a truss may be employed in place of a beam. Unlike a beam in which the loads are
resisted by shear and moment, the truss members ‘transmit the load primarily by axial forces in the
members. The· structural action of a truss may be compared with that of a simply sup-ported beam.

For a truss under vertical loading, the top chord members of the truss are subjected to axial
compressive forces and the bottom chord members to axial tensile forces. Under similar conditions,
the top fibres of a beam are subjected to compressive stresses and the bottom fibres tensile stresses.
Trusses are mainly built up of prismatic members forming various structural shapes out of basic
triangular elements. A typi-cal bridge truss is shown in Fig. 1.2a.

The truss is known as a plane, truss since all the members lie in one plane. Three-dimensional trusses,
known as space trusses, are also sometimes used.
Page 1 / 11
4.0 APPARATUS

i. Cantilever Frame Model

ii. Steel measuring tape or ruler

iii. Caliper

Page 2 / 11
iv. Load (10N, 20N or 50N)

Page 3 / 11
5.0 PROCEDURE

i. Tools for testing has been prepared and ensured to be in a good condition.
ii. Frame members are measured using steel measuring tape.

iii. Distance between the two surface of the anvil (X) of each member of the frame are measured before
the load is applied and has been recorded as the initial reading (column A).

Page 4 / 11
iv. The calibration value (N/mm) on each frame member is recorded.
v. The appropriate selected load has been placed on the load hanger and the distance of anvil (X) has
been measured again.

vi. The value for column B is recorded and the result for column C, D and E are calculated.

Page 5 / 11
6.0 RESULTS

Member Length (mm)

AB 320
AC 460

AD 650

BC 320
CD 460

Sin  0.70

Cos  0.71

1ST TRIAL
Load P1 = 10 N P2 = 20 N
Internal Force (N)
Initial Actual
End reading Calibration Experiment
reading reading Theoretical
Member (mm) (N/mm) Internal Percentage
(mm) (mm) Internal
Force differences
Force
A B C=B-A D E=CxD

AD 15.6 16 0.4 22.6 9.04 10.327 12.5

AC 17 17.9 0.9 21.9 19.71 49.414 60

BC 15.1 14.7 -0.4 46.5 -18.60 -48.750 61.8

CD 15.5 14.9 -0.6 23.5 -14.10 -14.375 2

2ND TRIAL
Load P1 = 20 N P2 = 30 N
Internal Force (N)
Initial Actual
End reading Calibration Experiment
reading reading Theoretical
Member (mm) (N/mm) Internal Percentage
(mm) (mm) Internal
Force differences
Force
A B C=B-A D E=CxD

AD 15.6 16.4 0.8 22.6 18.08 20.653 12.5

AC 17 19.5 2.5 21.9 54.75 84.453 35

BC 15.1 13.8 -1.3 46.5 -60.45 -87.50 31

CD 15.5 14.5 -1.0 23.5 -23.50 -28.75 18.3

Page 6 / 11
 `

7.0 ANALYZE DATA

Internal forces calculation is based on the method of sections. Cos 0.71 sin 0.70

Force calculation at point 1st TRIAL 2nd TRIAL

D

𝐹𝐷𝐶 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑃1 = 0
𝐹𝐷𝐶 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑃1 = 0
𝐹𝐷𝐶 0.70 + 20 = 0
Member 𝐹𝐷𝐶 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝐹𝐷𝐶 0.71 + 10 = 0
𝐹𝐷𝐶 = − 28.75 𝑁
DC + 𝑃1 = 0 𝐹𝐷𝐶 = −14.375 𝑁
(compression)
(compression)

𝐹𝐷𝐴 + 𝐹𝐷𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 0

𝐹𝐷𝐴 + 𝐹𝐷𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 0
330.454 𝐹𝐷𝐴
𝐹𝐷𝐴
Member 𝐹𝐷𝐴 + (−14.375)( )=0 + (−28.75 𝑥 0.70)
+ 𝐹𝐷𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 460
DA =0
=0 𝐹𝐷𝐴 = 10.327 𝑁
𝐹𝐷𝐴 = 20.653 𝑁
( tension)
( tension)

Force calculation at point C 1st TRIAL 2nd TRIAL

𝐹𝐴𝐶 0.70 +
𝐹𝐴𝐶 0.70 +
(−28.75 𝑥 0.70)
(−14.375) − 20 = 0
𝐹𝐴𝐶 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 30
Member 𝐹𝐴𝐶 0.70 − 20 = 0
+ 𝐹𝐶𝐷 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝑃2 =0
AC
=0
𝐹𝐴𝐶 = 49.414 𝑁
𝐹𝐴𝐶 = 84.453 𝑁
(tension)
(tension)

− 𝐹𝐶𝐵 + 𝐹𝐷𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 0

𝐹𝐶𝐵
− 𝐹𝐶𝐵 − 49.414(0.70) + (−28.75 𝑥 0.70)
− 𝐹𝐶𝐵
Member + (−14.375) = 0 − (84.453 𝑥 0.70)
+ 𝐹𝐷𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
CB 𝐹𝐶𝐵 = − 48.750𝑁 𝐹𝐶𝐵 = −87.50 𝑁
− 𝐹𝐴𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 0
(compression)
(compression)

Page 7 / 11
8.0 DISCUSSION

i. What is the force, external forces and internal forces?

Force is the combat-capable part of a military organisation which describes how military
personnel, and their weapons and equipment, are organised for the operations, missions and
tasks expected from them by the particular doctrine of the service or demanded by the
environment of the conflict.

Internal forces are the forces that emanate from within a system. The system must be defined
by you/problem.

External forces are the forces that emanate from outside the system.

ii. Why did by knowing these forces is very important?

By knowing the value of strength on a single beam. It can be used as a reference to the engineer
for the design of a building with regard to the strength value that the trussses can accommodate.
the engineer needs to create a design capable of loading the load imposed on the trusses
according to the suitability of the applied force.

iii. Discuss the errors happen during conducted the experiment.

The error first trial, member AD 6%, member AC 30 %, member BC 35 % and member CD
0%. However, for second trial error, member AD 6%, member AC 3%, member BC 6% and
member CD 17%. There can be error when the measurement of the length for each members
were taken and the value for initial reading were recorded. Its also possible if the error occur
from instrumental itself and error maybe occur when place the load on load hanger.

iv. List down examples of structures or equipment that using the principle of internal forces.

Internal forces act between different parts of the same structure. There are four types of
internal forces: tension, compression, torsion, and shear.
 Tension can act on a variety of objects, for example, a stretched skipping rope, a trampoline, an
electrical power line, guitar strings, and others
 Compression also occurs when you kick a soccer ball, step on the sole of your shoe, or lay your
head on a foam cushion. Compressed objects usually return to their original shape aft er the
external force is removed.

Page 8 / 11
 Torsion is evident when a skater twists in a jump, a washcloth is wrung out, and a doorknob is
turned. Torsion can be created when both ends of a structure are twisted. Torsion can also be
created when only one end of a structure is twisted while the other end remains stationary.
 Shear forces usually result in an object being bent, torn apart, or cut. A strong wind that is
blowing horizontally against a tree anchored to the ground causes shear forces inside the tree.
These forces can cause it to bend or break scissors use shear force to cut paper in half. The blades
of the scissors move in opposite directions and create two pushing forces against the paper, which
result in the paper being cut.

Page 9 / 11
9.0 CONCLUSION

In this experiment, we use few type of different load from 10N till 50N to evaluate the data from
the trusses. The most important of these criteria is the structure’s ability to carry load safely. The limit
load for this equipment is 40N. The calculation to evaluate of structural safety can only be done
mathematically and the experimental force data that we collected from digital reading than be compared
with the theoretical force value that be done manually as we studied in analysis structure module.

Some mistake when reading the value, this is parallax error. And the equipment is not in a good
condition. It would be impractical, economical, and safe for the structural engineer to evaluate a design by
building a full size prototype. When a structure is built, it must be stiff enough to carry its prescribed
loads and fully corrected when reading the value. There will be a small error in every experiment and It
can’t be avoided but any how we should prevent it so that it will not affect the calculation or stiffness of
the structure. We suggest making the maintenance for the equipment and exchanging the damage tool.
This is because the student can’t get the correct value for those experiments.

Page 10 / 11
10.0 REFERENCE

https://civilengineering.blog/2017/09/12/forms-of-structure-in-structure-analysis/#jp-carousel-239

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantilever_method

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_structure

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-internal-and-external-forces-And-active-and-
reactive-forces

Page 11 / 11