Navigation:  Step-By-Step Examples > Example 2: A Truss

Problem Description

A truss with a span of 30 ft and a height of 7.5 ft is loaded with six concentrated loads at joints [Ref. 9, pp355].  

 

Default material and section properties in the program are used.

 

Determine the axial forces of the truss members and the support reactions

 

 

Suggested Modeling Steps

▪Set proper units from Settings and Tools > Units & Precisions.

▪Generate the drawing grid by Create > Grids & Snaps > Drawing Grid Setup.  Enter a distance list of “4@7.5” for the X direction and a distance list of “2@3.75” for the Y direction.

▪Draw the truss members by Create > Members.  Point to the intersections of the drawing grid and left-click the mouse from point to point.  The drawing action is continuous.  Right click the mouse to start drawing from a new location.

▪Assign the nodal loads to the joints by Create > Draw Loads > Nodal Loads.

▪Set the analysis options by Analysis > Analysis Options.  Choose the model type “2D Truss”.  

 

Results

The comparison between the program and the referenced results is excellent.

 

 

Comments

No displacements are given in the reference and therefore not compared.  Default material and section properties are used because the truss is determinant and the displacements are not desired.