OBJECTIVE

To varify member forces obtain from experiment with tension coefficient method

LEARNING OUTCOME
1) Application of theoritical engineering knowledge through practical application
2) To enhance the technical competency in structural engineering through laboratory
application.
3) Communicate effectively in group.
4) To identify problem, solving and finding out appropriate solution through laboratory
application.

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).

Assume the force in the member is TAB (+ve tension) and length LAB
Definition of tension coefficient (t),

tAB =

At A, the horizontal component TAB is:

TABcos =

= tABLAB (xB-XA)
= 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

PROCEDURES
Part 1:
1. Select any weight between 10 to 25 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

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

TABLE 1
Dimension (mm)
a

Dynamometer Reading
S1

Force (N)

S2

S3

Experimental

Unloaded Loaded Unloaded Loaded Unloaded Loaded

Theory

S1

S2

S3

S1

S2

S3

500

400

380

365

14

10

21.88

21.88

-52.97

400

420

360

365

0.5

6.5

0.5

6.5

4.5

16

11.5

17.93

17.93

-43.18

300

450

330

365

9.5

9.5

5.5

22

8.5

8.5

16.5

16.54

16.54

-38.50

200

450

335

365

15

15

31

13

13

23

31.50

31.50

-70.25

Load : 25 KN
Dynamometer Reading
Load

S1

Force (N)

S2

S3

Experimental

Unloaded Loaded Unloaded Loaded Unloaded Loaded

Theory

S1

S2

S3

4.5

4.5

13.0

4.5

4.5

7.0

10

8.0

8.0

19.0

8.0

8.0

13.0

15

11.5

11.5

24.0

11.5

11.5

18.0

20

15.0

15.0

31.0

15.0

15.0

25.0

25

19.5

19.0

36.0

19.5

19.0

30.0

Dimension a = 350 mm
Dimension b = 450 mm
Dimension c = 340 mm
Dimension d = 365 mm

S1

S2

S3

Data Analysis

Example of experiment calculation

a = 500 mm
1. S1

: loaded = 5 N
Unloaded = 0 N
S1 = loaded-unloaded
=5N0N
=5N

2. S1

: loaded = 5 N
Unloaded = 0 N
S1 = loaded-unloaded
=5N0N
=5N

3. S1

: loaded = 14 N
Unloaded = 4 N
S1 = loaded-unloaded
= 14 N 4 N
= 10 N

PART A
Theoritical Calculation

1) a = 500 mm b = 400mm c = 380mm d = 365mm

ts1= 0.048

Lx = b

ts2= 0.048

Ly = d/2

ts3= -0.096

Lz = a-c
L=

S1 = 21.88 KN

F=Lxt

S2 = 21.88 KN
S3 = -52.97 KN

Fx= 0 400ts1 + 400ts2 + 400ts3 = 0

Fy= 0 -182.5ts1 +182.5ts2 + 0ts3 =0
Fz= 0 120ts1 + 120ts2 + 380ts3 = -25 KN

Member

Lx (mm)

Ly(mm)

Lz(mm)

L (mm)

F (N)

Remarks

S1

400

-182.5

120

455.75

0.048

21.88

Tension

S2

400

182.5

120

455.75

0.048

21.88

Tension

S3

400

0.00

380

551.72

-0.096

-52.97

Compression

Force (N)

0.00

0.00

-25

2) a = 400 mm b = 420mm c = 360mm d = 365mm

ts1= 0.039

Lx = b

ts2= 0.039

Ly = d/2

ts3= -0.078

Lz = a-c
L=

S1 = 17.93 KN

F=Lxt

S2 = 17.93 KN
S3 = -43.18 KN

Fx= 0 420ts1 + 420ts2 + 420ts3 = 0

Fy= 0 -182.5ts1 +182.5ts2 + 0ts3 =0
Fz= 0 40ts1 + 40ts2 + 360ts3 = -25 KN

Member

Lx (mm)

Ly(mm)

Lz(mm)

L (mm)

F (N)

Remarks

S1

420

-182.5

40

459.68

0.039

17.93

Tension

S2

420

182.5

40

459.68

0.039

17.93

Tension

S3

420

0.00

360

553.17

-0.078

-43.18

Compression

Force (N)

0.00

0.00

-25

3) a = 300 mm b = 450mm c = 330mm d = 365mm

ts1= 0.034

Lx = b

ts2= 0.034

Ly = d/2

ts3= -0.069

Lz = a-c
L=

S1 = 16.54 KN

F=Lxt

S2 = 16.54 KN
S3 = -38.50 KN

Fx= 0 450ts1 + 450ts2 + 450ts3 = 0

Fy= 0 -182.5ts1 +182.5ts2 + 0ts3 =0
Fz= 0 -30ts1 + -30ts2 + 330ts3 = -25 KN

Member

Lx (mm)

Ly(mm)

Lz(mm)

L (mm)

F (N)

Remarks

S1

450

-182.5

-30

486.52

0.034

16.54

Tension

S2

450

182.5

-30

486.52

0.034

16.54

Tension

S3

450

0.00

330

558.03

-0.069

-38.50

Compression

Force (N)

0.00

0.00

-25

4) a = 200 mm b = 450mm c = 335mm d = 365mm

ts1= 0.0625

Lx = b

ts2= 0.0625

Ly = d/2

ts3= -0.125

Lz = a-c
L=

S1 = 31.50 KN

F=Lxt

S2 = 31.50 KN
S3 = -70.125 KN

Fx= 0 450ts1 + 450ts2 + 450ts3 = 0

Fy= 0 -182.5ts1 +182.5ts2 + 0ts3 =0
Fz= 0 135ts1 + 135ts2 + 335ts3 = -25 KN

Member

Lx (mm)

Ly(mm)

Lz(mm)

L (mm)

F (N)

Remarks

S1

450

-182.5

135

504.02

0.0625

31.50

Tension

S2

450

182.5

135

504.02

0.0625

31.50

Tension

S3

450

0.00

335

561.00

-0.125

-70.125

Compression

Force (N)

0.00

0.00

-25

PART B
1) Load = 5 N
a = 350 mm b = 450mm c = 340mm d = 365mm

ts1= 0.0076

Lx = b

ts2= 0.0076

Ly = d/2

ts3= -0.015

Lz = a-c
L=

S1 = 3.70 KN

F=Lxt

S2 = 3.70 KN
S3 = -8.46KN

Fx= 0 450ts1 + 450ts2 + 450ts3 = 0

Fy= 0 -182.5ts1 +182.5ts2 + 0ts3 =0
Fz= 0 10ts1 + 10ts2 + 340ts3 =5.25 KN

Member

Lx (mm)

Ly(mm)

Lz(mm)

L (mm)

F (N)

Remarks

S1

450

-182.5

10

485.70

0.0076

3.70

Tension

S2

450

182.5

10

485.70

0.0076

3.70

Tension

S3

450

0.00

340

564.00

-0.015

-8.46

Compression

Force (N)

0.00

0.00

-5

2) Load = 10 N
a = 350 mm b = 450mm c = 340mm d = 365mm

ts1= 0.015

Lx = b

ts2= 0.015

Ly = d/2

ts3= -0.03

Lz = a-c
L=

S1 = 7.286KN

F=Lxt

S2 = 7.286KN
S3 = -16.92KN

Fx= 0 450ts1 + 450ts2 + 450ts3 = 0

Fy= 0 -182.5ts1 +182.5ts2 + 0ts3 =0
Fz= 0 10ts1 + 10ts2 + 340ts3 = 10.5 KN

Member

Lx (mm)

Ly(mm)

Lz(mm)

L (mm)

F (N)

Remarks

S1

450

-182.5

10

485.70

0.015

7.286

Tension

S2

450

182.5

10

485.70

0.015

7.286

Tension

S3

450

0.00

340

564.00

-0.030

-16.92

Compression

Force (N)

0.00

0.00

-10

3) Load = 15 N
a = 350 mm b = 450mm c = 340mm d = 365mm

ts1= 0.0225

Lx = b

ts2= 0.0225

Ly = d/2

ts3= -0.045

Lz = a-c
L=

S1 = 10.92 KN

F=Lxt

S2 = 10.92 KN
S3 = -25.38KN

Fx= 0 450ts1 + 450ts2 + 450ts3 = 0

Fy= 0 -182.5ts1 +182.5ts2 + 0ts3 =0
Fz= 0 10ts1 + 10ts2 + 340ts3 = 15.8 KN

Member

Lx (mm)

Ly(mm)

Lz(mm)

L (mm)

F (N)

Remarks

S1

450

-182.5

10

485.70

0.0225

10.92

Tension

S2

450

182.5

10

485.70

0.0225

1.31

Tension

S3

450

0.00

340

564.00

-0.045

-25.38

Compression

Force (N)

0.00

0.00

-15

4) Load = 20 N
a = 350 mm b = 450mm c = 340mm d = 365mm

ts1= 0.03

Lx = b

ts2= 0.03

Ly = d/2

ts3= -0.06

Lz = a-c
L=

S1 = KN

F=Lxt

S2 = KN
S3 = -KN

Fx= 0 450ts1 + 450ts2 + 450ts3 = 0

Fy= 0 -182.5ts1 +182.5ts2 + 0ts3 =0
Fz= 0 10ts1 + 10ts2 + 340ts3 = 21 KN

Member

Lx (mm)

Ly(mm)

Lz(mm)

L (mm)

F (N)

Remarks

S1

450

-182.5

10

485.70

0.03

14.57

Tension

S2

450

182.5

10

485.70

0.03

14.57

Tension

S3

450

0.00

340

564.00

-0.06

33.84

Compression

Force (N)

0.00

0.00

-20

5) Load = 25 N
a = 350 mm b = 450mm c = 340mm d = 365mm

ts1= 0.0378

Lx = b

ts2= 0.0378

Ly = d/2

ts3= -0.075

Lz = a-c
L=

S1 = 18.35 KN

F=Lxt

S2 = 18.35 KN
S3 = -42.30 KN

Fx= 0 450ts1 + 450ts2 + 450ts3 = 0

Fy= 0 -182.5ts1 +182.5ts2 + 0ts3 =0
Fz= 0 10ts1 + 10ts2 + 340ts3 = 26.26 KN

Member

Lx (mm)

Ly(mm)

Lz(mm)

L (mm)

F (N)

Remarks

S1

450

-182.5

10

485.70

0.0378

18.35

Tension

S2

450

182.5

10

485.70

0.0378

18.35

Tension

S3

450

0.00

340

564.00

-0.075

-42.3

Compression

Force (N)

0.00

0.00

-25