Faculty : Civil And Environment

Engineering

Page

01

Department : Structure And Material

Engineering
Title :

Edition
Checking No
Effective Date
Amendment
Date

SPACE FRAME
1.0

11/07/2005
5/7/2005

OBJECTIVE
To varify member forces obtain from experiment with tension coefficient method

2.0

LEARNING OUTCOME
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4

Application of theoritical engineering knowledge through practical

application
.To enhance the technical competency in structural engineering through
laboratory application.
Communicate effectively in group.
To identify problem, solving and finding out appropriate solution through
laboratory application.

Prepared by:
Name : Ahmad Zurisman bin Mohd Ali
Signature :
Date : 10 Okt 2002

Faculty : Civil And Environment

Engineering

No Mukasurat

02

Department : Structure And Material

Engineering
Title :

Edisi
No.Semakan
Tarikh Efektif
Tarikh Pindaan

SPACE FRAME
3.0

11/07/2005
5/7/2005

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).
Y

B(xB,yB)
TAB

A(xA,yA)
X

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

tAB =

TAB
LAB

At A, the horizontal component TAB is:

TABcos = tABLABcos = tABLAB (xB-XA)
LAB
= 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 (xB-xA)2 + (yB-yA)2

Faculty : Civil And Environment

Engineering

No Mukasurat

03

Department : Structure And Material

Engineering
Title :

Edisi
No.Semakan
Tarikh Efektif
Tarikh Pindaan

SPACE FRAME
4.0

11/07/2005
5/7/2005

PROCEDURES
Part 1:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Select any weight between 10 to 25 N.

Ensure distance a = 500mm and place load hanger on D.
Measure the distance b,c dan d and record it in Table 1.
Record the dynamometer readings for members S1, S2 dan S3.
Put the selected load on the hanger at D and record the

Repeat step (2) to (4) with different value of a.

Calculate the theoretical member forces and record it in Table 1

z
y

S2
x
S1

S3

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

Faculty : Civil And Environment

Engineering

No Mukasurat

04

Department : Structure And Material

Engineering
Title :

Edisi
No.Semakan
Tarikh Efektif
Tarikh Pindaan

SPACE FRAME

11/07/2005
5/7/2005

5.0 RESULT

1. Compare the graph of theoretical and experimental results. Comment on the

results.
..
.
.
.
.

2. Gives reasons for any discrepancy in the results.

.
.