LIGHT STRUCTURE LABORATORY

LABORATORY WORKSHEET

Course Code

BFC 31901

Department

Structure And Material Engineering

Tiltle

Space Frame

Faculty : Faculty of Civil and Environmental

Engineering
Department : Structure And Material Engineering
Title : Space Frame

1.0

Edition
Checking No
Effective Date
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OBJECTIVE
1.1

2.0

Page

To varift member forces obtain from experiment with tension coeffient method.

LEARNING OUTCOME
1.0 Application the theoretical engineering knowledge in practical application.
2.0 To enhance technical competency in structural civil engineering through laboratory
application.
3.0 Communicate effectively in group.
4.0 To identify problem, solving finding out appropriate solution through laboratory
application.

3.0

THEORY
If the members of a truss system is situated not in atwo dimensional plane, then the truss is
defined as a space frame truss. In other words, space truss has components in three, axis
i.ex.y and z
Consider a member with node A (XA,YA) and B (XB, YB)

Assume the force in the member is TAB(+ve tension) and length LAB.

Faculty : Faculty of Civil and Environmental

Engineering
Department : Structure And Material Engineering
Title : Space Frame

Page
Edition
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Definition of tension coefficient ( t), tAB = TAB

LAB
At A, the horizontal component TAB is =

With the same method, the vertical component at A is :

At B, the horizontal component T AB = tAB (XA-XB)

Vertical component T AB = tAB(YB X B)
Using statics write the equation for each joint using the coordinate value and solve for t.
Convert it into force using:

4.0

PROCUDER
Part 1 :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Select any weight between 10 to 50 N.

Ensure distance a= 500mm and place load hanger on D.
Measure the distance b, c , d and record it table 1.
Record the dynamometer readings for S1, S2 And S3.
Put the selected load on the hanger at D and record the dynamometer in member for S1,
S2 And S3.
6. Repeat step (2) to (4) with different value of a.
Calculate the theoretical member forces and record it in table 1.

Faculty : Faculty of Civil and Environmental

Engineering
Department : Structure And Material Engineering
Title : Space Frame

Page
Edition
Checking No
Effective Date

Amendment Date

1. For part 2, use a distance of 350mm for a.

2. Place the hanger on D.
3. Measure the distance b,c and d. Record the dynamometer readings for member for
S1, S2 And S3.
4. Put a load of 5N on the hanger and record the dynamometer readings.
5. Repeat step2 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 experiment result.
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.

Faculty : Faculty of Civil and Environmental

Engineering
Department : Structure And Material Engineering

Page
Edition
Checking No

Title : Moment Influence Lines

6.0

7.0

Effective Date
Amendment Date

PROCUDERS
Part 1
1. Check the Digital Force Meter reads Zero with no load.
2. Place hanger with any mass between 150g to 300g at the first grooved hanger
support at the left support and record the Digital Force reading in Table 1.
3. Repeat the procedure to the next grooved hanger until to the last grooved hanger
at the right hand support.
4. Complete the calculation in Table 1.
Part 2
1. Place three load hangers with any load 50g to 400g on it and place it at any
position between the supports. Record the positions and the Digital Force Display
reading in Table 2.
2. Repeat the procedure with three other locations.
3. Complete the calculation in Table .

RESULT
Part 1
Location of Load
From left hand
support(m)

0.04
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.12
0.14
0.16
0.18
0.20
0.22
0.24
0.26
0.28
0.30
0.32
0.34
0.36

0.38
0.40

Digital Force
Display
Reading( N)

Shear Force Experimental

at cut section Influence line
(N)
value (Nm)

Theory
Influence line
value (Nm)

Faculty : Faculty of Civil and Environmental

Engineering
Department : Structure And Material Engineering
Title : : Moment Influence Lines

Page

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Notes:
1. Moment at cut section = Digital force x 0.125
2. Experimental Influence line values = Moment(N)
Load (N)
3. Calculate the theoretical value using the equation 1 for load position 40 to 260mm and
equation 2 for load position 320mm to 380mm
Part 2:
Location

Position of hanger from left hand

support(m)
_____g

_____g

Shear force
Digital Reading
N

____g

1
2
3
4
5
Notes:
1. Experiment Moment = Digital Force Reading x0.125
2. Theoretical Moment is calculated Using Equation (3)

Theoretical Shear
Nm

8.0

DISCUSSIONS

1. Derive equation 1 and 2

2. On the same graph paper, plot the theoretical and experimental values against distance from left
hand support
3. Comment on the shape of the graph. What does it tell about how moment varies at the cut
section as a load moved on the beam?
4. Comment on the experimental result and compared to the theoretical result.
5. Comment the experimental result and theoretical result in table 2. Comment on why the results
differ.
6. Conclusions:
What can you prove from the experiment.