ENGD3016 Course Work I: Truss design

using Finite element method & MATLAB

Dr F Farukh
 Faculty of Computing, Engineering & Media (CEM)
Coursework Brief 2019/20

Module name: Solid Mechanics

Module code: ENGD 3016
This coursework item is: (delete as appropriate) Summative
The learning outcomes that are assessed by this coursework are:
1. To demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and principles associated
with FEA.
2. To be able to generate problem-specific FEA codes using MATLAB software.
3. To apply FEA and MATLAB to obtain solution of the problems in
Engineering/product design.
This coursework is: (delete as appropriate) Individual
If other or mixed ... explain here:

This coursework constitutes 30% of the overall module mark.

Date Set: 08/10/2019
Date & Time Due: 06/12/2019
Your marked coursework and feedback will be 13/01/2020
available to you on:
If for any reason this is not forthcoming by the due date your module
leader will let you know why and when it can be expected. The
Associate Professor Student Experience
(CEMstudentexperience@dmu.ac.uk) should be informed of any issues
relating to the return of marked coursework and feedback.

Note that you should normally receive feedback on your coursework by

no later than 20 University working days after the formal hand-in
date, provided that you have met the submission deadline.

When completed you are required to submit your coursework via:

1. CEM student advice centre.

If you need any support or advice on completing this coursework please visit the Student
Matters tab on the Faculty of Technology Blackboard page.

Late submission of coursework policy: Late submissions will be processed in accordance

with current University regulations which state:
“the time period during which a student may submit a piece of work late without authorisation and
have the work capped at 40% [50% at PG level] if passed is 14 calendar days. Work submitted
unauthorised more than 14 calendar days after the original submission date will receive a mark of 0%.
These regulations apply to a student’s first attempt at coursework. Work submitted late without
authorisation which constitutes reassessment of a previously failed piece of coursework will always
receive a mark of 0%.”

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These include plagiarism, cheating, collusion, copying work and reuse of your own work, poor
referencing or the passing off of somebody else's ideas as your own. If you are in any doubt about
what constitutes an academic offence or bad academic practice you must check with your tutor.
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Tasks to be undertaken:
Deliverables to be submitted for assessment:

How the work will be marked: According to the attached sheet.

Module leader/tutor name: Dr Farukh

Contact details: f.farukh@dmu.ac.uk
Problem Statement
A local engineering consulting firm approaches you with their typical problem. They
designed a truss-like structure which is subjected to a load as shown in Figure 1 and
Figure 2. Since this structure is planned to be mounted overhead in undisclosed factory,
they want to reduce the weight, hence the cross-sectional area of the truss-members.
Dimensions, load conditions are given in Figure 1 and Figure 2. The company also
would appreciate the rationale for selection of area, and factor of safety from
engineering point of view. The material is mild steel, and you are advised to use
mechanical properties of standard mild steel.

Deliverable
Your task is to evaluate a suitable cross section, using standard box section (consider
solid cross-section) sizes that are widely available in the U.K. Also you should suggest
the best configuration based on the advantage and limitation from engineering point of
view.

You will be assessed on both the quality of the decisions made and the methods used to
make the decisions. You will also need to make a judgement on what constitutes good
performance (e.g. the safety factor used).

Selection Criteria
The company proposed the following selection criteria:
1. The material definition and area are reasonable from engineering design point of
view. (5%)
2. All loading conditions are considered; proper factor of safety is chosen. (5%)
3. Analyses of the whole structure performed and nodal displacements are determined.
(20%)
4. Stress and strain at each element is determined; the structure is strong enough for
the loading condition. (20%)
5. The MATLAB program is easy to read, with all appropriate comments and inputs
and output results clearly labelled and shown. (10%)

6. The course work report is presented in a professional manner with clear content,
introduction and all relevant sections as per the guidelines stated in this document.
(20%)

7. Report writing and format of the report should be professional, clear and coherent.
Right configuration chosen with clear rational behind your selection (20%).

CAD/FEA
The key elements of the report which will determine your overall mark are
1. Ability to present an intelligent and clear summary of the quantitative results
from this model. Clear and scientific approaches to find stresses and strains on
elements.

2. Ability to make qualitative statements on the selection of materials and methods

used. These should be supported by literature review.
 3. Ability to make an overall judgement on the qualitative and quantitative data

4. Ability to present the results with clear scientific justification.

MATLAB Code
You will also submit the MATLAB code (as an Appendix to the report) used to create
the chosen configuration FEA model. The prime characteristics of the MATLAB
program should be:
1. The MATLAB code should show clearly the inputs and outputs.

2. It should include sufficient comments for engineers in the company to

understand it.

3. Clarity on each steps involved from elemental stiffness matrix

4. Assembly of elemental stiffness matrix

5. Solve for nodal displacements, elemental stress & strains

Report writing
Your report should be clear and well-organised. It should have a narrative flow. A
clearly stated conclusion with a scientific rationale should be the part of your report.
The final assessment will be a report written in the format of a
• Description of how the two configurations (Figure 1 and Figure 2) have been
set up

• A comparative analysis, in terms of nodal displacements, elemental stress and

strains, for the two configurations using both FEA and MATLAB.

• Discussion about the results, weighing up the advantages/disadvantages of each

configuration (MATLAB and FEA).

• Conclusions about the appropriate cross section and the efficacy of Finite
Element Analysis approach

You will show the MATLAB code used to create the FEA model as well as FEA
model.
 Figure 1: Truss for overhead loading pulley configuration 1

Figure 2: Truss for overhead loading pulley configuration 2

Report format
The report should be concisely written and not more than 10 pages. An ideal report
contains the following sections.

4.1 Introduction
Brief summary of the problem and justification to the chosen box section.
Description of Elemental stiffness matrix
Definition of elemental stiffness matrix that you have used. Write down an individual
stiffness matrix for each truss members for Truss configuration in Figure 1 and Figure
2.

Truss Member Node 1 Node 2 xi, yi xj , yj θ c s ℓ

A 1 2

B 2 3

C 3 4

D 4 1

E 4 2

F 4 5

G 5 1
Table 1: A sample table to present the discretisation plan for Truss configuration in
Figure 1.

Assembly of global stiffness matrix

Assembly of individual stiffness matrix by for Truss configuration in Figure 1 and
Figure 2. Write down the global stiffness matrix after assembly for each con-figuration.

BOUNDARY CONDITIONS AND LOADS

Write down prescribed boundary conditions and applied loads for each configuration.
Also, clearly state active Degrees of Freedom for each truss member for both Truss
configuration.
Governing equation
The final governing equation to solve displacement by using global stiffness matrix and
prescribed boundary conditions and external loads. Write down the global stiffness
matrix after assembly for each configuration.

Results
The results should be summarised in the following tabular format as shown in Table 1
for Truss configuration in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

You should include the expression for calculating the elemental stress and strains, by
considering factor of safety. The elemental strains and stresses should be sum-marised in
the following tabular format, see Table 3, for both Truss configuration in Figure 1 and
Figure 2.

Configuration 1 Configuration 2
Truss Nodal Displacement Nodal Displacement
Member Node 1 Node 2 Node 1 Node 2
A
B
C
D
E
F
G

Table 2: A sample table providing the nodal displacements for Truss configuration in
Figure 1 and Figure 2.
 Truss Configuration 1 Configuration 2
Member Elemental Strain Elemental Stress
A
B
C
D

E
F
G

Table 3: A sample table providing the elemental strains and stresses for Truss
configuration in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
MATLAB Programming
You will also submit the MATLAB code (as an Appendix to the report) used to create the
chosen configuration FEA model. The prime characteristics of the MATLAB program
should be:
1. The MATLAB code should show clearly the inputs and outputs.
2. It should include sufficient comments for engineers in the company to under-
stand it.
3. Clarity on each steps involved from elemental stiffness matrix
4. Assembly of elemental stiffness matrix
5. Solve for nodal displacements, elemental stress & strains
FEA Approach
You will submit the images (screen shots) of the chosen FEA model. These should contain
the image of the truss structure, mesh of the structure, stress, strain and displacement of the
structure under loading.
Recommendations
1. The suitable configuration for from Figure 1 and Figure 2 for given loading.

2. The standard box section to safely withstand the applied load for suitable truss
configuration from Figure 1 and Figure 2.