PRESENTATION

LAYOUT

 BASIC TERMINOLOGY OF TRUSSES
 PROBLEM STATEMENT
 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
 GEOMETRIC SPECIFICATIONS
 RAW MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS
 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
 DESIGN GUIDELINES
 PROJECT EVALUATION
 SAMPLE TRUSS BRIDGE
 FOR THE STUDENTS - IN A NUTSHELL
 BASIC TERMINOLOGY
OF TRUSSES


One horizontal
dimensions constitutes
one Truss “BAY”
FOR THE APPLIED LOADING:

 Green colored members are compression members (i.e. internal force

in these members is compressive). These are also known as Struts.
 Red colored members are tension members (i.e. internal force in these
members is tensile). These are also known as Ties.
 Black colored members (labeled as none) are Zero force members.
 PROBLEM STATEMENT

 To construct a model bridge of 300 mm span to
support a concentrated load at the centre.

 The width of the bridge shall be 100 mm.

 The point of application of load should be level with

side supports.
 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT


The project aims at
giving the student a basic insight into the
practical aspects of engineering

helping the students learn to observe and

appreciate the importance of joints and
modes of failure of a truss structure.
GEOMETRIC SPECIFICATIONS


 Span of the Bridge = 300 mm
 Width of the Bridge = 100 mm
 Height of the truss = 100 – 150 mm
 There is no restriction on the number of bays in each
truss.
RAW MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS


 The bridge shall be made using

 wood of 6 mm thickness for struts (members in

compression)
 GI wire for ties (members in tension)
 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

 The students of each tutorial group shall be divided into five
sub-groups. Each of these sub-groups will be allotted a
laboratory time slot of 3 hours for construction and testing of
the bridge.

 While coming to your lab, each sub-group must:

 bring a detailed analysis of your proposed truss, showing the
compression and tension members
 Fill and submit the standard design and performance report
(attached with this handout). Please note that only the “Load at
collapse (P)” and “Mode of failure” shall be filled in the lab.

 The bridge will be tested upto collapse (during the lab session
itself) after the construction phase.
 DESIGN GUIDELINES

 There is no restriction on quantity of steel wire and
wood. However, keep in mind that the cost must be
minimized.
 ALL ZERO FORCE MEMBERS SHALL BE MADE
FROM WOOD.
 At a joint
It is advised that the number of members meeting at a
joint does not exceed four (SINCE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF JOINT IS A COMPLEX
PROCESS). However, this is not a hard and fast rule.
 PROJECT EVALUATION

 Each bridge shall be evaluated based on:
 Time efficiency: It must be capable of being built during the
allocated time.
 Failure load: Each bridge will be tested to failure and the actual
collapse load will be noted. The mode of failure should also be
observed and recorded.
 Economy: The cost of the bridge shall be calculated by adding
following costs:
Wood: Rs 1200/metre
Wire: Rs 300/metre
Miscellaneous :10% of total material cost

 LOAD –to – COST ratio shall be calculated and reported by

each sub-group.
 SAMPLE TRUSS BRIDGE

 A sample truss bridge has been fabricated and
tested. An audio-visual tutorial of various activities
is presented here. It includes
 Basic outlay and overview of specifications
 Step-by-step guide to using the equipments and
construction of a joint
 Testing of a bridge
 Sample Group Report (not exceeding one A4 page)
 Basic outlay and overview of
specs

150
mm

2 bays @ 150 mm each

GI wire Wood 6 mm
thick 100 mm
 CAUTION!!

 ALL TENSION MEMBERS MUST BE
MADE FROM GI WIRE
 ALL COMPRESSION MEMBERS AND
ZERO FORCE MEMBERS MUST BE MADE
FROM WOOD
CONSTRUCTION OF A
JOINT

 CONSTRUCTION OF A
JOINT

 https://youtu.be/snKnKz18jfM (Part 1)
 https://youtu.be/5nVtdpHa0dk (Part 2)

 (The construction of a joint has been illustrated as a

two-part video. Both parts can be viewed on You
Tube using the links above).
TESTING OF THE BRIDGE

 https://youtu.be/JE2pOpApUQ4

(THE VIDEO SHOWS THE TESTING OF A SAMPLE

BRIDGE)
 SAMPLE REPORT

 sample report.pdf

 (Please note that the students must understand that the

quantities “X” and “Y” in the sample report imply the
quantity of wood and wire respectively allocated to you
(based on your demand). For eg., If a sub-group
demands 3 meters of wood, it will simply be allotted to
them. While doing the cost analysis, they should then
add the cost of 3 meters of wood (which includes any
wastage that may occur). So the students should pre-
decide carefully the quantity of material that they want
to ask for).
 FOR THE STUDENTS - IN A NUTSHELL


 Conceive and analyse a truss structure in your
hostels. Some common truss configurations are
shown. (Students can use any configuration as they
desire; it is not mandatory to limit yourselves to the
following)
Member

connecting
centre of
bottom
chords to
each other;
This
member is
compulsory
for all
bridges; it
must be
made from
wood W (at centre of member
connecting bottom chords) 0.5W 0.5W
 THEREFORE, THE STUDENTS SHOULD FOLLOW
THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE :

 Choose a truss configuration of your choice
 Analyze that truss for any concentrated load at the joint at
centre of the bottom chord
 Identify the compression and tension members.
 REMEMBER : ALL THE COMPRESSION AND ZERO
FORCE MEMBERS MUST BE CONSTRUCTED FROM
WOOD. ALL THE TENSION MEMBERS MUST BE MADE
FROM GI WIRE
 REMEMBER : THERE MUST BE A JOINT AT THE
CENTRE OF THE BOTTOM CHORD (FOR
APPLICATION OF LOAD). Therefore, there must also be a
wood member connecting the bottom chords of the two
trusses at their respective centers.
 Remember to show these results in your report (show hand
calculations only)
 FOR THE STUDENTS - IN A NUTSHELL
(contd.)

 Each sub-group should submit a project report , as
per the guidelines of the sample report shown in
slide 17. EACH SUB-GROUP SHOULD SUBMIT
ONLY ONE REPORT.
 The students must attach 2 pictures of their bridge
on their report (one side view and one front view). If
the students desire, they can designate the
compression and tension members on those pictures
only, instead of showing a hand made diagram.
 FOR THE STUDENTS - IN A NUTSHELL
(contd.)

 THE REPORT MUST BE SUBMITTED ON THE
SAME DAY AS YOUR PROJECT SLOT IN
HARD COPY ONLY.
NO REQUEST FOR LATE
SUBMISSION OF REPORT SHALL
BE CONSIDERED
FOR THE STUDENTS - IN A NUTSHELL
(contd.)

WEIGHTAGE OF THE
PROJECT = 10 MARKS FOR
EACH STUDENT
 FOR THE STUDENTS - IN A NUTSHELL
(contd.)


 The students can access any of the project resources
(i.e. Project Handout and this presentation) at the
following URL:

https://sites.google.com/a/thapar.edu/engineering/e
xtra-credit
 
THANK YOU
AND
BEST OF LUCK