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User Guide - Parametric Trusses
User Guide - Parametric Trusses
Parametric Trusses
User Guide
[A].- Goals
The "Parametric Trusses" application performs the analysis of the influence of
multiple factors
on the structural behavior of a variety of flat trusses.
The trusses are not defined by the coordinates of its nodes and connectivity of
bars, but by
global geometric parameters. The properties of sections and materials, supports and
loads are
also parameterized.
When the user changes the value of any parameter the truss is updated and the
system
automatically recalculates and dynamically presents the results. This enables the
optimization
of structural design, determining the values that produce minimum forces, stresses,
deflections and self-weight of the structure.
Smartphone
3.8’’ screen with 480 x 800 pixels resolution
Smartphone
4.8’’ screen with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution
Tablet
10.1’’ screen with 1280 x 800 pixels resolution
[C].- Parameters
The bottom of the screen contains the following control parameters: (in two rows if
the
orientation is horizontal or three if vertical)
Truss type 1 44
Number of panels 2 20
Depth cm 10 1000
Support 1 type
Options:
- No restraints
- Horizontal Roller
- Vertical Roller
- Pinned Support
Support 2 type
Options:
- No restraints
- Horizontal Roller
- Vertical Roller
- Pinned Support
Support 3 type
Options:
- No restraints
- Horizontal Roller
- Vertical Roller
- Pinned Support
The uniform loads are defined per unit length and the system applies them to the
joints.
Undeformed geometry
Truss deflections
The deformed geometry is adjusted by a scale factor controlled by the slide bar
located on the
right side of the button (in vertical orientation) or in the lower left corner (in
landscape mode)
In the last four cases, bars are represented in dashed lines when their stress
exceeds the
corresponding limit.
The representation of texts on members, and the symbols and values of loads and
reactions
may be configured by using the corresponding buttons or radio buttons:
Icon Option Texts on members
No texts
Values of forces in kN
Values of stresses in kN/cm2
The application previously checks the system stability and indicates it in the
bottom of the
figure, for the three possible cases:
UNSTABLE
Statically determinated
Statically indeterminated
User-defined Sections
In the example shown in the figure on the left, the areas established for the
groups are
respectively A01 = 20 cm2, A02 = 15 cm2, A03 = 10 cm2, A04 = 20 cm2. After
selecting the
automatic dimensioning option in the right figure, the areas become S01 = 25 cm2,
S02 = 18
cm2, S03 = 16 cm2 and S04 = 16 cm2, which are the minimum that do not exceed the
stress
limits. The system is indeterminate and the variation of axial forces is also
displayed.
The file is stored in the TRUSS directory of the device. The user
can import it into any text editor, set the format preferences
(Courier New size 8 is recommended) and modify it at will.
Here are the headers and some sample records from the different sections of the
document.
Statically determinated
Member 01 Member 02
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
25 26 27 28 29 D. Joints F. Joints
[J].- STATISTICS
Group nM Area N.Min N.Max N.Med S.Min S.Max A.Med L.Med L.Tot W.Tot
S01 7 15.00 0 385 233 0.00 25.68 15.51 2.71 19.0 224
S02 7 20.00 -358 -0 249 -17.88 -0.00 12.45 2.93 20.5 322
S03 8 10.00 -194 139 77 -19.43 13.87 7.68 2.91 23.3 183
S04 7 6.00 -351 184 159 -58.53 30.66 26.50 4.20 29.4 138
Total 29 11.98 -358 385 173 -58.53 30.66 16.35 3.18 92.2 867
Open Analysis
The application displays all the previous analyses in the TRUSS directory and
allows the user to select any of them.
Once selected, the application reads the file and redraws its parameters,
options and preferences.
Save Analysis
The user is prompted for a code to generate the corresponding analysis file
and save the parameters, options and current preferences. The active
analysis file name is proposed by default in case the user wants to overwrite
it.
The name of the analysis file is shown on the screen, under the truss graph.