Truss is a structure built up of three or more members which are normally considered being pinned and hinged at the joints. The following figure shows different types of trusses. Load applied to the truss is transmitted to joint so that each individual members are in either pure tension or compression.

 

 

Objectives 

The objectives of this project are as follows

- To develop student’s understanding of tension and compressive strength of construction materials

- To develop student’s understanding of force distribution in a truss

- To design a perfect truss bridge which fulfils the following criterias:

 

 

 

Learning Outcomes

- Able to evaluate, explore and improve attributes of construction materials

- Explore and apply understanding of load distribution in a truss

- Able to evaluate and identify tension and compression members in a truss structure

- Explore different arrangement of members in a truss structure

 

Tasks

In a group of 5 (max 6 – assigned by tutor), you are required to carry out precedent study of a truss bridge.

Using the info you obtain from the precedent study, you are required to design and construct a fettucini

bridge of 600mm clear span and maximum weight of 150g. The bridge will be tested to fail.

Other than aesthetic value, the design of the bridge must be of high efficiency, i.e. using the least material to

sustain the higher load. 

 

In order to achieve higher efficiency, you need to analyse and evaluate each of the following items.

- Material strength

o By adopting appropriate method, determine the strength of fettucini, i.e. tension and compression

strength

o By knowing the strength of fettucini, you will be able to determine which members to be

strengthened

- Structural analysis of the truss

o Perform detailed structural analysis of the truss

o Identify critical members

o Strengthened the critical members if necessary