CEE/CNE 210Statics SSEBE Mechanics Group

Arizona State University

Computing Project 4: Truss Analysis

Program
Computing Project 4 builds upon CP3 to develop a program to perform truss analysis. A truss consists of
straight, slender bars pinned together at their end points. Truss members are considered to be two force,
axial members. Thus, the force caused by each truss member - and the internal force in each member - acts
only along its axis. In other words, the direction of each member force is known and only the magnitudes
must be determined.
To analyze a truss we study the forces acting at each individual pin joint. This is known as the Method of
Joints. We will call each pin joint a node and the slender bars connecting the nodes will be called members.
The previous project computed a unit vector to describe the vector direction of every member of a truss
structure. To analyze the structure a few other key inputs must be included like the support reactions and
external loads applied to the structure. With all of this information, you will need to make the correct
changes to the provided planar (2-D) truss template program to be able to analyze a space (3-D) truss.

What you need to do

For a planar truss, every node has 2 degrees of freedom, the e1 and e2 directions. Therefore, for every planar
truss problem, the total number of degrees of freedom (DOF) in the structure is equal to 2 times the number
of nodes. We will consider the first degree of freedom for each node as the component acting in the e1
direction. So for any given node, i, the corresponding degree of freedom is (2i)-1. For the same node, i,
the corresponding value for the second degree of freedom, the component in the e2 direction, is 2-i. This
numbering notation can be modified for a space truss. The difference with the space truss is that every
node has 3 degrees of freedom, one degree for each of the e1, e2 and e3 directions. The degree of freedom
indices are extremely crucial in understanding how to set up the matrices for the truss analysis.
For this computing project, you will first need to understand the planar truss program and the inputs that
are needed for that program. The first input is the spatial coordinates (x, y, z) of the nodal locations for a
truss. It is convenient to label each node with a unique number (also known as the node number). Each
row of the nodal coordinate array should contain coordinates of the node. We will use the matrix name of
Node for all nodal coordinates. Please note that nNodes is an integer value that corresponds to the
number of nodes in the truss and must be adjusted for every new truss problem. For Node 1 this matrix
array input looks like:
Node(1,:) = [0,0];

Once the coordinates of the nodes are in the program, you will need to input how those nodes are connected
by the members of the truss. In order to describe how the members connect the nodes you will also need
to label each member with a member number. This connectivity array should contain only the nodes that
are joined by a member, with each row containing first the node at the start of the member and then the
node at the other end of the member. The first node that is input into the Member array will be called the
start node (SN) and the second node that is input is known as the end node (EN). For any member it doesnt
matter which end you call the start node and which is the end node. We will use the matrix name of
Member for the connectivity array. Also note that nMembers is a single integer value that must equal
the total number of axial force members for each truss. The nodes and members can be numbered in any

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CEE/CNE 210Statics SSEBE Mechanics Group
Arizona State University

way you want, but it can sometimes be advantageous to use some sort of logical systematic order if you can
discern one. For Member 1 this matrix array input should look like:
Member(1,:) = [1,2];

The support reactions for the truss must then be input. The variable nReactions is an integer that corre-
sponds to the total number of supports. Note: a pin support counts as one reaction for the nReaction count
even though it has two unknowns. The support reactions will be input into the Reaction matrix. The
first input value is the node number of where the support reaction is. The second and third inputs are for
the fixity conditions at that node. If the support reaction provides resistance in a direction then a 1 should
be used otherwise a 0 is used to denote that the truss is free to move in that direction. For example, if a
roller support was used at node 4 and had resistance in the e2 direction but was free to move in the e1
direction it would be input as follows:
Reaction(2,:) = [4,0,1];

Finally, the external loads must be input. The variable nLoads is a single integer value that corresponds
to the number of loads placed on the truss. The matrix name of Load will be used to store all external
loads. The first input is the node number where the load acts. The second and third inputs are the magnitude
of the force in the e1 and e2 direction at that node. For a load placed at node 3, that has a magnitude of 1200
Newtons in the e2 direction should be input like:
Load(1,:) = [3,0,-1200];

Next, the unit vectors (direction vectors) must be computed for every member. The direction of the unit
vector will depend on the node of the connection you chose to be the start node and the node that was
selected as the end node. Implement your CP3 code (the part that computes the unit vectors) into the code.
Use the matrix name UnVec for the matrix that will store all the positive unit vector values (the vectors
pointing from SN to EN). Use the matrix name OppUnVec to store all the negative unit vector values
(the vectors pointing from EN to SN).
Once all the unit vectors are created for every member, the coefficient matrix is formed. We will call this
matrix C and it will have the size of (DOF, Members). For each member the SN and EN must be deter-
mined. These nodal values have components in the member unit vector array that correspond to a degree
of freedom value in the truss. This component from the unit vector array is stored in the matching degree
of freedom row and corresponding member column in the C matrix. Note: the negative value of the unit
vector should be stored for every end node.
The load vector is then created. The load vector has the same number of rows as DOF. The external loads
have the same corresponding degree of freedom value as the nodal coordinates, so a loop is used to create
this vector to store the load values in the correct row. The array name of F will be used to store all
external forces.
Once the coefficient matrix has been created, this matrix must be partitioned into two separate matrices.
The first matrix contains the rows that correspond to a degree of freedom value that has a support reaction,
and the second matrix will contain the rows that are not restrained. For every support reaction using the
corresponding degree of freedom, that row from the coefficient matrix should be placed in the Crest
matrix. The C_Rest matrix should have the same number of rows as the number of degrees of freedom
that are restricted in the system (i.e. support reactions 2 for a pin and 1 for a roller).

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CEE/CNE 210Statics SSEBE Mechanics Group
Arizona State University

When the reaction force matrix has been created then the member force matrix is created using all the rows
not in the C_Rest matrix. This matrix can be labeled C_Free. This member force matrix should be a
square matrix of the size (Members, Members) for any statically determinate truss. The load vector must
also be partitioned to contain only the degree of freedom values that are not restricted by a support. The
new load vector (called F_Free) should have the same number of rows as the number of members.
Once the free coefficient matrix has been created then an array named T solves for the individual member
forces using
T C _ Free F _ Free
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Then an array named Reaction solves for the support reactions using
Reactions C _ Rest T
Once the reactions are calculated a SupportReaction matrix is created that contains all the values of the
support reactions in the corresponding degree of freedom spot for each node. The first input for the support
reaction matrix is the node number of the support and the second and third input are the corresponding
reaction value for the two degrees of freedom for that node. Note: if there is no resistance for a degree of
freedom then the value should be 0.
The template file provided to you will work for any planar truss once you implement the unit vector calcu-
lation code. You need to get the planar truss code working and understand it. Then make all the necessary
changes to create a space truss program. The changes do not need to be very extensive. Note: when your
code is graded there will be at least two different truss problems run in your code to ensure your code is
robust.
Also provided is a truss data input file. Use this file to create several input sections that can be easily copied
and pasted into the input section of your truss analysis code. This allows you to create and store several
trusses (2-D and 3-D) that can be analyzed quickly and easily. Be sure to test your code with a few different
2-D trusses and several 3-D trusses.

Report
Write a report only after you have a working 3-D truss analysis code. Document your work and the results
(in accord with the specifications given in the document CEE210 Guidelines for Computing Project Re-
ports). Include figures, plots, and results. Discuss your discoveries and explorations. All test cases need
to be included in your report with detailed documentation of the problem (i.e. a figure and tables) and the
results (i.e. a table of the member forces and reactions). For every truss you test, there needs to be back-up
calculations to verify that the code is working correctly (either hand calcs or copies of existing problem
solutions with proper source citations). The back-up calculations should be placed in the Appendix of the
report. Also include a copy of your MATLAB .m program code and you truss input data .m cod in the
appendix.
Upload your report to Blackboard prior to the deadline. Also upload your MATLAB .m truss analysis
program file and your truss data input .m file to Blackboard as well. Make sure your .m and report files
include your first and last name in the file name.