Experiment No: Date:

TITLE: STATIC ANALYSIS OF A TRUSS.

Problem Specifications:
Discipline Structural
Analysis Type Linear Static
Element Type Used LINK1 (2D Spar)
Software Used ANSYS APDL 15.0

Problem Definition:
This is a simple truss problem with 5 nodes & 6 element.

Material Properties:
Material Wood
Youngs Modulus 1.90 X 10
6
lb/in
2
Poissons Ratio 0.3
Area of cross section 8 in
2

2D Spar Element Description:

LINK1 can be used in a variety of engineering applications. Depending upon the application,
you can think of the element as a truss, a link, a spring, etc. The 2-D spar element is a
uniaxial tension-compression element with two degrees of freedom at each node: translations
in the nodal x and y directions. As in a pin-jointed structure, no bending of the element is
considered.
Figure shows the geometry, node locations, and the coordinate system for this element. The
element is defined by two nodes, the cross-sectional area, an initial strain, and the material
properties. The element x-axis is oriented along the length of the element from node I toward
node J. The initial strain in the element (ISTRN) is given by /L, where is the difference
between the element length, L, (as defined by the I and J node locations) and the zero-strain
length. Node and Element Loads describes element loads.
Assumptions and Restrictions:
The spar element assumes a straight bar, axially loaded at its ends, of uniform
properties from end to end.
The length of the spar must be greater than zero, so nodes I and J must not be
coincident.
The spar must lie in an X-Y plane and must have an area greater than zero.
The temperature is assumed to vary linearly along the length of the spar.
The displacement shape function implies a uniform stress in the spar.
The initial strain is also used in calculating the stress stiffness matrix, if any, for the
first cumulative iteration.
PROCEDURE:
A) Preprocessing:
i. Define nodes:
Main menu: Preprocessor Modeling Create Keypoint In Active CS
NODES X Y
1 0 0
2 36 0
3 0 36
4 36 36
5 72 36

ii. Create Lines:
Main menu: Preprocessor Modeling Create Lines Lines Straight Line
Line KP1 KP2
1 1 2
2 2 3
3 3 4
4 2 4
5 4 5

iii. Set Preferences:
Main menu: Preferences Structural Ok
iv. Define Element Type:
Preprocessor Element type Add/Edit/Delete Add Link 2D Spar
Ok
v. Define Real constants:
Main menu: Preprocessor Real Constants Add/Edit/Delete Add Ok
8 Ok
vi. Define Material Properties:
Main menu: Preprocessor Material Props Material Models Structural
Linear Elastic Isotropic EX= 1.9E6 & PRXY= 0.3 Ok
vii. Mesh:
Preprocessor Meshing MeshTool
We want each line to be divided into one element only. This is accomplished
under Size Controls, Lines, click Set. Select Pick all in the dialog box that appears.
Specify NDIV to 1 in the new dialog box, click OK. This step is very important in
order to avoid creating a mechanism.
Then click Mesh on the meshtool, Pick all. Elements and nodes will now be
created on the lines.
B) Processing:
Load:
Main menu: Solution Define Loads Apply Structural Displacement On
Nodes
Click on the appropriate nodes, OK.
Select ux and uy and set the value to 0, OK.
The force is prescribed at the two outer joints:
Main menu: Solution Define Loads Apply Structural Force/Moment
On Nodes
Choose the y-direction and the value 500 (the minus sign indicates that the force is
directed in the negative y-direction).
Solution:
The problem is now defined and ready to be solved:
Main menu: Solution Solve Current LS
C) Postprocessing:
Enter the postprocessor and read in the results:
Main menu: General Postproc Read Results First Set
Now there are several results to study. We begin with the displacements:
Main menu: General Postproc Plot Results Deformed Shape
We can also choose to list the displacements:
Utility menu: List Results Nodal solution
In the dialog box select Nodal solution, DOF solution and X-displacement
components, click Apply. Repeat for Y-displacement components.