Experimental data (experiment 1)

Steel bar diameter

6 mm

Table 1 : Strain reading for each truss

Load (N)
0
100
200
300
400
500

Strain reading ( )
AB
-892
-892
-892
-892
-892
-892

AC
257
283
312
336
363
389

BC
-48
-66
-87
-104
-120
-149

Table 2 : True strain reading for each truss

Load (N)
0
100
200
300
400
500

Strain reading ( )
AB
0
0
0
0
0
0

AC
0
26
55
79
106
132

BC
0
-18
-39
-56
-72
-101

Experimental result (experiment 1)

1. From the measured data, plot graph Load (N) against True Strain ( ) for member
AC and BC on the same axis.

2. Theoretically, calculate internal force in each member with a load of 500 N.

E
( steel=210GPa ) and write down in Table 3.

Member AC:

Fy

500 ACsin 45

F AC

500
sin 45

= 707.12 N

Fx
0

BC 707 cos 45
F BC

707 cos 45

= 500 N

3. By using the measured data, calculate internal force (experimental force) in each
E
memeber with a load 500 N. ( steel=210GPa ) and write down in Table 3.

Use

F=AE

where,

= Force in member (N)

2
= Cross-sectional area of member ( m )

2
= Youngs modulus (N/ m )

= Displayed axial strain produced in truss member

d
= 41000000

9
= 210 10

Member AC:
6

= 132 10
F AC

5
= 2.827 10

Member BC:
6

= 101 10
F BC

=783.765 N

599.699 N
4. Determine the percentage of error between the experimental and theoretical force.
Complete Table 3 and write down in Table 3.

100
Theoretical value
Percentage err

Theoretical valueExperimental value

Member AC:
Error %

Member BC:
=

707.12783.765
707.12

500.00599.699
500.00

x 100

Error %

x 100

=10%

=19%

Table 3(i) : Experimental and theoretical forces at 500N

Member
AB
AC
BC

Experimental force (N)

783.765
599.699

Theoretical force (N)

707.12
500.00

Error (%)
10.84
19.94

EXPERIMENTAL DATA (EXPERIMENT 2)

Table 4: Strain reading for each truss
Load
(N)

AB

BC

Strain reading ()
AC
BD
CD

CE

DE

0
100
200
300
400
500

205
196
186
176
165
155

1094
1094
1094
1094
1094
1094

-166
-162
-157
-152
-147
-142

415
402
395
385
374
363

-157
-147
-136
-125
-113
-103

106
111
115
120
125
130

-80
-92
-101
-110
-121
-131

True Strain reading ()

AC
BD
CD

CE

DE

0
5
9
14
19
24

0
-12
-21
-30
-41
-51

Table 5: True strain reading for each truss

Load
(N)
0
100
200
300
400
500

AB

BC

0
-9
-19
-29
-40
-50

0
0
0
0
0
0

0
4
9
14
19
24

0
-13
-20
-30
-41
-52

0
10
21
32
44
54

EXPERIMENTAL RESULT (EXPERIMENT 2)

1. From the measured data, plot graph Load (N) against True Strain ( ) for all members on
the same axis.
2. Theoretically, calculate internal force in each member with a load of 500N. Assume that
Esteel = 210 GPa for all truss members.

Fx =0
At point A , M =0
500 ( 0.14 ) Ey ( 0.28 )=0
Ey=250 N
Fy =0

Ay 500+ Ey=0
Ay + Ey=500

Ay =250 N

At point A ,

Ay F AB sin 60=0
F AB =288.68 N
Fx =0
F AC F AB cos 60=0

Ax =0

F AC =144.34 N

At point B ,

Fy =0

F AB sin 60F BC sin 60=0

F BC =288.68 N
Fx =0
F AB cos 60F BD + F BC cos 60=0
F BD=F AB cos 60+ F BC cos 60
F BD=288.68 N

At point C ,

Fy =0

500+ F BC sin 60+ F DC sin 60=0

288.68 Nsin 60+ F DC sin 60=500
F DC =

250
=288.68 N
sin 60

Fx =0
F AC + FCE F BC cos 60+ F DC cos 60=0
144.34 + FCE 288.68 cos 60+ 288.68 cos 60=0
FCE =144.34 N

At point E ,

Fx =0

144.34 + F DE cos 60=0

F DE=288.68 N

3. By using the measured data, calculate internal force (experimental force) in each
member with a load 500N. (Esteel = 210 GPa)
F=AE
2

3 2

A= r = (3 10 ) m
5

2.827 10 m
9

E=210 10 Pa
Member AB:
True strain=50 106
F=( 2.827 105 ) ( 210 109 ) (50 106 )
F=296.835 N

Member BC:
True strain=0 106

F=( 2.827 105 ) ( 210 109 ) ( 0 106 )

F=0 N

Member AC:
True strain=24 106
F=( 2.827 105 ) ( 210 109 ) ( 24 106 )
F=142.481 N

Member BD:
True strain=52 106
F=( 2.827 105 ) ( 210 109 ) (52 106 )
F=308.71 N

Member CD:
True strain=54 106
F=( 2.827 105 ) ( 210 109 ) ( 54 106 )
F=320.582 N

Member CE:
True strain=24 106
F=( 2.827 105 ) ( 210 109 ) ( 24 106 )
F=142.481 N

Member DE:
6

True strain=51 10
F=( 2.827 105 ) ( 210 109 ) (51 106 )
F=302.772 N

4. Determine the percentage of error between the experimental and theoretical force.
Complete Table 6.
Theoretical valueExperimental value

100
Theoretical value
Percentage error=

Member AB with applied load 500N:

Percentage error=

8.15
100=2.82
288.68

Member BC with applied load 500N:

Percentage error=

288.68
100=100
288.68

Member AC with applied load 500N:

Percentage error=

1.86
100=1.29
144.34

Member BD with applied load 500N:

Percentage error=

20.03
100=6.94
288.68

Member CD with applied load 500N:

Percentage error=

31.9
100=11.05
288.68

Member CE with applied load 500N:

Percentage error=

1.86
100=1.29
144.34

Member DE with applied load 500N:

Percentage error=

14.09
100=4.88
288.68

Table 6 : Experimental and theoretical forces at 500N

Member
AB

Experimental force (N)

296.83

Theoretical force (N)

288.68

Error (%)
2.82

BC
AC

000.00
142.48

288.68
144.34

100.00
1.29

BD

308.71

288.68

6.94

CD

320.58

288.68

11.05

CE

142.48

144.34

1.29

DE

302.77

288.68

4.88

DISCUSSION
For experiment 1, when the load applied to the frame increase, the strain of steel bars
also increase. However, member AB does not show any increase in strain when the load
applied increases because the member is a zero force member and it does not subjected to any
external load. While for experiment 2, when load applied to the frame increase, the strain

acting on steel bar will also increase when there is force in the member, but there is member
BC that does not show any increase in strain, this behaviour maybe is caused by damage in
sensor which unable to detect the strain changes in bar. This two experiment follow the
formula

F=AE

and load applied is directly proportional to the strain when internal force

exist. However, there are strain readings when there is no load applied to the frame, this is
probably caused by weight of the steel bars after they has been fitted on the frame.
For both of the experiment, there are some differences in results between experimental
and theoretical reading. There is 10.84% and 19.94% of pecentage error in experiment 1. The
range of percentage error is between 1.29% to 100% for experiment 2, the high percentage
error is caused by the failure of sensor to detet the strain change in bar. The experimental
results is computed using formula

F=AE

and the strain reading is obtained from the

experimental data, so the error in strain reading will leads to different in experimental force.
For theoretical force, they are calculated using joint method or section method.
In both experiments, the members experienced tension and compression with positive strain
indicates tension and negative strain represents compression. In experiment 1, bar AC
experiences tension, bar BC experiences compression while AB is a zero-force member. In
experiment 2, bar BC are zero-force members. Bar AC, CD, BC and CE experiences tension
while bar AB, BD and DE experiences compression. Tension forces has positive true strain
reading while compression force has negative true strain reading. Compression force is the
more critical to be known its behaviour to avoid structural failure as high compressive force
will leads to sudden sideways failure known as buckling. As an applied compressive load is
increased on a member, it will ultimately become large enough to cause the member to
become unstable and is said to have buckled. Further load will cause significant and
unpredictable deformations, possibly leading to complete loss of the member's load-carrying
capacity.
There are some error in the conducted experiment, the reason that causes large
percentage error is the device is not function well or damage and leads to inaccuracy and
inconstancy in the data obtained due to long usage time. So, the equipment should be carried
out maintenance regularly and defected part should be replaced once discovered. The other
cause of error is wind or vibration as the apparatus are greatly sensitive to both of it. So, we
should carry out this experiment in an enclosed room. In order to increase the accuracy of data

obtained, the experimenters should reduce the vibration due to moment of body on the
apparatus. The temperature in the lab also one of the factors that leads to existence of error.
This causes the apparatus to shrink due to the low temperature of the surrounding and will
also affect the reading from the sensors to become inconstant. This error can be eliminated by
increase the temperature to room temperature.
Conclusion:
In experiment 1, bar AC experiences tension, bar BC experiences compression while AB is a
zero-force member. In experiment 2, bar BC are zero-force members. Bar AC, CD, BC and
CE experiences tension while bar AB, BD and DE experiences compression.