1 Static

1-D
S i Structural
S
A
Analysis
i
Trusses

Slide 1

Trusses
Engineering structure consisting of straight members.
Assume loading applied at connections.
Connected by bolts, rivets, pins, or welding.
Consist of steel or aluminum tubes, wooden struts, metal bars, angles,
and channels.
Uses include power transmission towers
towers, bridges
bridges, and roofs of
buildings.

Slide 2

Truss Example
Y
(0, 6, 0)

4 Ux = Uy = 0
3 Ux = 0
(0, 0, -3)

X
(6, 0, 0)
(0 0,
(0,
0 3)

1 Ux = Uy = Uz = 0

200 lb

Trusses are made of aluminum, E = 10.6e6 lb/in2, v = 0.3.

Cross-sectional
C
ti
l area off 1.56
1 56 in
i 2.
Slide 3

1. Launch ANSYS

Instructions

2. Change Directory
g Directory
y
Utilityy Menu: File Change
3. Name file: Truss3D
Utility Menu: File Change Title

4 Change
4.
Ch
jjobname:
b
T
Truss3D
3D
Utility Menu: File Change Jobname

Slide 4

5. Define element type and material properties

Main Menu: Preprocessor Element Type Add/Edit/Delete

ANSYS Help:
p Link8
Slide 5

6. Assign the cross-sectional area of the truss members

Main Menu: Preprocessor Real Constant Add/Edit/Delete

Slide 6

7. Assign the value of the modulus of elasticity

Main Menu: Preprocessor Material Props Material Models
Structural Linear Elastic Isotropic

Close the Define Material Behavior Window

ANSYS Toolbar: SAVE_DB

Slide 7

8. Create nodes in active coordinate system

Main Menu: Preprocessor Modeling Create Nodes In
Active CS

Node 1: (0, 0, 36)

Node 3: (0, 0, -36)

Note were using
g inches.

Node 2: (72, 0, 0)

Node 4: (0, 72, 0)

Slide 8

9. Turn on node numbering

Utility Menu: PlotCtrls Numbering...

Slide 9

10. List nodes and check your work

Utility Menu: List Nodes...

Close the NLIST Command window

ANSYS T
Toolbar:
lb SAVE_DB
SAVE DB

Slide 10

11. Set the view angle

Utility Menu: PlotCtrls Pan, Zoom, Rotate...

Slide 11

12. Define elements by picking nodes

Main Menu: Preprocessor Modeling Create Elements
Auto Numbered Thru Nodes
a. Select node 1 then node 2
b Apply
b.
A l (shortcut
( h t t = use middle
iddl mouse button)
b tt )
c. Node 1 and 3, apply
d Node
d.
N d 1 and
d 4,
4 apply
l
e. Node 2 and 3, apply
f Node
f.
N d 2 and
d 4,
4 apply
l
g. Node 3 and 4, apply
h Click
h.
Cli k OK
i. ANSYS Toolbar: SAVE_DB

Slide 12

Solution
13. Apply boundary conditions and loads
Main Menu: Solution Define Loads Apply Structural
Displacement On Nodes
a. Select nodes 1,, 3,, 4
b. Apply

Slide 13

14. Apply boundary conditions and loads (cont.)

Main Menu: Solution Define Loads Apply Structural
Displacement On Nodes
a. Select nodes 1
b Apply
b.
A l

Make sure to unselect the

previously defined
constraint, UX

Slide 14

15. Apply boundary conditions and loads (cont.)

Main Menu: Solution Define Loads Apply Structural
Displacement On Nodes
a. Select nodes 1 and 4
b Apply
b.
A l

Make sure to unselect the

previously defined
constraint, UZ

Slide 15

16. Check to see if constraints have been applied correctly.

Utilityy Menu: List Loads DOF Constraints On All Nodes

Slide 16

17. Apply boundary conditions and loads (cont.)

Main Menu: Solution Define Loads Apply Structural
Force/Moment On Nodes
a. Select nodes 2
b Apply
b.
A l

Slide 17

18. Solve the problem

Main Menu: Solution Solve Current LS
a. Click
Cli k OK on the
th Solve
S l C
Currentt L
Load
d St
Step window
i d
b. Close the /STATUS Command window
c. Close
Cl
the
th Solution
S l ti iis d
done!! window
i d

Slide 18

Postprocessing
19. List nodal solutions (displacements)
p
List Results Nodal Solution
Main Menu: General Postproc
Which node has largest displacement? In
which direction?
?
Does this seem reasonable?

Slide 19

20. View axial forces (create element tables)

Main Menu: General Postproc Element Table Define Table
ANSYS Help: Link 8
Gives relevant terms and explanation for
element

Name of Table
Information

Selection
Method

Slide 20

20(cont.) View axial stresses (create element tables)

Main Menu: General Postproc Element Table Define Table

Created Tables

Slide 21

 Main Menu: General Postproc Element Table List Elem

T bl
Table

Slide 22

18. List reaction solutions

Main Menu: General Postproc List Results Reaction Solu

Slide 23

V if Results
Verify
R
lt
Verify your results using one of the methods discussed previously.

1. Check the reaction forces

2 Sum of forces at each node should be zero
2.
3. Pass an arbitrary section through the truss

Slide 24

Intro for Next Class Period

19. List the log file
File
Utility Menu: File List Log File

The log file lists the command based version of everything we did
using the GUI
GUI. Many of the commands included in the log file are
not needed; however, it also includes the required commands.
Slide 25