SOLUTION OF TRUSSES USIN G MATLAB

PROGR AMMIN G LANGUA GE

Dr. C. O . Ah i ak wo, Mr. C. O . Ig weh

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Rivers State U niversity of Science and Technology
Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt.
08033449277,[email protected]||08063686593,[email protected]

ABSTRACT

Construction/Fabrication companies in the past angles to increase its load bearing capability. The
have the problem of the strength of the ‘members’ WTC has tubular steel bearing walls, fluted
of its products. And hence some products are either corrugated steel flooring and bent bar steel truss
weak-insufficient ‘member’ capability to withstand floor supports.’[1]
likely imposed force, or unnecessary too strong-
wasting materials. 2 Methodology:

In this paper the solution of the trusses is solved Taking the example in fig. 1 below [2]
using the matrix formation of equations i.e. AX = 2 4 7
b, and the solution to all the members and supports
are computed using a matlab program. It is very
important to note that even Statically Indeterminate 5 8
1 3 6
systems are solved.
480KN
The work could be adapted to solve any truss Fig.1
with any number of parts/ ‘members’, and gives the First we solve for the support using the static
exact force on each member due to any external e8uations
force, with any type of support 1). åFH = 0; 2). åFV =0; 3). åM1 =0
Note the support type at joint 1 = pin type and has
It could be effectively applied in the construction two components of force-vertical, horizontal.
of high-tension towers, building of bridges, houses, Hence force at support 1 = F1h and F1v; at support
and e.t.c. 8, since it is a roller we have only F8v.
Thus the equations will look like this;
Keyword: - Matrix formation, Matlab, åFH = 0;F1h = 0 (since the external force has no
Statically Indeterminate, Trusses. horizontal component).
åFV = 0; F1v + F8v = 480
1Introduction: åM1 = 0; (F1h * 0) +(F1v * 0) + (F8v * 18) = 480
Trusses to a layman might not be understood, to *9
come down, a truss is any body with parts Therefore we can generalize for n supports as
(members) and is or could be subjected to an 1). F1h + F2h +…Fnh = å(all horizontal
external force. For instance a football could be seen components of Ext. Forces)
as a truss, if we support it and apply an external 2). F1v + F2v +…Fnv = å(all vertical components
force to know the maximum force its parts could be of Ext. Forces)
able to withstand. 3). F1h * Lv1 +…Fnh * Lvn + F1v * Lh1 + …Fnv
* Lhn + F1h + F2h +…Fnh + å(all Moments due
The strength of a structure depends on how well to Clamp Supports)= å( Ext. Forces * ^ distance to
the trusses were designed. ‘In terms of structural reference joint).
system the twin towers departed completely from Transforming into Matrix form we have
other high-rise buildings…. On the inside of the
structure the floor sections consist of trusses
spanning from the core to the outer wall.’[1].

In modern buildings the structure is set up by

a steel frame truss as quoted below ‘The most
noticeable change in the modern high-rise
construction is a trend to using more steel and
shaping lightweight steel into tubes, curves, and
éa (1,1)...a(1, n), a (1, n + 1)... ù
êa (2,1)...a (2, n ), a(2, n + 1)... ú = The n horizontal component
FH1...FHn
ê ú .
of sup port
êëa (3,1)...a (3, n ), a (3, n + 1)... úû
FV 1L FVn = the n vertical component of
a (1,2n), a (1,2n + 1)...a (1,3n) ù
sup port .
a (2,2n), a (2,2n + 1)...a (2,3n) úú
M 1L Mn = the moments due to Clamp sup port.
a (3,2n), a (3,2n + 1)...a (3,3n) úû
é FH 1 ù
êM ú å FEH = Sum the m horizontal component
ê ú éå FEH ù
ê FHn ú ê ú of Ext. Force.
ê
ê
ú
FV 1 ú
ê ú
ê FEV ú......................2.1
å FEV = Sum the m vertical component
êå
* =
êM FVnú ú of Ext. Force.
ê ú ê ú
êM 1 ú ê ú å MFE = Sum the m moments Ext. Force.
êM ú êëå MFE úû
ê ú Hence we solve for the components of the
ëê Mn ûú Supports. In likewise manner the ‘member’ force
Matrix is made and solved.
where
a (1,1)...a (1, n) = the n horizontal 3 Results And Discussions
component of sup port. Table I: Results Of Computation
a (2, n + 1)..a (2,2n) = the n vertical a) Joint Data
--------------------------------------------------------------
component of sup port. --------
a (3,1)...a (3, n) = the horizontal |JT.# |SUPPORT|HORIZ.
|VERT.|MOMENT|EXT.|EXT. |
component of n sup ports * its ^ dist. | |TYPE |COMP. |COMP.|DUE TO |FRCE
to the reference jt. (1). |FOCE|
| | |SUPPT.|SUPPT.|CLAMP
a (3, n + 1)...a (3,2n) = the vertical |MAG.|ANG|
--------------------------------------------------------------
component of n sup ports * its ^ dist.
--------
to the reference jt (1). | 1|Pin Type | 0.00| 240.00| 0.0000| 0.00|
0.00|
a (3,2n + 1)...a (3,3n) = the moments | 2| - | -0.00| 0.00| 0.0000| 0.00|
due to Clamp sup port. 0.00|
| 3| - | 0.00| 0.00| 0.0000| 0.00|
0.00|
a (1, n + 1)...a (1,2n), a (1,2n + 1)...a (1,3n) and | 4| - | 0.00| 0.00| 0.0000| 0.00|
a (2,1)...a (2,2 n), a (2,2n + 1)...a (2,3n ) = Are 0.00|
| 5| - | 0.00| 0.00| 0.0000|480.00|
all zero(0) to complete the Matrix. 0.00|
| 6| - | 0.00| 0.00| 0.0000| 0.00|
Note : All a (i, j ) = 1 if there is a required 0.00|
| 7| - | 0.00| 0.00| 0.0000| 0.00|
component of sup port at this jo int else 0.00|
= zero(0). | 8|Roller Type| 0.00| 240.00| 0.0000| 0.00|
0.00|
 b) "Member" Data 5 Acknowledgements:
--------------------------------------------------
|MEM |MEM|MEM|FORCE|ANGLE | I have to foremost thank the holy Trinity-Father,
| # |Start |End |IN |OF | Son, and Holy ghost-for their direction into this
| |Joint |Joint |MEM |FORCE(rad)| great work.
---------------------------------------------------
| 1| 1| 2| -300.00| 0.9273| I am grateful to Daddy for his great spiritual and
| 2| 1| 3| 180.00| 0.0000| financial support, Mosco, Okwy and all the people
| 3| 2| 3| 240.00| -1.5708| who remember me in their prayers.
| 4| 2| 4| -180.00| 0.0000|
| 5| 3| 4| -300.00| 0.9273| The ‘Programmer’ Mr. M. Nnanim, for
| 6| 3| 5| 360.00| 0.0000| motivating me into real Matlab Programming, Dr.
| 7| 4| 5| 480.00| -1.5708| Ahiakwo, and all the staff of Elect/Electr/Comp.
| 8| 4| 6| -180.00| 0.0000| Engr. Department, Rivers state University of sc.
| 9| 4| 7| -300.00| -0.9273| And tech.
| 10| 5| 7| 360.00| 0.0000|
| 11| 6| 7| 240.00| -1.5708| 6 References:
| 12| 6| 8| -300.00| -0.9273|
| 13| 7| 8| 180.00| 0.0000| 1. http://vincentdunn.com/ By: Deputy Chief
---------------------------------------------------- Vincent Dunn ret.
2. Nash, W.A. (1977) Strength of Materials
Elapsed_time = 0.8590 second 2/ed. McGraw-Hill book company,
Berkshire, England.pp.10
For the case study in fig.1, which is an eight
Joint Truss the Runtime is
0.8590 sec.,
Therefore for an n joint Truss the worst case
Runtime is
(n/8) * 0.8590 sec.
We call it worst-case Runtime because the time
will not be up to this since: -
i) The Data reading time for any number
of Joints, n will be the same.
ii) The Result display time will be
approximately the same for any number
of Joints, n.
iii) The different Processes undergone will
have the same call time.
Hence based on these the expected runtime
will be about
(n/(8* 3)) * 0.8590 sec.

4 Conclusions:

The program makes it easy for any staff with

school certificate to solve for the force in any
number of Members, therefore no need for
professionals.

Due to the speed of Matrix conversion of the

Matlab programming language the Program runs in
seconds even for very large number of members
(>1000). Therefore for the construction of a space
craft for instance, with (>1000) members could be
solved in seconds, and hence enough time to make
different models of it