Page 48 - Finite Element Analysis with ANSYS Workbench

2.4 Application 39

2.4 Application

2.4.1 Twenty-one Truss Members in Two Dimensions

The same process used for analyzing the two truss
members in the preceding example can be employed to solve a
more complicated truss structure. A truss structure, as shown in the
figure, consists of 21 members. All members have the same cross-
2
sectional area of .01 m and made from a structural steel material
2
with the Young’s modulus of 210 11 Nm . The structure is
supported by the hinges at the left and right ends, and is subjected
to different vertical loadings as shown in the figure.
A  .1 .1  .01m 2

Y

E  210 11 N m 2 5 m 1 m

5 m
X

1000 N 1000 N
2000 N 2000 N

4000 N
The finite element model consisting of 21 two-node truss
elements can be constructed easily by using the Line command.
The boundary conditions of fixed x- and y-displacements at the left
and right end hinges and the concentrated forces at lower nodes of
the model can be applied conveniently as shown in the figure.