Strength of Materials – I Application Example: A Simple Truss
(Prepared by Yasin K. KUTUCU, 3/11/2014)
Consider a structure shown below, consisting of 3 truss elements which has a circular section 30 mm
diameter Radius.
Simulation of problems consist of 3 steps
1- Modelling problem
2- Adding loads and joint to model
3- Solving simulation and Visualizing the Results
Solidworks have some custom weldments profiles, to use a new profile we first must create and save
it to weldments folder.
1- Start solidworks and create a new profile, or example lets create a profile full circle thats
diameter is 20 mm.
Open new part
Open new sketch in front plane
Create profile, rectengular filled circle open circle or square: Lets create a filled circle with diameter
20 mm and exit sketch
Select sketch and click save as then save it to folder: install_dir\lang\language\english\weldment
profiles\iso\pipe
Select library feat part for folder type (.sldlfp)
1- MODELING PROBLEM
Open new part
Specify matierial as Alloy steel (optional)
Build the truss using Front plane
Draw the truss system using line.
Exit sketch, then insert- weldments- structural member: Choose all the lines to make them structural
member , and select the profile saved before (named as filled_circle20 ) for structural member. Then
click ok.
2- SIMULATION
Choose simulation mode from the menu and select new study
Select static as study type
Choose all the elements in system and define them as truss
Defining joints: Choose joints from the menu, then right click, then choose edit. Click calculate button
from the bar then Solidworks will calculate the joints automatically. Check the joints, if the joints
won’t calculated correctly then recalculate them by changing joint clearence from the menu.
Genereting fixtures: Choose ‘Fixture Adviser’ , then click fixed geometry
Choose ‘Fixed Geometry’ from the menu and click the node will be fixed in all directions then click ok.
The upper node will be fixed only in x and z direction and will be free in y direction.
Again Choose ‘Fixture Adviser’, then click fixed geometry,
This time click on ‘Use reference geometry’ from the menu and choose Front plane as Reference
geometry
Choose the upper node and click Along plane direction 1 (x direction) and normal to plane (z
direction) from the translations menu to fix this node in this directions.
Fix the last node as explained in normal to plane direction (z direction).
Generating loads: Click ‘External loads advisor’ from the menu and then choose force.
The force will be acted on the node so choose joint from the menu and front plane as referance
plane.
Then Choose units as ‘SI’. Click ‘along plane direction 2’ and write 1000 for the value, check if the
direction of force is true.
3- SOLUTION AND RESULTS
Click Run to run model
After calculation, we can see the results, automatically results screen will appear