4.1.1. Basic Truss Example

4.1.1.1. Introduction

../../../_images/Truss.png

This example is of a linear-elastic three bar truss, as shown in the top figure, subject to static loads. The model has four nodes, labelled 1 through 4, and three elements, labelled 1 through 3. Nodes 1, 2 ,and 3 are fixed and a loads of 100kip and -50kip are imposed at node 4. The elements all have a youngs modulus of 300ksi, elements 2 and 3 have an area of 5in^2 and element 1 an area of 10in^*.

Note

Because the model is planar and is comprised of truss elements, the spatial dimension of the mesh (ndm) will be specified as 2 and the nodes will only be specified to have 2 degrees-of-freedom.

4.1.1.2. Model Definition

# units: kip, in

# Remove existing model
wipe

# Create ModelBuilder (with two-dimensions and 2 DOF/node)
model BasicBuilder -ndm 2 -ndf 2

# Create nodes
# ------------
# Create nodes & add to Domain - command: node nodeId xCrd yCrd
node 1   0.0  0.0
node 2 144.0  0.0
node 3 168.0  0.0
node 4  72.0 96.0

# Set the boundary conditions - command: fix nodeID xResrnt? yRestrnt?
fix 1 1 1
fix 2 1 1
fix 3 1 1

# Define materials for truss elements
# -----------------------------------
# Create Elastic material prototype - command: uniaxialMaterial Elastic matID E
uniaxialMaterial Elastic 1 3000

#
# Define elements
#

# Create truss elements - command: element truss trussID node1 node2 A matID
element Truss 1 1 4 10.0 1
element Truss 2 2 4 5.0 1
element Truss 3 3 4 5.0 1

# Define loads
# ------------
#

# create a Linear TimeSeries with a tag of 1
timeSeries Linear 1

# Create a Plain load pattern associated with the TimeSeries,
# command: pattern Plain $patternTag $timeSeriesTag { load commands }

pattern Plain 1 1 {
    # Create the nodal load - command: load nodeID xForce yForce
    load 4 100 -50
}

4.1.1.3. Analysis

We will now show the commands to perform a static analysis using a linear solution algorithm The model is linear, so we use a solution Algorithm of type Linear. Even though the solution is linear, we have to select a procedure for applying the load which is called an Integrator. For this problem, a LoadControl integrator advances the solution. The equations are formed using a banded system so the System is BandSPD, banded symmetric positive definite This is a good choice for most small size models. The equations have to be numbered so the widely used RCM (Reverse Cuthill-McKee) numberer is used. The constraints are most easily represented with a Plain constraint handler. Once all the components of an analysis are defined, the Analysis object itself is created. For this problem, a Static Analysis object is used.

# Create the system of equation
system BandSPD

# Create the DOF numberer, the reverse Cuthill-McKee algorithm
numberer RCM

# Create the constraint handler, a Plain handler is used as homo constraints
constraints Plain

# Create the integration scheme, the LoadControl scheme using steps of 1.0
integrator LoadControl 1.0

# Create the solution algorithm, a Linear algorithm is created
algorithm Linear

# create the analysis object
analysis Static

4.1.1.4. Output Specification

For this analysis, we will record the displacement at node 4, and all the element forces expressed both in the global coordinate system and the local system.

# create a Recorder object for the nodal displacements at node 4
recorder Node -file example.out -time -node 4 -dof 1 2 disp

# create a Recorder for element forces, one for global system and the other for local system
recorder Element -file eleGlobal.out -time -ele 1 2 3 forces
recorder Element -file eleLocal.out  -time -ele 1 2 3 basicForces

4.1.1.5. Perform The Analysis

After the objects for the model, analysis and output has been defined we now perform the analysis.

analyze 1

4.1.1.7. Results

When you run this script, you should see the following printed to the screen: .. figure:: figures/TrussRun.png

align

center

figclass

align-center