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2-d truss from strip aluminium

2-d truss from strip aluminium

2-d truss from strip aluminium

(OP)
Hi,

I am looking to design a truss beam that would pretty much be a warren truss manufactured from 3mm thick 60mm wide aluminium strip bonded together.

I'm really looking for more of a discussion of the positives/negatives of this design in comparison to a 3mm wall thickness 60mm round tube and the equivalent 60x60x3 square tube. Ideally looking at bending loads and torsional loads along it's length. I will be running it through FEA at some point but just wanted some experienced feedback in the interim.

I've included a image to demonstrate what I am talking about.

Thanks

John

RE: 2-d truss from strip aluminium

My first thought would be that any compression members wouldn't fair well being made of plate strip. They would buckle at fairly low loads compared to square or round members.

RE: 2-d truss from strip aluminium

Johnd100:
Is it reasonable to assume that you don’t have many engineering credits at the Uni. under your belt, and that you didn’t bother to read the requirements for posting on E-Tips. i.e. being an engineering or technical professional? Have you studied this truss building subject on your own, before you asked here? Or, are you hoping for a college engineering degree all wrapped up in some discussion in one E-Tips thread? How did you arrive at 3mm thick, by 60mm wide aluminum; or 60mm dia. or 60mm sq. tube with 3mm wall thickness? You’ve shown a truss, but no indication that you have any idea how a truss works, is analyzed, is built, or what design info. is needed to start a meaningful discussion on the subject. In the interim why don’t you discuss some of the pros and cons of each of the three sections. Include some dimensions, span lengths, loadings, vertical, lateral, vibration, etc. etc., mechanical properties of the materials, bonding material and its properties, and we’ll tell you if you are heading in the right direction.

RE: 2-d truss from strip aluminium

(OP)
Firstly, to rockengineer, many thanks for your input. This was the sort of valuable discussion I was hoping for from a 'concept idea'.

Secondly, to dhengr, we obviously do think a lot of ourselves don't we??? I bet you love to come on this forum and lord it over everyone with your world class knowledge and expertise way and above everyone else!! What right you have to judge anyone elses experience or background is beyond me. BTW I didn't do 'credits' at Uni, I did a degree ad that was a long time ago. I assume you don't get much satisfaction in life outside of this forum. As I mentioned above I am toying with a 'concept idea'. No, you are correct, I am not a truss engineer, I am a composites engineer and hence I was looking for some informed debate/discussion about an idea before I did a full FEA/CAE on the design. I also give a fair bit of advice to peers, with regards to composites, on other sites like LinkedIn. Sometimes the questions asked are a little lacking but generally I just ask them to expand on what they have asked. You know, kind of like the way you work with colleagues, friends, family etc. Do you discuss your ideas with your peers first before forging ahead with an idea? I suspect the answer is no. And with regards to your statement about not knowing anything about trusses I have done a fair bit of research on trusses and, yes, information about a planar 2-d type truss is pretty thin on the ground hence my wanting to start a discussion.

I am not asking anyone to do my job for me, or the suchlike, as this is just something I am working on in my spare time. I cannot tell you the details of the materials etc as this is proprietary information.

Anyway, forget it now as I can glean everything I need to know from FEA and not have to put up with 'experts' like yourself, dhengr.

Sometimes I feel like engineers are my brothers but at other times I whole heartedly despair! Why I waste my time even writing this long-winded reply god only knows!!

RE: 2-d truss from strip aluminium

Well, I would have said to make all the compression members a "C" shape, but I guess I won't now.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

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