Calculation of deformations of a cantilever-frame planar truss model with an arbitrary number of panels

Abstract

Introduction. By method of induction using three independent parameters (numbers of panels) formulas for deflection under different types of loading are derived. Curves based on the derived formulas are analyzed, and the asymptotic of solutions for the number of panels are sought. The frame is statically definable, symmetrical, with descending braces. The problem of deflection under the action of a load evenly distributed over the nodes of the upper chord, a concentrated load in the middle of the span, and the problem of shifting the mobile support is considered.
 Materials and methods. The calculation of forces in the truss bars is performed in symbolic form using the method of cutting nodes and operators of the Maple computer mathematics system. The deflection is determined by the Maxwell – Mohr formula. Operators of the Maple computer mathematics system are used for composing and solving homogeneous linear recurrent equations that satisfy sequences of coefficients of the required dependencies. The stiffness of all truss bars is assumed to be the same.
 Results. All the obtained dependencies have a polynomial form for the number of panels. To illustrate the obtained solutions and their qualitative analysis, curves of the deflection dependence on the number of panels are constructed.
 Conclusions. A scheme of a statically definable three-parameter truss is proposed that allows an analytical solution of the problem of deflection and displacement of the support. The obtained dependences can be used in engineering practice in problems of structural rigidity optimization and for evaluating the accuracy of numerical solutions.