ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces you to the simplest one-dimensional (1-D) structural element, namely the bar element, and the FEA of truss structures using such element. Trusses are commonly used in the design of buildings, bridges, and towers (Figure 2.1). They are triangulated frameworks composed of slender bars whose ends are connected through bolts, pins, rivets, and so on. Truss structures create large, open, and uninterrupted space, and offer lightweight and economical solutions to many engineering situations. If a truss, along with the applied load, lies in a single plane, it is called a planar truss. If it has members and joints extending into the three-dimensional (3-D) space, it is then a space truss.
