Finite Element Simulation of Space Trusses

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is introducing a simplified and computationally efficient finite element model to investigate the nonlinear behavior of composite and non-composite space trusses. Two models were employed using the Finite Element ANSYS program in order to analyze the space trusses. The first model simulates the non-composite space trusses while the second model simulates the composite space trusses. Also this research presents the comparisons between the results of the current finite element models and four previous published space trusses in order to verify the validity of the current models. Comparisons between the results of the two models and the results of the four previous published space trusses indicated that the numerical analysis created by the FE ANSYS program using the two employed models can predict the general collapse behavior of the space trusses.