Why can the program only calculate a truss that has 3 vertices?


On the theoretical level, there is no reason why the program should have any limit on the number of vertices the truss is allowed to have.  On a practical level, writing a program that takes into account all possible variations and anomalies that can occur in very large trusses requires a good amount of skill, and an even greater amount of time.  Simply put, this program is not meant to be the end all, be all of truss computation programs.  It is meant to illustrate how computers can aid in tedious mathematical calculations, even if the calculations that this program performs could be done by hand if necessary.  It accomplishes the goal of letting the computer do the grunt work, leaving the engineer with only having to input the coordinates and forces present at the vertices.

Return to the main page.