Features
High-quality structures teaching module for students of mechanical, civil and structural engineering
Allows safe and practical experiments into determinate and indeterminate structures
Realistic and verifiable experiment results
Optional Software package for extra, ‘virtual’ experiments, that simulate and confirm the results from your hardware and allow extended experiments
Optional Software package for automatic data acquisition and virtual experiments

Tesca Redundant Truss Apparatus 32201 fits onto a Structures Test Frame. Two supports hold the top and base of one side of a structure. The top support allows pivoting, the base support allows pivoting and rolling. Initially, one of the members is missing from the structure, making it determinate. To make the structure indeterminate, students refit the missing member.
Students manually apply a load to one end of the determinate framework using a screw-thread and electronic load cell. The load cell connects to a Digital Force Display which shows the applied load.
Each member of the structure has strain gauges attached. These each connect to a digital strain bridge which shows the member strains. Students use the strains to help them calculate the forces in the structure. A digital deflection indicator measures displacement in the structure.
Students note applied load, strains and deflection in a determinate framework. They then repeat the experiment with the frame made indeterminate, and analyze and compare their results.

Specifications
Load application: 500 N electronic Load Cell, Resolution 0.1N
Strain measurement: 16-way Digital Strain Bridge
Deflection measurement: Digital Deflection Indicator, Resolution 0.01mm
External Frame Load: 5kN max
Computer Interface Screenshots

Experiments
Study of strains, stresses, forces and deflections in:
A statically determinate structure
A statically indeterminate structure

Operating Conditions
Operating environment: Laboratory
Storage temperature range: –10oC to +55oC (when packed for transport)
Operating temperature range: +10oC to +50oC
Operating relative humidity range: 80% at temperatures < 31oC decreasing linearly to 50% at 40oC