GHS Physics PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS
Gayaza High School
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Contents
GIRDERS
To proceed with this lesson, the learner should be conversant with the terms 'Tension' and 'Compression'
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By the end of the lesson however, the learner should be able to;
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A girder is a beam or straight part of a structure.
Types of girders;
- Struts
- Ties
Struts and Ties
Beams are categorised depending on the impact of the forces acting on a structure.
A Strut is a girder under compression.
A Tie is a girder under tension |
Identifying Struts and Ties
To identify ties and struts we look at the structure before us and imagine it with the girder in question removed. If the end points appear to move adrift (apart) then the girder is tie i.e it is in tension. If the points move towards each other,then the girder is a strut i.e it is compression.
| Remove girders AB and CD observe what happens to the structure |
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Applications of Struts and Ties
In this section we shall try to link what we have studied in the previous sections to our daily life experiences.
| Have you ever been near a telecommunication mast?If yes,try to describe to us the nature of the design of the mast.Make use of the diagram below |
| Why is it important for engineers to use the knowledge of ties and struts in designing a telecom mast? |
| Stand up and walk to the nearest water tank on your school compound.Look carefully at the water tank stand
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| Study the water tank stand below and try to identify which girders are struts and those that are ties |
| In your free time find a bicycle and try to identify girders that are struts and the ties
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a) Strut
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