V2.2 — 4-leg space (tripod) truss

A four-legged three-dimensional (tripod) pin-jointed truss under a vertical apex load — the 3-D counterpart to V2.1, exercising out-of-plane truss geometry.

Time
About 5 minutes
Level
All levels
You'll need
None — this is a reference document
You're done when
You can see how V2.2 compares to its reference
On this page
  1. Description
  2. Reference
  3. Model
  4. Comparison
  5. Conclusion

← Verification — Linear (Frames & Trusses)

V2.2 — 4-leg space (tripod) truss

Exact

Description

A four-legged three-dimensional (tripod) pin-jointed truss under a vertical apex load — the 3-D counterpart to V2.1, exercising out-of-plane truss geometry.

Reference

Symmetry, method of joints and virtual work (closed form): F = PLm/(4h) (compression), δ = PLm³/(4h²EA).

Model

Four axial truss members arranged symmetrically in plan, meeting at a shared apex node above them, each pinned to its own ground support, under a vertical load applied at the apex.

Apex load, P40 kip
Base half-spacing, a60 in
Height, h90 in
Member length, Lm123.69 in
Elastic modulus, E29,000 ksi
Member area, A3 in²

Comparison

QuantityReferencevfopro% diffStatus
Apex vertical deflection (in)-0.0269-0.0269+0.00%Exact
Apex horizontal deflection x (in)00n/aExact
Apex horizontal deflection y (in)00n/aExact
Leg 1 axial force (kip, +tension)-13.74-13.74+0.00%Exact
Leg 2 axial force (kip, +tension)-13.74-13.74+0.00%Exact
Leg 3 axial force (kip, +tension)-13.74-13.74+0.00%Exact
Leg 4 axial force (kip, +tension)-13.74-13.74+0.00%Exact
Base 1 vertical reaction (kip)10100.00%Exact
Base 2 vertical reaction (kip)10100.00%Exact
Base 3 vertical reaction (kip)10100.00%Exact
Base 4 vertical reaction (kip)10100.00%Exact

Conclusion

Every reported quantity matched the closed-form value to at least 6 significant figures.

Last updated September 22, 2026 · applies to vfopro 20260922.0.0 or later