Civil Engineering Professional Engineer Practice Exam

What capability do trusses have regarding weight distribution?

1. Can concentrate weight onto a single point

2. Can distribute weight over a wide area

3. Can absorb weight through flexible movement

4. Can eliminate the need for supports

The correct answer is: Can distribute weight over a wide area

The ability of trusses to distribute weight over a wide area is a fundamental feature that contributes to their strength and stability in structural applications. Trusses are designed with a series of interconnected members arranged in triangular shapes, which effectively spreads applied loads across multiple points. This design minimizes the risk of failure at any single point, as the load is transferred through the truss system to the supports at the ends or along the structure, allowing for more efficient use of materials and enhancing overall structural integrity. Trusses are commonly used in bridges, roofs, and various engineering applications due to their lightweight yet strong configuration, which maximizes load-bearing capacity while minimizing deflection. This characteristic provides significant advantages in construction and design, especially when dealing with large spans or heavy loads. While some options suggest alternatives to weight distribution, they do not highlight the primary capability of trusses effectively. For instance, concentrating weight onto a single point could lead to structural failure, and absorbing weight through flexible movement is not a defining property of rigid truss structures, which are meant to maintain their shape under load. Additionally, while trusses can reduce the need for additional supports compared to other structural systems, they do not eliminate the need for them entirely.