Trusses are designed for supporting loads while ensuring reduction in
material consumption and providing stability. Following these principles, nine types of
structural trusses were designed using the Stiffness Method. Details of the trusses
include: 20 m span, 1 m height, concentrated load of 10 kN (at the centre of the
structure), with profiles composed of circular steel bars (ASTM A36, 210 GPa for
modulus of elasticity). The trusses differed from each other specifically in the height
(truss)/length (chord) ratio. The ratio values varied between 44.44 cm and 100.00 cm.
The profiles were sized for carrying solely loads anticipated in the structural design,
with no unloaded cross sections. The results included material consumption for each
structural type: TRUSS 1 (110.39 kg), TRUSS 2 (106.26 kg), TRUSS 3 (105.04 kg),
TRUSS 4 (104.25 kg), TRUSS 5 (103.83 kg), TRUSS 6 (105.63 kg), TRUSS 7 (105.91
kg), TRUSS 8 (108.47 kg), and TRUSS 9 (113.38 kg). The results indicated that the
truss with the lowest material consumption also used a height/length ratio
corresponding to the Golden Ratio, a value frequently encountered in nature. This
Golden Ratio provided a minimal consumption of material, while maintaining
structural stability. As for strain, nothing was identified (unfortunately!). Nowadays, it
is not surprising when this value is identified in nature, but when the Golden Ratio is
indirectly encountered in an essential technical human activity, it is relevant; not for
human advantage, on the contrary, nature seems to be communicating something to
humanity in its own language. Would this language be what is currently called
biomimetics?
Keywords: Golden Ratio, Truss, Design of Structure.
