How does Lighting Truss work Under Pressure?

by Shannon M on January 05, 2023

We find out! 👇

We sent our Titan AV lighting truss to be structurally tested at the Centre for Future Materials. These tests were the biggest of their kind ever conducted in Australia! But… why exactly⁉️

Why is it important to test truss? 

It's important to test truss because not all trussing is created equal! Differences in welding, manufacturing and raw materials can make or literally break truss. Truss structures often hold hundreds, if not thousands, of kilos above patrons. With this type of risk, it’s critical to know with 100% assurance that it's safe to use! So this doesn't happen...

Lighting Truss Stage Collapse

Your safety is our number 1 priority! That’s why we test Titan AV truss to its limits.

How is Titan AV truss tested? 

To ensure the quality of Titan AV truss, a team of engineers performed a series of structural behaviour tests. Testing individual truss lengths, truss spans and the raw materials of truss. The structural engineers studied how much the truss bends, twists and strains under pressure.

 

The truss underwent horizontal and vertical destructive testing. Both sets of tests had two variations over the same span. These variations tested if one piece of truss was as strong as two connected pieces. Furthermore, this data would inform simulations to model the most widely used applications of truss.

Where is Titan AV truss tested? 🐨

Titan AV truss is tested in Australia. Thankfully, when looking for a testing company we didn't need to travel far. The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) may seem an unlikely choice at first. Yet their Toowoomba campus is home to the Centre for Future Materials (CFM).

The Centre for Future Materials is a world-leading research centre in advanced composite materials. With an experienced team of engineers and researchers, CFM has gained a reputation for pioneering research and development in engineered materials. 

Rick outside USQ's Center For Future Materials
“Why not? Let’s push the boundaries. Let’s do it properly & be the best! It’s not a cheap process by any means. But at the end of the day we’re choosing to support a local business (USQ) and we’re happy putting that money back into the Australian economy.”
Rick Eckert, Head of Product Design & Development at Titan AV

When Does Lighting Truss Crack? 💥

Disclaimer: These tests were done under strict observation. We do not recommend replicating these professional tests or overloading truss beyond a safe capacity. Please consult your structural engineer for advice related to your application.

These are the results of the Titan AV 290 box truss destructive tests:

  • 3 metre piece (horizontal) = 3.2 Tonnes of load before failure.
  • 1.5 metre x 2 pieces (horizontal) = 💪 4.2 Tonnes of load before failure.
  • 0.5 metre x 2 pieces (vertical) = 20 Tonnes of load before failure.
  • 1 metre piece (vertical) = 🤯 26 Tonnes of load before failure.

Additional testing was performed on the raw elements of truss. These tests included compression & stress strain tests on truss components to discover what they can handle before welding occurs. Plus, Finite Element Simulations (FEA) were developed to verify and expand upon the live test data.

Want to learn more? 👇

You can watch all of the destructive truss tests 🔖 via our blog & 📖 read our project report [5MB]. 

Read Titan AV Lighting Truss Testing Project Report

Titan AV Truss


When holding heavy equipment overhead such as moving lights, speakers, projectors & screens, trusting your truss is an absolute must. Titan AV aluminium truss are built to handle the heaviest AV gear with the utmost confidence.

Ensure the safety of your crew, your clients, and their audiences, with lighting truss by Titan AV.

 

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