Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

What is a truss
a truss is an assembly of linear members
connected together to form a triangle or
triangles that convert all external forces into
axial compression or tension in its members

Single or number of triangles

a triangle is the simplest stable shape

Joints assumed frictionless hinges

loads placed at joints

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Simple Truss

Rafter pair - Joist

simple roof construction
loading along rafters - bending

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Primitive dwelling
heavy timber trusses
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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Vertical

Diagonal

Top Chord
Web
Members

Depth
or Rise

(verticals & diagonals)

Panel

Joint,
Panel point
or Node

Bottom Chord

Span
z

Flat Truss or Parallel Chord Truss

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Flat Pratt

Bowstring

Triangular Howe

Flat Howe

Inverted Bowstring

Simple Fink

Warren

Lenticular

Fink

Camelback

Triangular Pratt

Cambered Fink

Scissors
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Shed
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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

A truss provides depth with less material than a

beam

z
z
z

It can use small pieces

Light open appearance (if seen)
Many shapes possible
Pyrmont Bridge

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Multipanel Trusses
Sainsbury Centre
Norwich, England
Foster & Partners
Anthony Hunt Associates

Warren Trusses
Centre Georges Pompidou
Paris
Piano & Rogers
Ove Arup & Partners
Shaping Structures: Statics, W. Zalewski and E. Allen (1998)
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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

3-Hinged Truss Arches

Waterloo Terminal for Chunnel Trains
Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners
Anthony Hunt Associates
Shaping Structures: Statics, W. Zalewski and E. Allen (1998)
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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Stadium Australia
Homebush, Sydney, 1999
Bligh Lobb Sports Architects
Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM)
Modus Consulting Engineers

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Much more labour in the

joints

More fussy appearance,

beams have cleaner
lines

Less suitable for heavy

loads

Needs more lateral

support

Triangular-section steel truss

(for lateral stability)
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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Domestic roofing, where the space is available

anyway

Longspan flooring, lighter and stiffer than a beam

Bracing systems are usually big trusses

Longspan
floor
trusses

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Span-to-depth ratios are commonly between 5 and 10

This is at least twice as deep as a similar beam

Depth of roof trusses to suit roof pitch

Typical proportions
Truss, depth = span/4

Beam, depth = span/20

University of Sydney Building Principles

Truss, depth = span/10

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Gangnail joints in light timber

Gusset plates (steel or timber)

Riveted steel
gusset plates

Nailplate joint

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Welded joints in steel

Various special concealed joints in timber

Steel gussets concealed

in slots in timber members

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

The members should form triangles

Each member is in tension or compression

Loads should be applied at panel points

Loads between panel points cause bending

Supports must be at panel points

Load causes
bending

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Extra member

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

C
C

T
T

T
T

C
C

T
T

Only tension & compression forces are developed in pin-connected

truss members if loads applied at panel points
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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Truss A

Truss B

D F

Basic truss assemblies

Imagine diagonals removed
Look at deformation that would occur
Look at role of diagonal in preventing
deformation
Final force distribution in members

B
A

B
0
0
0 c 0 c 0
T
T

c
c
c T c T c
0
0
F

Analogy to cable or arch action

c
A

B
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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

The top and bottom chord resist the bending

moment

The web members resist the shear forces

In a triangular truss, the top chord also resists

shear
Web members
Top chord

Bottom chord

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

For detailed design, forces in each member

For feasibility design, maximum values only

are needed

Maximum top chord

Maximum web members

Maximum bottom chord

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Find all the loads and reactions (like a beam)

Then use freebody concept to isolate one piece

at a time

Isolate a joint, or part of the truss

This piece
of truss in
equilibrium

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This joint in
equilibrium

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Three methods
1. Method of Joints
2. Method of Sections
3. Graphical Method

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Have to start at a reaction

Move from joint to joint

Time-consuming for a large truss

A

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Start at reaction (joint F)

Then go to joint A
Then to joint E
Then to joint B ...
generally there is only
one unknown at a time
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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Resolve each force into horizontal and

vertical components
A

AB
Angle
AE
AF

If you dont know otherwise,

assume all forces are tensile
(away from the joint)
Vertically:
AF + AE sin = 0
Horizontally:
AB + AE cos = 0

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Quick for just a few members

x1
x2
W2

W3

T3 H

W1
T2
R1
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T1
taking moments about A
W1 * x1 + W2 * x2 + T1 x H = R1 * x1
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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

useful to find maximum chord forces in

long trusses

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

Uses drafting skills

Quick for a complete truss

z
z

a
i

4 bays @ 3 m
1

3m

a
h

2
d

3
j ,m

e
n

m
g

Bows Notation
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l
n

g, h, o

Scal e
for
for ces

Maxwell diagram
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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

The chords form a couple to resist bending

moment

This is a good approximation for long trusses

First find the Bending Moment
as if it was a beam
Resistance Moment
= Cd = Td

therefore C = T = M / d

A shallower truss produces larger forces

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Peter Smith 1998/Mike Rosenman 2000

The maximum forces occur at the support

First find the reactions

Then the chord forces are:
C = R / sin
T = R / tan

T
R
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A shallower truss produces

larger forces
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