What are the members of a truss?
– Top chord
– Bottom chord
– Diagonals (sometimes called strut or tie)
– Posts
However, this can vary depending on the truss type.
The fundamental building block of any truss is a triangle. Why? Because when loads are
applied, a triangle's angles cannot change without changing the member lengths - this
makes it inherently stable.
When forces pull a member apart, it's in tension. When forces compress it, it's in
compression. Since truss members are slender, they can't support large lateral loads - all
loads must be applied at the joints.
1: What Are Trusses?
So, good morning - im sharloute and this is artjoms and todayy our presentation is going to
be all around and about Trusses / kopnes in latvian..i think they were also previously
mentioned in context to the lenta kvartāls…so yeah this is going to probably be especially
relevant for those designing their apartments in the little triangle houses.
But yeah trusses are not only a roof support structure, trusses as a whole are
everywhere - in bridges, antenna towers, cranes and so n so on.
But - overall a truss is defined as a rigid structure made up of straight elements
(usually wood or some kind of metal) which are connected at joints.
However for something to actually be considered a truss: First, all the joints must
act like hinges, which just means that the beams can rotate freely where they connect..
Second, all loads are applied only at the joints — never in the middle of a beam.
So basically trusses can only carry axial forces - which are either tension or
compression - and not bending. This makes trusses much simpler than frames, which have
rigid joints and can carry bending forces.
2: Elements of Trusses
ROOF
Okay, so now real quick going through the main parts of a roof truss. Starting at
the top, we have the peak — also called the apex — where the two sides meet,
and sometimes there’s a ridge beam running along that line. The pitching point
shows where the roof slope actually starts. The top chords are the sloping
beams on each side, and the bottom chord runs along the base. Inside the truss
are the webs, which basically help distribute the loads and keep everything
stable. And then at the bottom corner, we have the heel — that’s the point where
the truss sits on the wall.
Next are some of the supporting roof elements. The wall plate sits on top of the
wall and spreads the truss load evenly. Brandering are the thin strips
underneath that support the ceiling. Purlins run across the trusses to help carry
the roof covering, and the strutting beam adds extra stiffness and support to the
whole roof system.
And lastly, just some quick terminology about spans. The clear span is the open
distance between the supports, while the nominal span is the full width of the
structure. And a bay is simply the space between two trusses — so basically
how far apart they’re placed.
BRIDGE
Okay, so for bridge trusses, it works in a similar way, just on a larger scale. At
the bottom, we have the lower chords, which carry most of the tension. The floor
beams sit on these, and the joists or stringers on top support the bridge deck.
Underneath, bottom bracings help stabilize everything.
Inside the truss, the diagonals, end posts, and vertical rods transfer loads
through the structure, while the main tie helps hold everything together.
At the top, the upper chords handle compression, and the top bracing and top
lateral strut stop the bridge from twisting. The superior transverses connect both
sides for extra stability, and at each end, the portal frames the bridge and helps
resist sideways forces.
3: Classification by Grid
Soou yea a lotta different ways to categorize trusses, classified into three main groups by
their grid structure configuration: Simple, Compound, and Complex.
A simple truss is the most basic form. A truss constructed from a triangular truss, which is
then expanded to create a network of pretty much identical elements. And some of the most
commonly used simple grid trusses include Fink, Howe, Double W and Pratt
A compound truss is a truss made up of two or more simple trusses connected using
connection elements.
A complex truss is a truss that can neither be simple nor compound.
3 (c): Classification by Material
Trusses can also be classified by material - primarily timber and steel.
Timber trusses are usually cheaper, which made them popular historically. However, wood is
prone to bowing, warping, and pest infestations, making maintenance costly. They're also
easily damaged by extreme weather. Today, they're mainly used for minor projects.
Steel trusses are more durable and stronger despite being lighter than wood, thanks to their
high strength-to-weight ratio. They can handle heavy loads and strong winds. Steel trusses
are pre-fabricated to exact specifications, so they won't warp or change form like wood does.
They're also low-maintenance - resistant to termites and fire - making them ideal for major
6: Fun Facts About Trusses
Trusses have fascinating applications throughout history and modern engineering!
Ancient Egyptians understood truss principles thousands of years ago! They used truss-like
frameworks in their boat construction to handle the stresses of the Nile River, demonstrating
that the fundamental engineering principles of trusses have been recognized for millennia
The International Space Station uses truss structures extensively - they provide the rigid
framework that holds solar panels, radiators, and other equipment while being lightweight
enough for launch.
As you mentioned, trusses were even used in the Apollo moon landing missions. The Lunar
Module used a truss framework for its landing gear, combining incredible strength with
minimal weight - absolutely critical when every kilogram matters for space travel.
Today's longest bridges rely on truss designs to span incredible distances - some bridge
trusses span over 500 meters, supporting thousands of vehicles daily while using materials
efficiently. The genius of the truss is that it's been proven effective from ancient boats to
modern spacecraft!
Trusses are everywhere. They are used in bridges, antenna towers, cranes, and even in
parts of the International Space Station. They are popular because they allow us to create
strong structures while using materials in a very efficient and cost-effective way.
A truss is essentially a rigid structure made up of straight members, but two key assumptions
must be met for a structure to be considered a truss. First, all joints are assumed to be
pinned connections, meaning members are free to rotate at the joints. Although members
are often connected using gusset plates, if the centre-lines of all members intersect at a
single point, it is reasonable to assume pinned behaviour. Second, loads are assumed to act
only at the joints, never in the middle of a member.
Because all joints are pinned, truss members cannot carry bending moments and can only
resist axial forces. This greatly simplifies analysis, as each member must be in equilibrium
and therefore carries either tension or compression. These assumptions distinguish trusses
from frames, which may have rigid joints, carry bending moments, and support loads applied
directly to members.
The basic and most stable form of a truss is a triangle. When loads are applied, the angles
of a triangle cannot change without changing member lengths, making it a stable shape. In
contrast, a four-sided shape is unstable because its angles can change without altering
member lengths. Stability can be achieved by adding diagonal bracing to divide the shape
into triangles.
There are many truss configurations, some of which are commonly used and named, such
as the Fink roof truss. In many cases, all members lie in a single plane, forming what are
known as planar trusses, which can be analysed as two-dimensional structures. Even
seemingly three-dimensional structures, like bridges, can often be simplified into planar
trusses because loads act within specific planes.
To design or analyse a truss, it is necessary to determine the force in each member. This
allows engineers to check whether members can safely carry loads or to select appropriate
cross-sections. Two main methods are used for this purpose: the Method of Joints and the
Method of Sections.
The Method of Joints involves first drawing a free body diagram of the entire truss to
determine reaction forces using equilibrium equations. Then, free body diagrams are drawn
for each joint, and equilibrium of horizontal and vertical forces is used to calculate unknown
forces. Since joints are pinned, moments do not need to be considered. Members in tension
pull away from the joint, while members in compression push toward it.
When analysing trusses, it is common to encounter zero force members, which carry no load
under certain conditions. These occur when three members meet at a joint with two aligned,
or when only two non-colinear members meet at a joint, provided there are no external loads
applied at that joint. Zero force members are not useless; they help stabilise the structure,
prevent buckling, and improve safety under unexpected loading.
The Method of Sections is useful when forces in only a few specific members are required.
After determining reaction forces, an imaginary cut is made through the truss, and
equilibrium equations are applied to one side of the cut. Because only three equilibrium
equations are available, the cut should pass through no more than three unknown members.
If all reaction forces and internal member forces can be determined using equilibrium
equations alone, the truss is statically determinate. Some real structures include additional
members for safety, making them statically indeterminate. These require more advanced
methods, such as force or displacement methods, for analysis.
Different truss designs distribute loads in different ways. The Howe truss has vertical
members in tension and diagonals in compression, which is less economical due to the long
compression members. The Pratt truss improves efficiency by placing long diagonals in
tension instead. The Warren truss uses equilateral triangles and fewer members, making
construction simpler, though some long members experience compression.
Some structures cannot be analysed as planar trusses and must be treated as
three-dimensional systems known as space trusses. These are analysed using similar
principles, but with six equilibrium equations instead of three, and three equations at each
joint instead of two.
A truss is an assembly of straight beam elements connected at certain joints. However the
main concept is that no member is continuous through that certain joint.Most structures are
made of several trusses joined together to form a space framework. Each truss carries those
loads which act in its plane and may be treated as a two-dimensional structure Bolted or
welded connections are assumed to be pinned together. Forces acting at the member ends
reduce to a single force and no couple. Only twoforce members are considered.
When forces tend to pull the member apart, it is in tension. When the forces tend to
compress the member, it is in compression.
Members of a truss are slender and not capable of supporting large lateral loads. Loads
must be applied at the joints.
• Weights are assumed to be distributed to joints.
• External distributed loads transferred to joints via stringers and floor beams.
Elements of trusses - just terminology
Classification - \
By grid:
Trusses can be classified into three groups: Simple, Compound, and Complex.
Simple Truss: It is possible to create a simple truss by joining three bars together to
form a triangle. We can increase the size of the truss by adding two more members
with an additional joint. By repeating this process, we can develop simple trusses
with different shapes as shown below. The triangular building block assures internal
stability of the truss structure as it is increased in size.
Although it is possible to have non-triangular cells in a simple truss, internal stability will
not be guaranteed in that case.
Thinking Deeper 6.3.3. The Danger of Simple Trusses. Simple trusses
have no structural redundancy, which makes them easy to solve using the
techniques of this chapter, however, this simplicity also has a dark side.
These trusses are sometimes called fracture-critical trusses because the failure of a
single component can lead to catastrophic failure of the entire structure. With
no redundancy, there is no alternative load path for the forces that normally
would be supported by that member. You can visualize the fracture-critical
nature of simple trusses by thinking about a triangle with pinned corners. If
one side of a triangle fails, the other two sides lose their support and will
collapse. In a full truss made of only triangles, the collapse of one triangle
starts a chain reaction which causes others to collapse as well.
🔗
While fracture-critical bridges are being replaced by more robust designs, there are
still thousands in service across the United States. To read more about two
specific fracture critical collapses search the internet for the Silver Bridge
collapse, or the I-5 Skagit River Bridge collapse.
Compound Truss: A compound truss is made up of simple trusses joined together to
form a larger truss. The figure below shows a compound truss consisting of two
simple trusses joined by a common joint and a bar. It is also possible to have
multiple simple trusses joined together to create a larger compound truss. The
connection of simple trusses then becomes a design issue determined based on the
size of the resulting compound truss. Compound trusses are commonly used to
support loads over long spans as in bridges.
Complex Truss: A complex truss uses a general layout of members different from that
used in simple and compound trusses. It often incorporates overlapping members.
Simple truss:
Fink truss - trīsstūrveida
Gambrell truss - trīsstūrveida ar papildstatiem
Pratt -??? - atgāžņu veida
Compound:
Baltimore - šprengeļu kopne
Complex:
By material: Roof trusses can also be classified based on the material they are made of, such
as timber and steel.
Trusses made of timber are usually cheaper the steel trusses, making them popular before.
However, because wood is prone to bowing and warping, they are used less often in extensive
construction projects today. They are also prone to pest infestations, so maintenance can be
costly. Timber trusses are also easily damaged by extreme weather. For minor projects, timber
trusses may be more economical, so they are still being used today.
Steel trusses serve the same function as their timber counterpart, except that they are made of
metal. They may be more costly upfront, but with all the benefits that steel roof trusses offer, you
get to enjoy your investment for a long time. Continue reading to know these advantages.
Advantages of Using Steel Trusses
1. Durable
Because of the material they are made of, steel roof trusses are more durable than
timber trusses, making them ideal for big structures that wood trusses would not normally
handle. Despite being lighter than wood, steel roof trusses are stronger thanks to their
high strength-to-weight ratio. This simply means that they can handle heavy loads or
strong winds and rains.
Moreover, steel roof trusses are pre-fabricated to specifications. Thus, you can guarantee
that they are shaped or designed the way you need them, without fearing that they will
warp or change form later, which happens to wood when exposed to changing
environmental conditions.
2. Low-Maintenance
Steel roof trusses are not as high maintenance as timber trusses. You don’t need to
spend on chemical treatments as steel is resistant to termites. Especially in the
Philippines which experiences humid weather for half of the year, termites are common
problems with any wood structures and components.
3. Fire resistant
Aside from being pest-resistant, steel trusses are also fire-resistant. These steel
materials have fire-retardant coatings, so they resist fire and stop it from spreading fast
when structures are already on fire.
Galvanized Steel Trusses Manufacturer in the Philippines
If you need purlins supply for your roof trusses, only source them from a trusted roofing
manufacturer in the Philippines, like Union Galvasteel Corporation. UGC can provide steel
roofing requirements in accordance to your specifications, so we can guarantee that they would
fit your needs.
For prices of purlins in the Philippines for roof trusses or other questions about any roofing
materials or steel building system components, Union Galvasteel Corporation is here for you.
UGC manufactures and distributes prepainted and other galvanized roofing. We have the largest
and most diversified distribution network in the industry, and with warehouses and sales offices in
strategic locations throughout the country, we are easy to find. Get in touch with us via our
website or call these numbers for assistance: (02) 8520-8822-23; 8520-8831; (049) 545-0084 to
86 or 09175033965 (Globe) and 09190032303 (Smart).