PURLINS
A purlin is a longitudinal, horizontal, structural member which provides secondary framing
support to loadbearing elements in the construction of a building's roof and/or wall elements.
Purlin is a horizontal beam or bar used for structural support in structures, most often below the
roof. Purlins are supported either by the building's rafters or its walls. These are most commonly
used in metal buildings, but in wood-frame structures, these also replace closely packed rafters.
Purlins are inclined members thus they are subjected to bending in the x-x (major axis) and y-y
(minor axis)
SAG RODS
Sag rods act as lateral support for the purlins and keeping the purlins in proper alignment during
erection until the roof is installed and connected to the purlins.
VALUES OF DESIGN MAXIMUM MOMENTS Mx and My
METHOD 1: MOMENT RESOLUTION METHOD
𝑓𝑏 = 𝑓𝑏𝑥 + 𝑓𝑏𝑦
𝑀𝑋 𝑀𝑌
𝑓𝑏 = +
𝑆𝑋 𝑆𝑌
METHOD 2: FLEXURAL RESOLUTION METHOD
𝑓𝑏𝑥 𝑓𝑏𝑦
+ ≤1
𝐹𝑏𝑥 𝐹𝑏𝑦
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
SITUATION 1
Light-grade channel C200x76 is used as purlin of a truss whose top chord is sloped at 3H:1V. The
trusses are spaced at 6m. The total roof dead load is 720 Pa and live load is 1000 Pa. Wind
pressure is 1.44 kPa and the wind pressure coefficients at the windward and leeward sides are
0.20 and 0.60 respectively. Assume all loads pass through the centroid of the channel. Weight of
Purlin = 79 N/m
Properties of C200x76 Allowable Stresses:
4 3
Sx = 6.19 x 10 mm Fbx = Fby = 148 MPa
Sy = 1.38 x 104 mm3
If the wind loads are included in the design, the allowable bending stress is increased by 1/3
Find the maximum spacing of the purlins (in mm):
1. Due to DL + LL only
2. Due to DL + LL + WL on the leeward side
3. Due to DL + LL + WL on the windward side
SITUATION 2
Light-grade channel as a purlin of a truss whose top chord is sloped at 3H:1V. Assume all the
loads pass through the centroid of the section
Properties of C200x76 Allowable stresses:
4 3
Sx = 4.88 x 10 mm Fbx = Fby = 207 MPa
Sy = 1.18 x 104 mm3
Weight = 71 N/m L1 = L2 = 3m
Loads:
Roof Loads:
Dead load = 1200 Pa Live Load = 576 Pa
Wind Pressure = 1.44 kPa
Windward Side = 0.20 Leeward side = 0.60
For D + L + W load combination, a 1/3 increase in allowable stress is permitted.
1. Using a line of sag rod, find the safe spacing of purlins (m) due to dead load and live load only.
2. Using a line of sag rod, find the safe spacing of purlins (m) due to dead load plus live load plus
wind load on the windward side
3. Compute the total flexural stress, MPa due to dead load plus live load plus wind load on the
leeward side if the purlins are spaced 0.75 m with a line of sag rod.
SITUATION 3
A C375x50.5 is used as purlins of a roof truss having a pitch of 1/4. There are 9 purlins on each
side of the top chord spaced at 2.15m on centers. The spacing between trusses is 6.75m. A36
steel is used. The trusses are subjected to the following loads
Tile roof = 0.86 kPa of roof surface
Wind load = 1.20 kPa normal to the roof surface
Fy=248 MPa
Fu = 400 MPa
1. Determine the diameter of the sag rod for the purlins of the truss if they are placed at the
midspan.
2. Determine the diameter of the sag rods for the purlins of the truss if they are placed at the
third points.
3. Determine the diameter of the rod at the ridge if the sag rods are placed at the third points.