A Howe roof truss design with 29 members using angle bars supporting a load of 10 kips

on the upper joints and 5kips on the lower joints. The truss has a span of 72 ft .The angle
bar has 1 hole per leg with bolt diameter of in. (Using A36 steel and the AISC
Specification).

TRUSS Details
Members
AB = PO
AC = NP
BC = ON
BD = MO
CD = NM
CE = LN
DE = ML
DF = KM
EF = LK
EG = JL
FG = KJ
FH = KH
GH = JH
GI = JI
HI

Note: For A36 steel

Fy = 36
Fu = 58

Bar Forces (kips)

Tension
Compression
74.25
52.5
42.5
52.5
53.03
90
27.5
90
31.82
112.5
12.5
112.5
10.61
120
5

Length (ft)
12.73
9
9
9
12.73
9
9
9
12.73
9
9
9
12.73
9
9

TOP CHORD (COMPRESSION)

For AB, T = 74.25 ; L=12.73
Assume klr = 130 ; Fa= 8.84
A = 74.25 8.84 = 8.4
Try 6 x 6 x

A = 8.44 r =1.17

klr = (12.728x12) 1.17 = 130.54

@ klr = 130.54 ; Fa = 8.76

(by interpolation)

P = (8.76)(8.44) = 73.93 < T

unsafe!

Try 6 x 6 x

A = 9.73 r = 1.17

klr = (12.728x12) 1.17 = 130.54

@ klr = 130.54 ; Fa = 8.76
P = (8.76)(9.73) = 85.23 > T

safe!

Use 6 x 6 x
Since BD, DF, FH are members of the chord which run continuously, we design the
section with the maximum force.
For FH, T= 112.5
Assume klr = 40 ; Fa = 19.19
A = 112.5 19.19 = 5.86
Try 6 x 6 x

A = 8.44 ; r = 1.17

klr = (9x12) 1.17 = 92.31

@ klr = 92.31 ; Fa = 13.93

(by interpolation)

P = (13.93)(8.44) = 117.57 > T

safe!

Use 6 x 6 x

BOTTOM CHORD (TENSION)

Since AE, CE, EG, and GI are members of the chord which run continuously, we design
the section with the maximum force.
For GI, T = 120
Ag = T (0.6Fy)
Ag = T (0.6x36)
Ag = 120 (0.6x36) = 5.56
Ae = T (0.5Fu )(0.9)
Ae = T (0.5x58)(0.9)
Ae = 120 (0.5x58x0.9) = 4.60
Try 6 x 6 x

A = 5.75

T = 0.6(36)(5.75) = 124.2 > T

safe!

Ae = 0.9[ 5.75- 2()()] = 4.6125

T = (4.6125)(0.5)(58) = 133.76 > T

safe!

Use 6 x 6 x

WEB (Tension Members BC, DE, FG, HI)

For BC, T = 42.5
Ag = T (0.6Fy)
Ag = (42.5) (0.6x36) = 1.97
Ae = T (0.5Fu )(0.9)
Ae = 42.5 (0.5x58)(0.9) = 1.63
Try 3 x 3 x 516

A = 2.09

T = (0.6)(36)(2.09) = 45.14 > T

safe!

Ae = 0.9[2.09 2()(516)] = 1.53

T = 1.53(0.5)(58) = 44.37 > T

safe!

Use 3 x 3 x 516
For DE, T = 27.50
Ag = T (0.6Fy)
Ag = 27.5 (0.6x36) = 1.27
Ae = T (0.5Fu )(0.9)
Ae = 27.5 (0.5)(58)(0.9) = 1.05
Try 2 x 2 x 516

A = 1.46

T = (0.6)(36)(1.46) = 31.54 > T

safe!

Ae = (0.9)[1.46-2()(516)] = 1.07
T = 1.07(0.5)(58) = 31.03 > T

safe!

Use 2 x 2 x 516
For FG, T = 12.5
Ag = T (0.6Fy)
Ag = 12.5 (0.6)(36) = 0.58
Ae = T (0.5Fu )(0.9)
Ae = 12.5 (0.9)(0.5)(58) = 0.48
Try 2 x 2 x 316

A = 0.92

T = 0.6 (36)(0.92) = 19.87 > T

safe!

Ae = 0.9[0.92-2()(316)] = 0.62
T = 0.62(0.5)(58) = 17.98 > T

safe!

Use 2 x 2 x 316
For HI, T = 5
Ag = T (0.6Fy)
Ag = 5(0.6x36) = 0.23
Ae = T (0.5Fu )(0.9)
Ae = 5(0.5)(58)(0.9) = 0.19
Try 1 x 1 x

A = 0.359

T = 0.6(36)(0.359) = 7.75 > T

safe!

Ae = 0.9[0.359-2()()] = 0.18
T = 0.18(0.5)(58) = 5.22 > T

safe!

Use1 x 1 x

WEB (Compression Members)

For CD, T = 53.03
Assume klr = 130 ; Fa = 8.84
A = 53.03 8.84 = 6
Try 6 x 6 x 916

A = 6.43 ; r = 1.18

klr = (12.73x12) 1.18 = 129.46

@ klr = 129.46 ; Fa = 8.91

(by interpolation)

P = (8.91)(6.43) = 57.29 > T

safe!

Use 6 x 6 x 916
For EF, T = 31.82

Assume klr = 130 ; Fa = 8.84

A = 31.82 8.84 = 3.60
Try 6 x 6 x 516

A = 3.65 ; r = 1.2

klr = (12.73x12) 1.20 = 127.3

@ klr = 127.3 ; Fa = 9.26

(by interpolation)

P = (9.26)(3.65) = 33.8 > T

safe!

Use 6 x 6 x 516
For GH, T = 10.61
Assume klr = 130 ; Fa = 8.84
A = 10.61 8.84 = 1.2
Try 4 x 4 x

A = 2.86 ; r = 0.788

klr = (12.73x12) 0.788 = 193.83

@ klr = 193.83 ; Fa = 3.98

(by interpolation)

P = (3.98)(2.86) = 11.38 > T

safe!

Use 4 x 4 x