TRUSSES

Trusses are simply defined as triangulation of members to make the stabilized structure.
Triangulation is the stable configuration mathematically. Generally, a truss has the members
called as top chord, bottom chord, vertical chord and diagonal chord. The main functions of the
trusses are
1. Carrying the loads from the over structures
2. Providing adequate lateral stability to the entire structure (Diya, 2019).
ROOF TRUSSES
A roof truss is considered the most important key component in engineering system in a
building. They serve a critical function and design depends on various factors. Without roof,
buildings would be exposed to all kinds of elements, rendering them completely useless.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROOF TRUSSES
1. King Post Truss. Central vertical post
used in architectural, working in tension
to support a beam below from a truss
apex. This truss usually spans up to 8
meters, which makes it perfect for
multiple types of houses, especially the
smaller ones.

2. Queen Post Truss. A very reliable,

simple and versatile type of roof truss
where you can use at any given time. This
kind of truss offers a span of around 10
meters, and has a simple design which
makes it perfect for a wide range of
establishments.

3. Howe Truss. A kind of truss having

upper and lower members, a combination
of steel and wood or both. One thing that
makes this truss extraordinary is that it
has a very wide span, as it can cover
anything from 6-30 meters. This is very
useful for a wide range of project types.

4. Pratt Truss.The prat truss is the most

popular steel truss since it is very
economical. It includes vertical and
diagonal members that slope down
towards the center (opposite of Howe
Truss). Pratt truss can cover lengths
ranging between 6-10 meters.
5. Fan Truss. A simple design made out of
steel. Most projects with larger span of
around 10-15 meters uses this kind of
truss.

6. North Light Roof Truss. Have a wide

set of lattice girders that include support
trusses. North light truss is the oldest, and
most economical kind of truss. These are
found in industrial buildings, drawing
rooms and large spaces, with a span of
20-30 meters.

7. Quadrangular Roof Trusses. Type of

truss having parallel chords and an
arrangement of web members of tension
diagonals and compression verticals. It is
mostly encountered in auditoriums or
railway sheds.

8. Parallel Chord Roof Truss. Constructed

with two chords running parallel to each
other and supported by reinforcing trusses
in between the top and bottom chords.
This roof truss reduces the condensation
problems and mold conditions since they
create a vapor barrier.

9. Raised Heel Roof. Truss Provides a cost-

effective way to meet more stringent
energy efficiency codes and improve the
energy efficiency of your building
envelope. Raising the truss higher greatly
simplifies attic ventilation and it leaves
ample room for insulation above exterior
wall top plates

10. Scissor Roof Truss. The bottom chord

members cross each other, connecting to
the angled top chords at a point
intermediate on the top chords’ length,
creating an appearance similar to an
opened pair of scissor. A scissor truss
provides for a vaulted ceiling in the same
time frame as standard trusses. Cathedral
is one of the best example of this kind of
truss (DJL, 2018).
BRIDGE TRUSSES

A truss bridge is designed using Newton's laws of motion and incorporating pin joints.
Pin joints are places at which straight elements of the truss formation meet. It is assumed that
only the tensile and compressive forces operate on the truss elements. The truss bridge comprises
vertical, horizontal, and the diagonal elements. The vertical members are under tension, while
the horizontal elements are subjected to bending, shear, and tensile loads. The diagonal elements
are under compressive forces (K.Aggeliki).

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROOF TRUSSES

1. Pratt Truss. The vertical members are in compression, whilst the diagonal members are
in tension. This simplifies and produces a more efficient design since the steel in the
diagonal members (in tension) can be reduced. This has a few effects – it reduces the cost
of the structure due to more efficient members, reduces the self-weight and eases the
constructability of the structure. This type of truss is most appropriate for horizontal
spans, where the force is predominantly in the vertical direction.

Figure 1.1.Pratt Truss

2. Warren Truss. The Warren Truss is another very popular truss structure system and is
easily identified by its construction from equilateral triangles. One of the main
advantages of a Warren Truss is its ability to spread the load evenly across a number of
different members; this is however generally for cases when the structure is undergoing a
spanned load (a distributed load). Its main advantage is also the cause of its disadvantage
– the truss structure will undergo concentrated force under a point load. Under these
concentrated load scenarios, the structure is not as good at distributing the load evenly
across its members.

Figure 1.2. Warren Truss

3. K Truss. The K Truss is a slightly more complicated version of the Pratt Truss. Its main
difference is that the vertical members have become shortened – improving its resistance
against buckling. It does, however, have similar pros and cons to the Pratt Truss and
although it is not widely used, it is a strong design. One of its main disadvantages is that
the members don’t always behave as expected. A member may be in compression under
one load scenario and in tension under another.

Figure 1.3. K Truss

4. Howe Truss. Howe trusses are essentially the opposite of Pratt trusses in terms of
geometry. In fact, looking at a Pratt truss upside-down will visualize a Howe truss of
sorts. The entire structure is still relatively the same, but the diagonal braces are now
occupying the opposite or the unoccupied joints. This switch in position of the diagonal
members has a very important effect structurally.

Figure 1.4. Howe Truss

5. Fink Truss. The Fink truss in its most basic form has web members that follow a V-
pattern which can be repeated several times. As the top chords are sloping downward
from the center, the V pattern becomes noticeably smaller. As Fink trusses rely more on
diagonal members, they can be very efficient at transmitting loads to the support.

Figure 1.5. Fink Truss

6. Gambrel Truss. In the exterior, a gambrel truss have two different slopes, where the
slope gets steeper from the center. Due to outward-protruding shape, gambrel trusses can
be effective to be fitted with a hollow center, which can be used as a storage area. As
such, the upper section of a barn is usually shaped in a gambrel. In the case of a barn, as
the members are usually constructed with wood, the structure acts more like a frame than
a truss. Derivatives of the gambrel include the Mansard roof, which is also called a
French roof, hence its popularity in France (Types of Truss Structures, 2019).

Figure 1.6 Gambrel Truss