Handbook of Structural Steelwork 3rd Edition - Chapter 5 Trusses

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CHAPTER 5

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5.1

TRUSSES

Introduction

A truss is a triangulated framework of members in which loads are primarily

resisted by axial forces in the individual members. The most commonly used
truss is single span, simply supported and statically determinate with joints
assumed to act as pins. Trusses can be pitched with sloping rafters as shown
in Figure 5.1 or can have parallel top and bottom chords. Trusses with parallel
chords are often referred to as lattice girders.
Roof covering
Purlins

Rafter

Internal bracing
members

Main tie

Figure 5.1 Typical roof structure

5.2

Typical uses

A common application of pitched trusses is for roofs. Lattice girders have a

wider variety of uses including support of roofs and floors particularly with
longer spans or heavier loads.
The support of long span flat roofs is generally accomplished by using trusses
with parallel chords. Pitched roofs are normally supported by pitched trusses,
even for modest spans, the exception being the specialised area of pitched roof
portal frames. Portal frames are beyond the scope of this publication and will
not be considered further.
One advantage of trusses is that they can be delivered to site as one complete
unit, as several smaller units or even as individual elements. The choice will
depend upon the size of the truss, the ease of transport between the fabrication
shop and the site and the availability of space on site.

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5.2.1 Spans

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The most efficient form of truss to be employed in any given situation is

usually controlled by the span to be covered. Figure 5.2 shows a variety of
pitched roof trusses together with the spans over which they are customarily
used. For spans in excess of these values, lattice girders may be more
practical. However, lattice girders are used for a whole range of spans
(greater than approximately 7 m).
Figure 5.3 shows two types of lattice girder the N-girder or Pratt truss and
the Warren girder. These trusses have depth to span ratios typically in the
range of 1:10 to 1:14.
<7 m

7 - 11 m

11 - 17 m

17 - 25 m

11 - 17 m

17 - 25 m

25 - 31 m

25 - 31 m

Figure 5.2 Typical roof trusses and associated spans

Compression chord

Tension chord
a) N-girder or Pratt truss
Compression chord

Tension chord
b) Warren girder

Figure 5.3 Lattice girders

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5.3

Design concept

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Typical roof trusses are plane frames consisting of sloping rafters which meet
at the apex or ridge of the frame (see Figure 5.1). The lower ends of the
rafters are prevented from spreading by a horizontal main tie, whilst internal
bracing members triangulate the truss and carry primarily axial forces. The
internal members also reduce the segment lengths of the chords which enables
lighter weight and therefore more efficient chords to be used.

5.3.1 Roof arrangement

The roof coverings may be made from a variety of materials ranging from
traditional slates or tiles, profiled steel sheeting or more exotic materials. These
coverings are supported on purlins (members running between the trusses),
which are supported by the rafters and therefore apply loads to the rafters. The
purlins also provide out of plane stability-to-the truss. Stability to the truss
must be provided at all times, including during erection, when temporary
bracing may be used.
The spacing of the purlins (which can range from as little as 900 mm to over
3.5 m) is normally dictated by the roofing material. If the purlins are only
located at points where internal members meet, (the panel points) then the truss
members will be subjected primarily to axial forces. However, if the spacing
is such that the purlins are supported between the panel points, then rafters will
need to be designed for combined axial load and bending. Figure 5.4 shows
the two possible options.

Local bending action

a) Purlins at panel points

b) Purlins between panel points

Figure 5.4 Purlins at or between panel points

5.3.2 Pre-cambering
Deflections of nominally flat trusses (Pratt trusses or Warren trusses) must be
considered if ponding and therefore overloading are to be avoided. Two
possible solutions are to either pre-camber the truss or to have a shallow slope
in the top chord. The concept of pre-cambering is often extended to longer
span pitched roof trusses where the nominally horizontal bottom chord may in
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fact slope upwards slightly from the supports. This is carried out so that under
loading, the bottom chord does not deflect below the horizontal.

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5.3.3 Typical sections

The sections used for the members of a typical roof truss may be single angles,
double angles (single angles fastened back to back), single channels, double
channels or single T sections. For members with more than one component
(double angles or double channels), the elements may be connected directly to
each other. Alternatively a gusset plate may be inserted between them which
enables a connection to be made to other members so that eccentricities at the
connections are minimised. For single component members this is not possible
and a lapped joint with its consequent eccentricity is unavoidable.
If, as is normally the case, the members consist of angles, channels and T
sections then the axial loads should be determined assuming that the joints are
pinned. The moments caused by eccentricities at the ends need not be
considered explicitly and the individual members may be checked using Clauses
4.7.10 to 4.7.13 of BS 5950-1. These clauses give values for the effective
lengths to be taken for buckling about the various axes. Care must be taken to
ensure that all possible axes of buckling are recognised and this will often
involve consideration of buckling about the a-a, b-b, u-u and v-v axes. The
assumption implied in this approach is that the members may be represented by
lines meeting at a point located at the nodes. If the frame is welded, it is
customary to detail the frame so that the centroidal axes of the members lie on
these lines. If the frame is bolted, then it is usual to ensure that the lines of
the bolt holes meet at the nodes. Any moments arising from minor
eccentricities are allowed for in the choice of effective lengths. Figure 5.5
shows some typical details from an example of bolted roof truss, using back to
back angles for the members, with gusset plates at the connections.
Figure 5.6 shows a welded truss using T sections, detail 2 show that the
members node without any eccentricity. Figures 5.5 and 5.6 are only
examples of a number of typical details from a wide variety of solutions which
may be adopted.

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1

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Detail 2

Detail 1

Figure 5.5 Bolted roof truss and typical details

3

Detail 1

Detail 2

Figure 5.6 Welded roof truss and typical details

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Detail 3

Handbook of Structural Steelwork 3rd Edition - Chapter 5 Trusses

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Created on 02 June 2007

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5.3.4 Joint Capacities

The detailing of the joints is a vital part of truss design. The capacity of the
truss may be controlled by the capacity of the joints as much as by the capacity
of the members If members are selected so that their capacity is almost fully
utilised, the resulting joint details required to transmit the applied forces, can
be very impractical. The joints should therefore be considered at an early stage
in the design, in conjunction with the selection of the members. As mentioned
above, the joint eccentricities will effect design of the truss and its members.
The joints adopted in practice must not invalidate the assumptions made at the
design stage.

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