Engineering Mechanics LAB

Assignment # 01

TRUSSES

Name: Syed Abdullah Ahmed

Class: F.E sec “A” Roll#: EE-058

The Truss
In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or
more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints
referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at
the nodes and result in forces in the members which are either tensile or compressive forces.
Moments (torque forces) are explicitly excluded because, and only because, all the joints in a
truss are treated as revolute.

Types of Trusses

1. Planar Truss
The simplest form of a truss is one single triangle.
This type of truss is seen in a framed roof consisting
of rafters and a ceiling joints. Because of the stability of this
shape and the methods of analysis used to calculate the
forces within it, a truss composed entirely of triangles is
known as a simple truss. A planar truss lies in a
single plane. Planar trusses are typically used in parallel to
form roofs and bridges.
 The depth of a truss, or the height between the upper and lower chords, is what makes
it an efficient structural form. A solid girder or beam of equal strength would have substantial
weight and material cost as compared to a truss. For a given span length, a deeper truss will
require less material in the chords and greater material in the verticals and diagonals. An
optimum depth of the truss will maximize the efficiency.

2. Simpler Truss
It is constructed by starting with a basic triangular element.
Methods of Truss Analysis
1. Methods of Joints: The joints of truss can each be analyzed as a
particle.
2. Methods of Sections: It is used to determine the force in specific
members.

3. Space Truss
A space truss is a three-dimensional framework of members pinned at their ends.
A tetrahedron shape is the simplest space truss, consisting of six members which meet at four
joints. Large planar structures may be composed from tetrahedrons with common edges and
they are also employed in the base structures of large free-standing power line pylons