Truss Girders

At ARBED, we do not simply sell steel sections, but we also advise the user, in particular on the subject of structural steel engineering. For more than ten years now, an advisory team of experts has been available for this very purpose, free of charge. Since we neither make nor erect steel structures ourselves, we feel that we can advise clients, architects, structural engineers and structural steel companies from a neutral vantage point. In recent years, as a result of this neutral position on our part, an extremely fruitful spirit spirit of cooperation has come into being, constantly leading to new and interesting ideas and solutions. This brochure deals with one of these solutions. We warmly invite all interested parties to collaborate with us in order to further develop the present truss girder system through new applications.

Our advisory team should, however, also be consulted on other aspects of steel engineering, such as: the best use of steel the optimal employment of I-sections composite beams and columns fireproof steel structures durable surface treatment short- and long-term dismountable steel structures. ARBED offers you a unique range of hot-rolled steel sections and possesses an extensive know-how on the subject of steel structures. Do make use of this expertise, consult us.

Information and Advisory Service

Picture 1: Detail of a truss girder

Truss girders are well-known structures and I-sections are equally well-known structural elements. Truss girders built from I-sections are not uncommon either. What is uncommon in the truss girder system presented here is the actual orientation of the I-sections.
I-sections are mainly used as girders subject to bending, where loads acts in the direction of the web. The term I-sections thus not only describes the profile of the shape, but also the usual orientation. Truss girders very often take over the function of a girder subject to bending. When the load is applied to the nodes of the truss girder, the truss members are subject only to tension and compression forces. The orientation of the I-sections is irrelevant if the load is applied axially on tension and compression members. If an I is turned by 90 degrees, it becomes an H and this is the basic suggestion. The rotation of the space allows direct welding of the members at the nodes whereby stiffeners and gusset plates become superfluous. This simplification results in a clearly articulated form of appealing aspect.

The Idea

Picture 2: Truss girder Ice-skating rink, Dinslaken, FRG

The I-sections which together constitute this truss girder system must have roughly the same height, so that the flanges may be welded together. Because of this, it could be assumed, at first sight, that the shapes can be adjusted to existing bar tensions only to a certain extent. In order to be able to exploit to the full possibilities offered by this system, we shall explain the rolling process and the composition of the shape series.
Hot rolled I-sections with parallel flanges are manufactures according to the universal rolling process. A universal rolling train consists of a universal roll stand and an edger, with four and two cylinders respectively (fig. 1). The bloom passes through this rolling train several times with the gap between the cylinders being reduced from roll pass to roll pass, so that flanges and web become thinner and thinner. By adjusting the cylinders it is possible to produce several shapes with the same set of cylinders (fig. 2). A wide flange beam HE 300 B differs from an HE 300 A in the thickness of web and flange as well as in overall depth. Both shapes however, have the same transitional radius r and the same chamber size c. The chamber size is determined by the barrel width of the cylinder which shapes the chamber of the beam.

Fig. 2: Various shapes with equal chamber size

Fig. 1: Rough outline of the universal roll stand and edger

The designation of a steel shape will be defined by both the shape series and the nominal depth in mm. Steel shapes HE 300 AA, HE 300 A, HE 300 B and HE 300 M all possess the same chamber size. They can therefore be combined in a truss girder. An IPE 300 shape has the same nominal depth but, not the same chamber size. It still can be combined with HE 300 B and HE 300 M shapes.

I-Sections

Picture 3: Rolling mill at ARBED-Differdange

Shape

Section cm2 % 23,5 28,5 32,0 33,9 51,5 54,1 58,2 64,3 66,3 68,1 74,5 91,0 91,1 111,0 128,0 149,0 16 19 21 23 35 36 39 43 44 46 50 61 61 74 86 100

Chamber size mm 183 183 183 183 188 182 181 188 181 181 181 188 181 181 181 188

Height mm 197 200 202 204 205 200 203 210 206 204 209 220 216 222 229 240

IPE 200 A IPE 200 IPE 200 O IPE 200 R HE 220 AA HE 200X200X43 HD 210X210X46 HE 220 A HD 210X210X52 HP 200X200X53 HD 210X210X59 HE 220 B HD 210X210X71 HD 210X210X87 HD 210X210X100 HE 220 M

Table 2: Shape combination HFW 20, selection of shapes according to the ARBED rolling program.

Within the ARBED sales program, five different shape combinations (HFW) were drawn up, differing from each other in the depth (round to cm) of the usable shapes (table 3). Table 1 shows possible combinations of standardized shapes for a truss girder of the type HFW 20. The combination possibilities are even greater if rolled shapes from the extensive ARBED standard sales program are used (table 2). Due to the rolling process, additional shapes with different sizes are possible. These derived shapes are called tailor-made beams. Besides this, different steel grade can be used. All rolled shapes can be delivered in steel grade Fe 235
Table 1: Shape combination HFW 20, selection of shapes according to Euronorm

and Fe 355. A large part of the shape series is also available in HISTAR 460 steel grade (Fe E 460). The variety of combination possibilities offered by rolled shapes with various cross sections and steel grades enables us to optimize the design of a truss girder. The shape combination HFW 25 offers a range of cross sections from 31.7 to 420 cm2. Since several rolled shapes are produced during one single rolling operation and the rolling cycle is regularly repeated, delivery problems do no arise.

Table 3: Shape combinations

Type Shape IPE 200 A HE 220 A HE 220 B HE 220 M Section [cm2 ] % 28,5 22 64,3 43 91,0 61 149,0 100 Chamber size mm 183 188 188 188 Height mm 200 210 220 240 HFW 15 HFW 20 HFW 25 HFW 30 HFW 40

Shape series Europrofil HE, IPE HD, HP, HE, IPE HD, HP, HE, IPE HD, HP, HE, IPE HD, HP, HE, IPE

from 15,7 22, 9 31,9 41,6 54,1

Section 2 to[cm ] - 97,1 - 149 - 420 - 637 - 1386

A truss girder system employing I-sections is suitable both for two and three-dimensional structures. Truss girders are used not only as girders subject to bending, but are also used as supports and frameworks. The great variety offered by two-dimensional truss girders in terms of form is not reduced by the rotation of the I-sections. For greater spans, a truss girder with parallel chords will normally be used as was the case for the ice-skating rink in Dinslaken. But, other forms can also be built without problems, as shown in picture 4.
Picture 4: Swimming pool in Rheinbach, FRG

Truss members function either as tension or as

compression members. In the truss girder shown above, tension members are represented in light blue, compression members in dark blue. The percentage figures indicate the amount of material required. The member subject to the greatest compressive force in the upper chord requires 100% of material. The other members require less, with percentage figures ranging from 5% to 100%. By changing the sizes of the rolled shapes - a change in the grade of material used has not been taken into account here - it is possible to achieve fine gradations in loading capacities to exactly match the intervening forces. Obviously, such fine gradations are only necessary in some rare cases. The designing engineer will rather combine the truss members in several groups with one shape per group. Here it should only be pointed out that such fine subdivisions are possible.

Truss Girders

Truss girders become commercially viable for spans of 25 m or more. The upper limit yet to be reached, and it probably lies - depending on load conditions at around 200 m. With spans of this order, the cross sections of the rolled shapes according to national standards no longer suffice, in which case one can fall back on the extensive standard program of ARBED. Picture 5 shows the roof framework of the Exhibition Hall 1 in Frankfurt with a clear span of 80 m. A truss-height/span ratio between 1:10 and 1:25 leads to commercially profitable solutions.

Three- dimensional structures can be achieved by arranging truss girders at a right angle. Bolted connections can be easily realized on the flanges. A spatial supporting structure will also arise when trusses arranged in pairs have a side slant. An example of this type can be seen in picture 5.

Picture 5: Exhibition Hall 1 in Frankfurt, FRG

Picture 7: Truss skeleton for roof structure of a supermarket in Dudelange, L

Basically, no new constructional details have to be developed because of the rotation of the I-sections. The usual solutions adopted in structural steel engineering suffice.
For this truss girder system essential details are: truss girder nodes bearings joints purlin joints piping layout

If in between the web members, there is a gap corresponding to a width g, one saw cut only at the end of each member will be required. The width of the gap can be calculated with the formula of fig. 3. When the axes of the web members intersect on the other side of the chords axis, the eccentricity will be negative. If, after calculating according to the above formula g<0, the web members will overlap. In this case, two saw cuts on at least one member will be required.
Fig. 3

Truss girder nodes

When designing truss girders, a very important principle has to be borne in mind, namely that the axes of the members in the system should intersect at the nodal points. If the axes do not intersect at one point, bending moments arise. According to DIN 18808, an eccentricity of max. 0.25 bo is allowed for truss girders. Only if this figure is exceeded, the bending moments have to be taken into account when checking the stress.

Construction Details

Picture 9 Picture 10

Picture 8

Since fillet welds do not require any edge preparation, they should be preferred to other types. If chamber sizes or overall depths are the same, single- or doublebevel-groove welds should be chosen. Assembly of truss girders can be rationalized through the use of welding robots. If conventional welding methods are used, the truss girder must be turned in order to avoid constraining positions.

Bearings
Fig. 4

The depicted bearing points represent solutions usually adopted in structural steel engineering. Sensitive structures require sliding bearings so that intervening deformations may not give rise to constraining forces.

Joints
When dealing with long-span truss girders, it makes sense to adopt bolted site joints for reasons of transport and assembly. This way, welding on the building site under difficult conditions is avoided.

Picture 11: Detail of truss girder for car park railway station Winterthur, CH

Purlin joints
Purlin bearings on the upper chord of the truss girders are easily made. Gusset plates are welded onto the edges of the flanges, purlins are then bolted onto the plates (fig. 5). Purlins can even be bolted without problems to truss girders with a side slant, as the example in figure 6 shows.

Piping layout
The rolled shape chamber as well as the openings between the truss members offer an easy and cost-advantageous solution for the installation of supply and discharge piping (picture 12).
Picture 12: Downpipe situated in the rolled shape chamber

Fig. 5 Fig. 6

Picture 13: Pleasing paint-work in a supermarket in Dudelange, L

Coatings of paint do not only provide protection against If protection against corrosion can be made to meet
corrosion, but are also an important visual element in architecture. Only when air humidity exceeds 65%, protection against corrosion becomes necessary and should then be adjusted to the true requirements. A distinction is to be made between planting and coating. Plating is the thin metal layer applied directly to the steel surface. A very common method used for steel structures consists of hot dip galvanizing. A coating is a layer of paint. There as three different types of coating, i.e. primer, first coating and top coating. The durability of a treatment against corrosion is of at least 15 to 20 years. In most cases, it is then sufficient to renew the top coating. Drainage holes should be drilled in the webs in case the truss girders are subject to adverse weather conditions.

the true requirements, so can fire protection. If the designer has taken the right measures, there is often no need for fire protection of structural elements. Examples of pre-cautionary measures would be subdivision of a building into fire compartments and concentration of fire load in certain areas.

Without changing the shape of a truss girder system, it is possible to achieve a fire-resistance category F 30 through an intumescent coating. Yet, this is required only in exceptional cases.

Surface Treatment

When form and function constitute a unit, commercial viability is ensured. This thesis is confirmed by comparing two different types of truss girder nodes.
Fig. 7

With the I-sections orientated as shown above, gusset plates and stiffeners will be needed to transmit forces as required (fig. 7). Thus, further construction elements have to be made and welded onto the truss members.
Fig. 8

Picture 14: Distribution Center in lorries in Wrth, FRG

By changing the orientation of the I-sections, these additional constructional elements are no longer required (fig. 8). The function of the gusset plates and stiffeners is taken over by the flanges of the chord and the truss members with the result of a simple and clear-cut form. It is obvious that this solution is more economical than the first one. This statement is supported also by a quantitative comparison: since stiffeners and gusset plates are no longer required, the amount of welding is reduced by 77%. The overall 19% cost reduction for the whole truss girders has led to the acceptance of the solution proposed by our advisory team (picture 2).

Form, Function and Commercial Viability

An idea will be successful for as long as it is kept alive and capable of development. The first project dealt with a truss girder with parallel chords. Other girder shapes and three-dimensional structures followed. From project to project, new details were adapted to the truss girder system. More and more architects work with this system, enriching it with ideas of their own. Students are interested in it, too. The 1986 Promotion Prize of the German Association of Structural Steel Engineering (DSTV) was awarded to two students of the Cologne Technical College for a project on this system. The commercial viability of this truss girder system

can be further improved through research projects. At the present time, research is being carried out to find out how the reserves of plastic design can be taken into account. So far, design has been based on the theory of elasticity. A truss girder system employing I-sections is an interesting and commercially viable alternative to existing solutions, thanks to the greater range of cross sections available. It is a flexible system which allows large clear span structures unobstructed by internal columns that can be readily designed and whose possibilities are far from being exhausted.

Project: Car Park Railway Station Winter Owner: Bahnhof Parkhaus Winterthur AG, W Planning: Association A Blatter, Arch. S V. Oehninger, dipl. Ing. ETH S W Steel Structure: Association Geilinger AG Paul Tobler & Co. S Shape combination:

Project: Supermarket in Dudelange, L Owner: Supermarchs Match SA, Strassen Design: Architects Worr & Schiltz, Luxembourg Structural Engineers: Scotechnique, Senningerberg Concrete Works: Poeckes, Rumelange Steel Structure: Acom, Dudelange Shape combination: HFW15, HFW20

Project: Extension of swimming pool in Rheinbach, W. Germany Owner: Town of Rheinbach Design: Architect Dt. Lutz Limmer, Meerbusch General Contractor: Claus Queck GmbH + Co. Kg, Dren Shape combination: HFW15, HFW20

Project: Distribution center for lorries in Wrth, W. Germany Owner and designer: Lorries Works, Stuttgart Supplier of steel structure: Stanlbau Schfer, GmbH, Ludwigshafen Shape combination: HFW25

References

Project: Exhibition Hall ,The Hague, The Netherlands Owner: Nederlandse Congresgebouw, The Hague Design: Architekten Kombinatie Rosdorff, The Hague Planning: D3BN, Ing.-Bureau, The Hague General Contractor: H.B.M. B.V., Te Rijswijk Steel Structure: Zuid Nederlandse Staalbouw B.V., Fijnaart Shape combination: HFW20, HFW40

Project: Reconstruction of Exhibition Hall 1 in Frankfurt, W. Germany Owner: Frankfurter Messegesellschaft mbH Design: Architects Murphy & Jahn. Chicago, U.S.A. General Contractor: Hochtief AG, Frankfurt Steel Structure: Krupp Stahlbau GmbH + Co. KG, Berlin Shape combination: HFW25

Project: Ice-skating Rink, Dinslaken, W. Germany Owner: Town of Dinslaken Design: Architect Dr. Lutz Limmer General Contractor: Claus Queck GmbH + Co. JKG, Dren Shape combination: HFW40