TRUSS SYSTEM

WHAT IS A TRUSS?
Trusses are triangulated frameworks used for large
spans and heavy loads for elements in buildings.
Trusses tend to be a stronger, lighter and less
expensive approach to roof framing.
GEOMETRY: Trusses are
strong because they
make use of the most
efficient geometric
shape we know of - the
triangle.
Trusses are a series of
triangles fastened
together with gusset
plates. The outside
members of a truss are
called chords/principal
members while the inner

A truss is a type of framework, usually comprising

straight struts and ties, which is designed to be stiff,
even if all the joints are considered to be pinned. This
is achieved by the inclusion of a sufficient number of
triangles.
Some or all of
the joints may
be fixed rather
than pinned,
Examples of
but the main
structures that are
contribution to
NOT trusses.
the stiffness is
provided by the
The ends of the
Simple 2-dimensional trusses.
triangulation.
members do not
connect at common
The trusses are just simple
schematics of how the members points. The resulting
should be arranged. The ends of structure does work,
but the members
the members all connect at a
see a substantial
common point (the joint) to form
amount of bending.
triangles.

HISTORY: Trusses have been used for many

centuries;

Andrea Palladio illustrates truss bridges in his Books

However, it is in the
of Architecture as early as 1570.
nineteenth century that
industrial expansionin
particular the need for
long-span exhibition
halls, railroad terminals,
Labrouste: Biblioteque
Wood Truss System
and bridgestogether
Nationale (1875)
(1920)
with the development of
engineering and
improvements in the
production of cast and
wrought iron, and later
steel, provide the motive
Piano & Rogers:
Grimshaw:
and means for most of
Pompidou Center
Waterloo
the advances in truss
(1977)
Terminal (1994)
design that are
exploited within early

BASIC PARTS:
The members of truss
are known as tiebeams, posts, rafters,
and struts; the
distance over which
The open construction of
the truss extends is
trusses is lighter , yet just as
called the span. The
strong as, a beam with a
upper and lower lines
solid web between upper and
or beams are
lower lines.
connected by web
Various Truss
members.
1.HOWE: These trusses may be
Types:
simple span, multiple bearing,
or cantilevered. Where the
truss height exceeds
approximately 3m (10'). Spans
up to 9m to 12m.

2.FINK:
spans up
to 6m to
9m.
3.Mono: This shape
may be simple span,
multiple span, or
cantilevered. Top
chord bearing is
4.Inverted:The
possible.
inverted truss is used
to provide a vaulted
ceiling along a portion
of the span.
5. Cut-off :This shape may be
used where a triangular truss
will not fit. Usually stubbed
exterior or at change to vaulted
ceiling in opposite direction.

6.Dual slope: This truss

provides an asymmetric roof
slope.
7.Ridge truss: The ridge truss
provides a stepped roof
appearance.
8.Hip:This shape is used to
create hip roofs and is also
referred to as a Step up Hip
Truss
9.Piggyback (Three piece): The
piggyback truss is a
combination of a gable end
truss on top of a hip truss,
which can be transported in
two sections. It is used when a
single triangular truss is too
large to transport.

10. Cathedral :The cathedral

truss provides a vaulted
ceiling along one portion of
the span.
11. Scissor :The scissor truss
is used to create a vaulted
ceiling along the entire span.
The slope of the bottom chord
is usually equal to 1/2 of the
slope of the top chord.
12. Half Scissor :The half
scissor truss provides a
single-sloped vaulted ceiling.

13. Attic : The attic truss provides

useable area within the roof
space. Bottom Chord in centre
designed as a floor.

14. Flat or Parallel Chord :The

flat truss is used in roofs or
floors. It may be designed as top
or bottom chord bearing, or for
simple or multiple spans. It may
also be cantilevered at one or
15. Sloping Flat both
:This ends.
shape is
used to create a vaulted ceiling.
It may be top or bottom chord
bearing.

PARTS IN DETAIL:

Steel roof
trusses are
commonly
fabricated from
angle sections
and plates.
(channel and Tsections can
also be used)

The principal rafter and

the main tie beam are
made of two angle
sections placed side by
side, whereas the struts
and ties are
made of
The
single angle
sections.
members
are
joined
together by
gusset plates
either
through
Gusset plate
should not be
rivetsthough
or
less than 6mm,
its
welding.
thickness is
designed on the
basis of forces to be carried.
When rivets are used, the
minimum pitch (the center-tocenter distance of adjacent
rivets) should not be less

Max pitch is limited to

15cm for compression
members (small spans)
and 20cm for tension
members (large spans).
At the foot short
angles are placed on
both sides of gusset,
connected to bearing
plate.

TRUSS FOR 7-9m SPAN:

Section at J shows a strut

on each side of the gusset.

The rafters are

equally divided by 2
purlins on each side
and the main tie
also equally
divided.(3 parts)
The main tie
extends for the full
width of the base
plate and secured
to it by a
countersunk rivet.
A short cleat is
provided
the is
Size
of theseatstruts
side of the
that opposite
of small angles:
gusset.
50.8mmX50.8mmX6.32m
m.

The members are fixed at

near side of the gusset or
far side to obtain balance.

The gusset does not project

below the main tie.
The purlins are fixed to the
rafters by means of bolts.
DETAIL SHOWING CONNECTION
AT BASE PLATE

Advantages of steel trusses :

1) The sections are readily available in the required
dimensions resulting in minimum wastage of
material.
2) Steel trusses are light in weight.
3) Steel trusses are stronger and more rigid than
timber trusses.
4) Steel trusses can be used over any span, while
timber are suitable only up to 15m.
5) Steel trusses are fire proof.
6) Steel trusses are termite proof.
7) large trusses can be assembled from small
members pinned together, facilitating
production, transportation, and erection;

9) because trusses are typically assembled from

individual elements bolted, welded, or nailed
together, it is relatively easy to customize the
overall shape of the truss in relation to external
loads and spans; and to adjust the crosssectional area of each member in relation to
anticipated internal stresses.
10) As long as loads are applied only at the joints
of a truss, and the joints act like "hinges", every
member of the truss is in pure compression or
pure tension -- shear, bending moments, and
other more complex stresses are all practically
zero. This makes trusses physically stronger
than other ways of arranging material.

Ex.1:Qantas Domestic Terminal, Sydney

The lightweight roof structure gives a dramatic
presence on set down at the elevated road level
providing a clear, seamless envelope of curved
The roof is a curved multisteelwork and skylights.
planar lattice structure
consisting of seven rows of
three dimensionally framed
elliptical trusses spanning
66m.
ROOF OF DEPARTURE HALL
The trusses are positioned at
They are supported
19.2m centres, and are
vertically and stabilised
elevated 13m above the
laterally by dual
Departures Hall floor.
opposing diagonal legs
on offset column bases.
Auxiliary columns,
concealed within the
SECTION
glazed walls, are
included to reduce

The top and bottom chords of the

truss structure are tubular steel
members measuring 219mm and
356mm in diameter, respectively.
The web members are tapered
from 110mm to 220mm from top to
bottom. This creates more visually
pleasing members and minimises
Bays of the truss framing system are
the usage of steel.
reinforced by interlaying pre-stressed rod
bracings. These bracings prevent
overloading of the connections, stabilise
Web Members
uplift and dead load deflective forces.
Rows of underslung
purlins spanning between
elliptical trusses support
the ceiling panels and roof
sheets at their lower and
upper chord levels,
respectively.

Elliptical Truss Detail of Inclined

Legs

Ex.2:Reliant Stadium, Houston

Stadium with an operable roof,
and at 4.25 acres, it is the largest
such roof in the United States.
The operable portion of the roof
consists of two enormous but
elegant fabric-clad panels that Two massive
supertrusses clear
ride along two parallel
span 620 between
supertrusses.
concrete
supercolumns along
The bottom chord of
either field sideline.
each supertruss is
gently arched to
accommodate for sight
lines of the seating
bowl, creating a truss
with minimum depth of
50 at mid-span and a
maximum depth of 72
at the supercolumns.

The erection
towers have been
removed from
beneath the west
supertruss. The
lacing of the truss
chords and
vertical
web members are
visible in this

In order to find an
economical design for a
truss with the mid-span
depth shallower than the
depth at the supports, the
structural
engineer tied the truss
rigidly to the supercolumn,
thereby achieving a rigid
frame action between the
truss and its supporting
columns.

The box truss

can be seen
framing into the
left side of the
concrete
supercolumn.

Bibliography:
www.aise.org
http://www.espioneer.com/ssss/imageoct2003-04.pdf
www.tritontruss.com
http://www.brantacan.co.uk/trusstwo.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/
http://www.maplevalleytruss.com/common_trusses.htm
www.ideaphotos.com/.../History-Of-Trusses.html