Types of Bridge Truss Structures

Trusses are an extremely strong, well-accepted, cost effective option for the construction of
various structures. To maximise the efficiency of the strucutre (which is often meaured in
material used or labour), an appropriate truss type should be selected for design. Today we will
explore what types of structures are out there and how they can benefit your design.

1.)Pratt Truss

2.)Warren Truss

3.)K Truss

4.)Howe Truss

5.)Fink Truss

6.)Gambrel Truss

Pratt Truss

A Pratt Truss has been used

over the past two centuries as
an effective truss method. 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.

ADVANTAGES
Aware of member's behaviour - diagonal members are in tension, vertical members in
compression

The above can be used to design a cost effective structure

Simple design

Well accepted and used design

DISADVANTAGES
Not as advantageous if the load is not vertical

Best Used For:

Where a cost effective design is required

Where a mix of loads are applied

Where a simple structure is required

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.
Therefore the Warren truss type is more advantageous for spanned loads, but not suitable
where the load is concentrated at a single point or node.
ADVANTAGES
Spreads load fairly evenly between members

Fairly simple design

DISADVANTAGES
Poorer performance under concentrated loads

Increased constructibility due to additional members

Best Used For:

Long span structures

Where an evenly distributed load is to be supported

Where a simple structure is required

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.
ADVANTAGES
Reduced compression in vertical members

Possible reduction in steel and cost if designed efficiently

DISADVANTAGES
Slightly more complex

Increased constructibility due to additional members

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.

As they are similar in structure with Pratt trusses, their uses are generally the same. To
maximize the efficiency of the truss, the truss can be loaded at the joints of the bottom chord.
Roof trusses can be loaded with a ceiling loads for example.

Another thing to note is that, depending on the geometry and loading, Pratt trusses can have
more unloaded members than Howe trusses.
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.

Derivatives of the Fink truss include the Double Fink and the Fan truss types. Double Fink
trusses are essentially Fink trusses that repeat the pattern twice on either side. If the most basic
Fink truss can be characterized by a double-V, then a double fink would look like a double-W.
Fan trusses are essentially Fink trusses that have its web members ‘fan out’ from the joints at
the bottom, usually the addition of vertical members.

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.