Steel Trusses

Trusses are generally associated with pitched roofs and are designed to follow the roof profile. Shallower roof pitches result in heavier compression chords, whereas steeper roof pitches involve longer and often heavier bracing members. Lattice girders are generally associated with long-span beams in which the top and bottom chords are usually horizontal. However, for flatter roof pitches, lattice girders with a sloping top chord can also be used efficiently. Forms of trusses I. Trusses and lattice girders

members) and the longer diagonal members are in tension.

c.

Warren girders (W form) are often fabricated from tubular sections as they are efficient as bracing members who act alternately in tension and compression.

Fink, Howe and French trusses These particular shapes of pitched truss form the shape of the finished roof. The apex and eaves joints between the chords are pinned. They are often used in housing and modest span roof trusses, and generally comprise Tees and angle members. Vierendeel girder This is a different form of structure in which the diagonal bracing members are eliminated, and the connections between the horizontal and vertical members are made moment- resisting. Vierendeel trusses are expensive in the use of steel and in fabrication, and are only appropriate for use in special circumstances, such as when the size of the openings is maximized to permit the passage of services. However, it is possible to design one Vierendeel panel in the centre of an otherwise standard Warren or Pratt girder, especially if the girder achieves composite action with a floor slab. Bowstring truss One chord of a bowstring truss is curved in elevation and is tied between its supports. Light trusses of this form may also be orientated vertically to support cladding and glazing where architectural expression of the truss is particularly important. Scissor truss The scissor truss is a variant of a standard truss form and offers architectural possibilities and greater headroom, but is structurally less efficient because of its shallower depth. North light roof truss North light trusses are traditionally used for short spans in industrial workshop-type buildings. They allow maximum benefit to be gained from natural lighting by the use of glazing on the steeper pitch which generally faces north or north-east to reduce the solar gain. Developments of roof form Most of the above lattice girders and trusses can be further developed into more interesting structural and architectural forms. Some possibilities, including curved and mansard roofs.

Trusses and lattice girders can be conceived of as triangular or rectangular assemblies of tension and compression elements. The top and bottom chords provide the compression and tension resistance to overall bending, and the web or bracing elements resist the shear forces. Trusses or lattice girders may take a number of basic forms. The common names for these truss forms are given, together with their typical span range. They are fabricated by bolting or welding standard sections together. Trusses are very efficient in the use of steel, but are relatively expensive to fabricate. The bracing members are usually lighter than the chord members.

Warren or Pratt Lattice Girders

a.

Lattice girders have broadly parallel top and bottom chords in which the bracing (diagonal) members are arranged in a W or N form, respectively. The top chord is generally designed to be restrained against out-of-plane buckling by the regular attachment of roof purlins or of the floor slab. Pratt girders are a traditional form of construction often using angle and T-sections. They are efficient at supporting vertical loads because all the compression members are short (i.e. the vertical

b.

Tubular sections are commonly used in long-span trusses for reasons of aesthetics and structural efficiency. Generally, CHS members are used for both the chords and bracing members, and a typical welded connection is illustrated in Figure 6.16. However, the top and bottom chords may use RHS rather than CHS members in order to facilitate 2. Connections in multi-planar trusses

Trusses can also be designed in triangular cross-section along their length. These triangular section trusses have several advantages over plane trusses, because of: The increased stability offered by the twin compression chords They are frequently used as exposed structures with long spans The simplification of bracing requirements in roof structures, in which in-plane forces have to be transferred along the roof Their ability to resist tensional effects from incoming beams or trusses. 3. Reinforcement of connections

For maximum resistance of the members, it is usually more efficient to select larger tubular sections with thin walls. However, when designing the connections, it is more advantageous to use chord members that are thicker and smaller in section (provided that they are not smaller than the bracing members). Therefore, a compromise is necessary for overall design and fabrication efficiency. 4. Connections in Vierendeel trusses

Vierendeel trusses comprise members connected at right angles and resist shear loads primarily by bending in the members. In this way, bracing members are eliminated but the chords are much heavier because they resist bending as well as axial forces. Vierendeel trusses employ only rigid or full-moment connections, unlike triangulated trusses in which the connections are designed as pinned. II. Tubular trusses Vierendeel trusses are relatively inefficient at resisting high shearforces because of the lack of diagonal bracing and, therefore, it is necessary to use thicker or larger chord members than in triangulated trusses.

Trusses using tubular members can provide elegant structural solutions in long-span roofs. They can also be used as transfer structures to support a number of floors above and to create open circulation areas beneath. Inclined tubular trusses may be used in a folded plate form to reflect the shape of the roof, as shown in Figure 4.37. Horizontal forces are resisted by ties (refer to Section 7.5). More complex roof trusses can be created which are triangular in cross-section, as in Figure 4.38. The bowstring truss in the sports hall shown in Figure 4.39 used a heavy top chord and vertical posts with light bracing and bottom chord members. The apparent depth of the bowstring truss is reduced by the use of these lightweight components. Connections in trusses and lattice construction 1. Two-dimensional trusses