Graphic truss analysis

Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

Truss examples

Oakland Bay Bridge

Truss joists
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Stadium roof Milan

Airport terminal Hamburg Prismatic trusses provide lateral & rotational stability

Vertical compression bars: thick Diagonal tension bars: thin

Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

Truss concepts
Beam Truss

Replace beams for long spans Replace bulk by triangulation

Triangle is the only stable polygon

Square is an unstable polygon

All other polygons are unstable

Graphic truss analysis Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

Common trusses
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pratt truss Howe truss X-truss K-truss Warren truss Warren truss with vertical bars Fink truss Belgian truss Scissor truss

10 Bowstring truss 11 Bowstring truss (alternate) 12 Bowstring K-truss

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Unique trusses
1 2 Prismatic truss Prismatic truss frame

3 4

Prismatic truss arch Folded truss

5 6

Folded truss frame Folded truss vault

Note: Prismatic and folded trusses resist buckling and rotation

Graphic truss analysis Copyright Prof Schierle 2011 6

Graphic Truss Analysis

1 2 Truss diagram Force polygon for loads and reactions Force polygon for joint ABHG Equilibrium arrows on bars 3 4 5 Truss with tension & compression arrows Equilibrium polygons for left half of truss (right half is equal due to symmetry) Bar force list (+ tension, - compression)

Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

Truss Analysis steps

Draw truss diagram to scale Add tributary joint loads Compute reactions Add letters between loads and reactions Add letters between truss bars Draw load / reactions polygon Draw equilibrium polygon for joints Select joint sequence to limit unknown bar forces (max. 2 per joint) Draw equilibrium arrows on bars Measure bar forces at force scale Define bar tension / compression: arrow pulling from joint = tension (+) arrow pushing joint = compression (-) Record bar forces

Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

Graphic Truss Analysis

1 2 Joint ABHG Joint ABHG equilibrium polygon

3 4

Joint BCJH Joint BCJH equilibrium polygon

5 6
Graphic truss analysis

Joint HJKG Joint HJKG equilibrium polygon

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Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

Parallel chord truss

1 2 3 4 Truss diagram Equilibrium force polygon Bar force table Intuitive analysis Top chord shortens in compression Bottom chord elongates in tension Inward sloping bars elongate in tension Outward sloping bars shorten in compression Vertical bars shorten in compression Note: Diagonal bars in tension are preferred since they are the longest bars and thus would tend to buckle in compression. Buckling increases quadratic with length !!!

Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

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Truss analysis examples

1 2 Warren truss Warren truss equilibrium polygons

3 4

Pratt truss Pratt truss equilibrium polygons

5 6

Braced frame Braced frame equilibrium polygon

Graphic truss analysis

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Wood truss
1 2 3 4 5 A B Truss with gusset plate joints Gusset plate for nails, both sides Gang nail gusset plate Truss with bolt and split ring joints Split ring joint Split ring resists shear stress Bolt

Graphic truss analysis

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Wood truss

Timber truss with steel rods and diagonal wood bars in compression (wood tension joints are difficult)

7 8 9

Truss joist with steel web bars Truss with gusset plates Truss with twin chord and single web bars

Graphic truss analysis

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Steel truss joints

1 2 3 4 5

Truss Twin angles with gusset plate Channels with gusset plate Pipe with gusset plate Welded tube joint

Graphic truss analysis

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Steel truss joints

1 Twin angles with gusset plate

Welded tube joint

Welded pipe joint

Note: Concentric truss joints avoid bending stress Eccentric joints caused collapse in the past
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Steel truss joist

Roof / floor Glass wall supported with truss joists

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Space truss joint Mero The popular Mero joint provides concentric connections for space truss bars in any direction. Mero is an abbreviation of: The first 2 letters of Dr. Meneringhausen, the inventor and the first 2 letters of Rohr, German for pipe. A B C D E F Node Web bar Chord bar Roof support Wall support Joint support

Graphic truss analysis

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trusses are cool

Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

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