A truss is essentially a triangulated system of (usually) straight

interconnected structural elements; it is sometimes also referred to as an

open web girder. The individual elements are connected at nodes; the
connections are often assumed to be nominally pinned

The principal force in each element in a truss is axial tension or

compression.
Members under axial forces in a simple truss
1 - Compression axial force
2 - Tension axial force

The main reasons for using trusses are:

 Long span
 Lightweight
 Reduced deflection (compared to plain members)
 Opportunity to support considerable loads.

Use of trusses in buildings

Trusses are used in a broad range of buildings, mainly where there is a
requirement for very long spans, such as in airport terminals, aircraft
hangers, sports stadia roofs, auditoriums and other leisure buildings. Trusses
are also used to carry heavy loads and are sometimes used as transfer
structures. This article focuses on typical single storey industrial buildings,
where trusses are widely used to serve two main functions:
 To carry the roof load
 To provide horizontal stability.
 Two types of general arrangement of the structure of a typical single storey
building are shown in the figure below.

Building braced in both directions.

Lateral stability provided by portal trusses. Lateral stability provided by longitudinal wind
girder and vertical bracings in the gables
Longitudinal stability provided by transverse (blue)
wind girder and vertical cross bracings (blue) Longitudinal stability provided by transverse
No longitudinal wind girder. wind girder and vertical bracings (green)
Typical truss building arrangements
In the first case (left) the lateral stability of the structure is provided by a
series of portal trusses; the connections between the truss and the columns
provide resistance to a global bending moment

In the second case, (right) each truss and the two columns between which it
spans, constitute a simple structure; the connection between the truss and a
column does not resist the global bending momen
Types of trusses
Trusses comprise assemblies of tension and compression elements. Under
gravity loads,. Some of the commonly used types are shown below.
 A Pratt truss – University of Manches Modified Warren trusses

Types of truss member sections

Bolted angles to form lightweight, long-span trusses

(Image courtesy of Metsec plc)
For all

Typical joints in welded building roof trusses

Key
Thick black dashes - two
consecutive trusses

Blue - The purlin which

completes the bracing in the
upper region
Green - The longitudinal
element which closes the
bracing in the lower region
Red - Vertical roof bracing
Lateral bracing
Modelling

Fastrak truss structure model

(Fastrak model courtesy of Trimble)

For trusses, two analysis models are commonly used, either:

 Continuous chords with pinned internals, or
 Pinned joints throughout the truss.

Tubular trusses as an aestetic feature in a single storey building

Connections
.

Typical joints for Vierendeel trusses

Difference between a frame and truss in civil engineering

Truss structure is designed to support huge loads in comparison to its

weight. In a truss, the joints are of pin type and consists of 2 force members
(tensile and compression - axial forces). Here the the members are free to
rotate about the pin.

A frame is a structure in which at least one of its individual member is a

multi-force member.
The members of frames are connected rigidly at joints by means of welding
and bolting. The joints can transfer moments in addition to the axial loads.
In a plane frame all the moments are perpendicular to a single plane
Frames can be of 2 types - rigid noncollapsible and nonrigid collapsible
frames.
 Trusses frames

 Joints are considered as having  In rigid frames, the members are

friction less pins in trusses with no rigidly connected having appreciable

moments at the member ends. moments at the member ends.

 The forces in trusses are only axial.  Due to bending moments, the fibers

Due to this members are equally away from the neutral axis have

stressed throughout their cross- maximum stresses and fibers close to

section. the neutral axis have less stress.

 The design of rigid frame member is

 The design of a member in case of a
less economical as compared to
truss is economical.
trusses.