INTRODUCTION

A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is

composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements forming
triangular units. The connected elements (typically straight) may be
stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to
dynamic loads. A truss bridge is economically cheap to construct
because of its material efficiency. Basic bridge trusses are Pratt truss,
Pegram truss, Warren truss, Baltimore truss, and Pennsylvania truss.
Bridge trusses are typically made out of timber, iron, steel, reinforced
concrete or pre-stressed concrete. Accordings to Newtons Law of
Motion, trusses are assumed to b pin jointed where the straight
components meet which means, the members of truss will only act in
tension or compression.

Common types of truss bridges

1. Pratt Truss
a truss having vertical members between the upper and
lower members and diagonal members sloping toward the
center. Pratt truss is just the opposite of the Howe truss. The
pratt truss is efficient because of the longer diagonal
members are in tension whereas the shorter vertical
members are in compression. Pratt truss is commonly used
in railway bridges.
2. Warren Truss (used in this project )
A truss consists of longitudinal members joined by angled
cross members so that it will form alternatively inverted
equilateral triangle-shaped spaces along its length. Warren
truss are used in bridges and aircraft design
3. Baltimore Truss
This truss has additional bracing, located in the lower section
of the truss to prevent buckling in the compression
members and to control deflection. Commonly used for train
bridges.
4. Pegram Truss
Pegram truss is the hybrids truss between Warren and
Parker trusses. In this truss, the upper chords are all in equal
lengths and the lower chords are longer than the
corresponding upper chords.
5. Pennsylvania Truss
Is a variation of Pratt truss. Examples of this type of truss
designs are Schell bridge, Inclined plane bridge, and the
Healdsburg memorial bridge.

REASONS FOR CHOOSING PRATT

TRUSS
Pratt Truss
Pratt truss is characterized by having its diagonal members (except the end
diagonals) slanted down towards the middle of the bridge span. Under such
structural arrangement, when subject to external loads tension is induced in
diagonal members while the vertical members tackle compressive forces.
Hence, thinner and lighter steel or iron can be used as materials for diagonal
members so that a more efficient structure can be enhanced..

Uniqueness of Pratt Truss

The Pratt truss is one of several different types of truss bridge designs out there. Said to
be the oldest type of modern bridge, the truss is simple and lends itself well to analysis.
This type of bridge is typically constructed for the use of pedestrians, cars, trucks,
bridges, trains, and pipelines.

Here is what a Pratt truss diagram looks like:

Pratt Truss Advantages

As seen in the image above, the design of Pratt truss bridges combines diagonal
and vertical beams into a web, leading to a fairly light yet very strong structure.
The diagonal and vertical beams are subject to tension and compressive forces,

respectively. It is the tension force that eliminates the risk for buckling, in turn
allowing for thinner diagonal beams, resulting in reduced material costs.