Graphic truss analysis

Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

Truss examples

Oakland Bay Bridge

Truss joists
Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

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

Graphic truss analysis

Beam

Replace beams for long spans

Truss

Replace bulk by triangulation

Triangle is the only stable polygon

Square is an unstable polygon

All other polygons are unstable

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

Common trusses
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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
Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

Unique trusses
1

Prismatic truss

Prismatic truss frame

Prismatic truss arch

Folded truss

Folded truss frame

Folded truss vault

Note:
Prismatic and folded trusses
resist buckling and rotation
Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

Graphic Truss Analysis

1

Truss diagram

Force polygon for loads and reactions

Force polygon for joint ABHG
Equilibrium arrows on bars

Truss with tension & compression arrows

Equilibrium polygons for left half of truss

(right half is equal due to symmetry)

Graphic truss analysis

Bar force list (+ tension, - compression)

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

Truss Analysis steps

Graphic truss analysis

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

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

Graphic Truss Analysis

Graphic truss analysis

Joint ABHG

Joint ABHG equilibrium polygon

Joint BCJH

Joint BCJH equilibrium polygon

Joint HJKG

Joint HJKG equilibrium polygon

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

Graphic truss analysis

Warren truss

Warren truss equilibrium polygons

Pratt truss

Pratt truss equilibrium polygons

Braced frame

Braced frame equilibrium polygon

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

11

Wood truss

Graphic truss analysis

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

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12

Wood truss

Timber truss with steel rods and

diagonal wood bars in compression
(wood tension joints are difficult)

Graphic truss analysis

Truss joist with steel web bars

Truss with gusset plates

Truss with twin chord and single

web bars

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13

Steel truss joints

Graphic truss analysis

Truss

Twin angles with gusset plate

Channels with gusset plate

Pipe with gusset plate

Welded tube joint

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14

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
Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

15

Steel truss joist

Glass wall supported with truss joists

Roof / floor

Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

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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

Graphic truss analysis

Node
Web bar
Chord bar
Roof support
Wall support
Joint support

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

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trusses are cool

Graphic truss analysis

Copyright Prof Schierle 2011

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