LONG SPAN STRUCTURES

THEORY OF STRUCTURES
ASSIGNMENT NO. 2

HARISH KUMAR GUPTA

ROLL NO.- 16032

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Q1)​ ​(a) Explain the type of arches based on its geometric
shape and based on its support type. Give one example of
each.

ANS- Types of arches based on its geometric shape are​:

1. Flat arch​: For flat arch, the intrados is apparently flat and
the extrados is also horizontal and flat. These flat arches
are generally used for light loads, and for spans up to 1.5m.

2. Segmental arch​: In segmental arch, the centre of arch lies

below the springing line. In this type of arch, the thrust
Transferred in inclined direction to the abutment.

3. Semi-circular arch​: In semi-circular arch, the shape of the

arch curve looks like a semi-circle and the thrust
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 transferred to the abutments is in perfectly vertical direction
since the skew back is horizontal. In this type of arch, the
centre of arch lies perfectly on the springing line.

4. Horse-shoe arch​: HorseShoe Arch is in the shape of a

horse shoe which curves more than a semicircle. This is
generally considered for architectural provisions.

5. Pointed arch​: In pointed arch, two arcs of circles are met

at the apex hence a triangle is formed. This may be either
isosceles or equilateral. It is also called a two-centred arch
or gothic arch.
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6. Venetian arch​: Venetian arch is also pointed arch but its
crown is deeper than springing's. It containsfour Centre's,
all located on the springing line.

7. Stilted arch​: It consists of a semi-circular arch with two

vertical portions at the springing. The centre of arch lies on
the horizontal line through the tops of the vertical portions.

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8. Semi-elliptical arch​: This is a type of arch of semi-ellipse
shape and having three or five centres.

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Types of arches based on support type :
1) Fixed Arch: ​Fixed arches are fixed or clamped in both
position and direction.

2) Two-hinged Arch: ​A two hinged arch has hinges at the

supports.

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3) Three-hinged Arch:
Three-hinged arch has an extra hinge provided usually at the or
at high point, also hinges provided at support.

(B) Explain the parts of an arch with a neat sketch.

Ans​- An arch is a structure constructed in curved shape with

wedge shaped units (either bricks or stones), which are joined
together with mortar, and provided at opening to support the
weight of the wall above it along with other superimposed loads.
The following are the different parts of an arch:
● Intrados​: The inner curve of an arch is called intrados.
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● Extrados​: The outer curve of an arch is the extrados.
● Soffit​: The inner surface of an arch is called the soffit.
● Voussoirs​: The wedge-shaped units of masonry which are
forming the arch are called the voussoirs.
● Crown of arch​: The highest part or the peak point of the
extrados is the crown of an arch and the wedge-shaped
unit which is fixed at the crown is called the keystone.
● Spandrel in an arch​: If two arches are constructed side by
side, then a curved triangular space is formed between the
extradoswith the base as a horizontal line through the
crown. This space is called a spandrel.
● Skew Back​: This is an inclined surface or splayed surface
on an abutment, from which arch curve starts or ends.
● Springing line​: The imaginary points which are
responsible for the springing of curve of an arch are called
as springing points and the line joining the springing points
of either ends is called the springing line,
● Springer​: The first voussoir at springing level which is
immediately adjacent to the skewback is called as springer.
● Haunch​: The lower half of the arch between the crown
and skewback is called haunch.
● Abutment of an arch:​ The end support of an arch is
called an abutment.
● Impost​: The projecting course is provided on the upper
part of a pier or abutment to stress the springing line. This
course is called impost.
● Centre of an arch:​ The geometrical point based on which
the arcs forming intrados of arch, extrados of arch and arch
rings are described is the centre or striking point. on Span
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 of an arch: The clear horizontal distance between the
supports or abutments or piers is termed as span of an
arch.
● Rise of an arch​: The clear vertical distance between the
highest point of the extrados of an arch and the springing
line is called a rise.

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Q2)
a) Explain any three types of long span truss which is
suitable for a span of 30m. Draw neat sketches of it.
b) Case Study of an arch roof truss and give details of it.
c) Case Study of a bridge steel truss and give details of it.

ANS- a)​ Types of Long Span Truss is as follows​:

Pratt Truss​:
● Pratt trusses are commonly used in long span buildings
ranging from 20 to 75m in span. In a conventional pratt
truss, diagonal members are in tension for gravity loads.
● This type of truss is used where gravity loads are
predominant. An alternative Pratt truss is shown where the
diagonal members are in tension for uplift loads.
● This type of truss is used where uplift loads are
predominant, which may be the case in open buildings
such as Aircraft Hangers.

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Warren Truss:
● In this type of truss, diagonal members are alternatively in
tension and in compression.
● The Warren Truss has equal length compression and
tension web members, and fewer members than Pratt
Truss.
● Warren Trusses are commonly used in long span buildings
ranging from 20 to 100m in span.
● This type of truss is also used for the horizontal truss of
gantry / crane girders.

North light trusses​:

● North light trusses are used for 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 solar gain.
● On the steeper sloping portion of the truss, it is typical to
have a truss running perpendicular to the plane of the
north-light truss, to provide large column-free spaces.

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b) Case Study of an arch roof truss and give details of it​.

Jet Aviation (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd Facility

Hangar floor area of ​5,000m
Annex Building (offices, workshops) = ​4,000m
External Works (aprons, car parking, landscaping) = ​18,500m

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 ​ onfiguration
C
In the most fundamental configuration, a typical Stressed Arch
building comprises a series of structural steel “stressedarch”
frames spanning in one direction and inter-connected via struts,
bracing, purlins and girts, over which profiled metal sheeting is
installed, as shown in Fig. below.
Variations on this configuration are possible but will not be
discussed in this paper. The Stressed Arch building is
constructed close to ground level (the assembled position) and
then stress-erected into the final shape (the erected
configuration) via prestressing strands located in the bottom
chord of each frame.

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Typical Stressed Arch Frame Details

Construction Procedure

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Stress-Erection ​The building was stressed utilising 4 of the 6
number φ15.2mm 7- wire low relaxation strands in each frame.
The strand has an ultimate load capacity of 250kN.
Prestressing jacks used were single strand jacks.

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c) Case Study of a bridge steel truss and give details of it.

The Memorial Bridge

The Memorial Bridge is a first-of-its kind structure that features
an innovative and highly-efficient structural design. The bridge
crosses the Piscataqua River between Kittery, Maine, and
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and consists of three spans of
300 ft. (91 m) each, with the center span being a movable lift
span.

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Design Approach​:
Traditional bridge designs incorporate large gusset plates at the
truss nodes to connect the various chord and web elements.
The Memorial project broke with tradition, however, in
employing a first ever “gusset-less” design that utilizes flanges
which transition smoothly from chord to web elements to
provide an aesthetically-pleasing and streamlined appearance
while avoiding gusset plates that would normally act as the
primary sites for the initiation and propagation of corrosion and
potential structural failure.
Another innovative approach was the use of metallization
instead of a three-coat paint system. The New Memorial Bridge
was the first design-build project for the State of New
Hampshire as well as the first bridge to receive a metalized
coating.
This technique extends the service life of the bridge and
reduces maintenance costs.

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Results:
1. By eliminating gusset plates and using rolled section
diagonals, major advantages were: Every connection for
the truss (both diagonals and chords) could be made as a
conventional splice with bolts in double shear.
2. This results in a 50% reduction in bolts, and combined with
interim supports at every panel point allows for extremely
rapid field erection, with cycle times of five to six weeks.
3. The more complex chord fabrication was simplified by
using uniform thickness flanges bent to a constant radius,
enhancing the repetitiveness of the process.
4. The resulting truss system is more robust as diagonal
damage/loss can be redistributed through the system.
Q3) Explain difference between Truss analysis and
Truss analysis

Truss analysis Portal Frame analysis

Long spans possible in this
type of truss.
Trusses can carry heavy
loads.
It has modest deflections.
It is comparatively more
expensive than a portal frame. design.
Generally bracing is used for
in plane stability.
Span ranges from 15m-50m
Members and haunches may
be optimised for efficiency.
It is designed to be stable in
plane.
Software required for efficient
It is limited to relatively light
vertical loading and modest
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cranes to avoid excessive
deflections.

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Q4 Draw Sketching for any portal frame structure (plan size
40x60 Meter)

ISOMETRIC VIEW

SECTION
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Q-5-Explain Vector active systems with example (Beam
,frame and Slabs)

Vector active systems:

These are systems of short, solid, straight linear members, in
which the redirection of forces is affected by multidirectional
spitting of a single force simply to tension or compression
elements​.

Flat Trusses

Flat trusses, known as parallel-chord or girders, are used to 

construct flat roofs. Pitched, or common, trusses are used to 
build sloped-roof structures. Hip, gambrel or bowstring designs 
are popular examples of common trusses. Identification • All 
types of trusses have the same basic components and 
structure. 

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Curved Truss:  
A truss having an arch like form but unlike a true arch in that it 
is free to move horizontally at its base, as in expanding or 
contracting because of temperature changes. 

 
 
 
Space Trusses: 

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It is a system which utilizes three dimensional truss to resist 
lateral force. Unlike normal truss, in which horizontal, vertical 
and diagonal members work together on a single plane, a space 
truss uses diagonal connections which branch outside of the 
plane. A space truss usually looks like several interlocking 
pyramidal outlines. 

 
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