Introduction :

• A framework, typically consisting of rafters,

posts, and struts, supporting a roof, bridge, or
other structure is known as truss.
• The main reasons for using trusses are: Long
span, Lightweight, Reduced deflection
(compared to plain members), Opportunity to
support considerable loads.
• Truss is assembled in such a way that forces are
applied only on the ends.
• The members are connected with a gusset joint
that is either riveted, bolted or welded in such a
 Component parts of trusses :
Purlin : A horizontal beam along the length of a roof, resting
on principal rafter and supporting the common rafters or
boards.
Principal Rafter : one of the upper diagonal members of a
roof truss supporting the purlins and common rafters or
those joints to which the roof boarding is secured.
Common Rafter : A rafter having no function other than to
bear roofing.
Ridge Board : The horizontal timber or member at the top
of a roof, to which the upper ends of the rafters are
fastened.
Strut : Provided to resist longitudinal compression.
 Types of Trusses :

There are variety of trusses available

depending on the requirement including
span length and loading condition.

Basically two types of trusses exists :-

a) Bridge Truss
b) Roof Truss
a)Bridge Truss :

1. Pratt Truss -
• A Pratt Truss has been used over the past
two centuries as an effective truss method.
• The vertical members are in compression,
whilst the diagonal members are in tension.
• This has a few effects - it reduces the cost
of the structure due to more efficient
members, reduces the self weight and
eases the constructability of the structure.
• This type of truss is most appropriate for
horizontal spans, where the force is
predominantly in the vertical direction.
Pratt Truss
Advantages:
• Aware of member's behavior - diagonal members are in tension, vertical
members in compression
• The above can be used to design a cost effective structure
• Simple design
• Well accepted and used design

Disadvantages:
• Not as advantageous if the load is not vertical

Applications:
• Where a cost effective design is required
• Where a mix of loads are applied
• Where a simple structure is required
2. Warren Truss
• The Warren Truss is another very popular truss structure and
is easily identified by its construction from isosceles triangles.
• One of the main advantages of a Warren Truss is its ability to
spread the load evenly across a number of different
members; this is however generally for cases when the
structure is undergoing a spanned load (a distributed load)
• It's main advantage is also the cause of it's disadvantage -
the truss structure will undergo concentrated force under a
point load.
• Under these concentrated load scenarios, the structure is not
as good at distributing the load evenly across its members.
• Therefore the Warren truss type is more advantageous for
spanned loads, but not suitable where the load is
concentrated at a single point or node.
Advantages:
• Spreads load fairly evenly between members
• Fairly simple design

Disadvantages:
• Poorer performance under concentrated loads
• Increased constructability due to additional members

Applications:
• Long span structures
• Where an evenly distributed load is to be supported
• Where a simple structure is required
3. Howe bridge Truss
• It includes vertical members and diagonals that slope
up towards the center.
• Has diagonal members that slant away from the middle.
• Howe truss were designed a long time ago when
bridges needed to fill a specific role, and for the
particular resources that people had available. 
• The Howe truss design used a lot of wood as opposed to
the Pratt which used more iron.
• This made the Howe popular earlier on when iron was
expensive to produce.
Howe Bridge Truss
 Advantage:
• The advantages of truss bridges is that it is
economical, light, strong and uses short timbers.
• Greater strength with less material.
• Easier to repair and maintain.

Disadvantage:
• Disadvantage can be wasted material if not
designed properly.
• Longer build time, more complex construction.
4. Bailey Bridge Truss
• It is designed for military use, the prefabricated and
standardized truss elements may be easily
combined in various configurations to adapt to the
needs.
• The military utilizes the Bailey design, which is
easily disassembled and portable.
• Most of the design has vertical members attaching
to horizontal members as well as diagonal braces
located between the vertical members.
Bailey Truss
Advantages:
• A Bailey bridge had the advantages of requiring no
special tools or heavy equipment to assemble.
• The wood and steel bridge elements were small and
light enough to be carried in trucks and lifted into place
by hand, without requiring the use of a crane.
• The bridges were strong enough to carry tanks.
• Bailey bridges continue to be extensively used in civil
engineering construction projects and to provide
temporary crossings for foot and vehicle traffic
 Roof Truss :

1.King Post Truss :

• If span length is in the range of 5 to 8
meter, then king post trusses are used.
• The trusses are spaced not more than 3m
c/c.
• A vertical post is provided in the center that
is called the king post.
• A king post extends vertically from a
crossbeam to the apex of a triangular truss.
• It connects the apex of the truss with its
base, holding up the beam (in tension) at
the base of the truss.
2. Queen Post Truss
• If the span length is in between 8 to 12 meter then
queen post trusses are used.
• Two vertical posts are provided in 2 sides at a
distance which are termed as queen posts.
• Straining beam and straining seal is used to keep
the queen posts in exact position.
• Queen post is a tension member in a truss that can
span longer openings than a king post truss.
• A queen-post bridge has two uprights, placed about
one-third of the way from each end of the truss. 
• The central square between the two verticals was
either unbraced on shorter spans, or had diagonal
3. Fink Roof Truss
• They are used for longer spans having high pitch
roof, since the web members in such truss are sub-
divided to obtain shorter members.
• A Fink truss is the most commonly used type of
residential construction truss. 
• It is composed of several boards or steel bars that
connect together to form an intersection at the top
angle of the roof. 
• These trusses provide support for the rafters and
give the roof its rigidity.
•  A Fink truss is the perfect solution for many
architectural designs and allows for several
different types of rooflines, while providing the
4. Howe Roof Truss
• It is a roof truss with vertical web members to take
tension forces and with angled braces to take
compression.
• The converse of the Pratt truss is the Howe truss.
• The Howe truss can be advantageous for very
lightly loaded roofs in which reversal of load due to
wind will occur.
• In addition the tension chord is more heavily
loaded than the compression chord at mid-span
under normal vertical loading.
• The Howe truss offers greater economy in terms of
steel weight for long-span high-pitched roofs as
the members are subdivided into shorter
5. Warren Roof Truss
• Warren truss is a kind of design that is used
in different types of construction for
supporting a load.
• In warren roof truss diagonal members are
alternatively in tension and compression are
used in a building ranging from 20-100 m in
length.
• The unique design of a Warren truss
structure ensures that no strut, beam or tie
bends or withstands torsional straining forces
but is only subject to tension or compression.
• The use of the Warren truss design is common
 Advantages -

• There is less material required for the construction of a

Warren truss bridge.
• There is less blockage of view.
• The constituents of a Warren truss bridge can be
assembled piece wise.

Disadvantages –
• The maintenance of the joints and fittings of a Warren
truss bridge could be expensive
• The calculations to determine the load-bearing
capacity of a Warren truss bridge can be hassling.
• There could be too much deflection for long spans