Plane Truss

A truss is an assemblage of straight members

connected at their ends by flexible connections to form a
rigid configuration. Because of their light weight and high
strength, trusses are widely used, and their applications
range from supporting bridges and roofs of buildings to being
support structures in space stations. When members of a
truss lie in a single plane, the truss is called a plane truss.

All members of a truss are assumed to be two-force

members. Each member of a truss is normally straight link
joining two points of application of force, thus the members
are axially loaded and the nature of load is either tension or
compression.
Plane Truss

Truss Assumptions
1. The members are joint together at their ends by
frictionless pins.
2. The loads and reactions are applied only at the joints.
3. The individual members of the truss are straight.
Plane Truss

Tree bars joined by pins at their Four or more bars joined by

ends. pins at their ends.
(rigid frame) (non-rigid frame)
Type of Trusses

Kingpost

Howe Truss
Type of Trusses

Pratt Truss

Fink Truss
Type of Trusses

Warren Truss

Scissor Truss
Type of Trusses

Bowstring Truss
Truss Components:

Top Chord
Joints (nodes)

Web

Kingpost
Pitch
Run
Rise

Bottom
Chord
Roof and Truss Analysis

Steps:
1. Calculation of loads
2. Structural Analysis
Loads on Roof Truss
1. Dead Load –Consist of the truss self weight, roofing
materials, purlins, ceiling and other permanent structure
and components attached to the truss.
2. Live Load – Construction Live Load
3. Wind Load
Roof and Truss Analysis

1. For Dead Load:

a. Weight of truss – one half of the total weight will be
distributed proportionally to the top chord and the other
half to the bottom chord.
b. Roofing Load – Computed per roofing area.
c. Purlin Load – Total weight per panel.
d. Ceiling Load – Computed per ceiling area.
2. For Live Load – Computed per horizontal projection of the
roofing area.
3. Wind Load – Computed per roofing area and directed
normal to the top chord.
Roof and Truss Analysis
D

Example:
B F
3m

A H
C E G
4 Panels @ 2.0m = 8.0m
Truss Spacing = 3.0m
Roof and Truss Analysis

Example:
For the truss shown, compute the loads using the following
data.
1. Dead Load
a. Truss self weight – 4 kN
b. Roofing (Corrugated G.I. sheet) – 0.05 kN/m2
c. Purlins Wp– 0.04 kN spaced @ 1m O.C.
d. Ceiling – 0.1 kN/m2
2. Live Load – 0.6 kN/m2
3. Wind Load (Normal Wind Pressure)
a. Windward side Pn = 0.403 kN/m2
b. Leeward Side Pn = -0.718 kN/m2
Roof and Truss Analysis

1. Dead Load
a. Truss self weight, = = 0.5
( )( )

b. Roofing, = 0.05 2.5 3 = 0.375

Roof and Truss Analysis

c. Purlins, No. pf Purlins, n = +1 = +1 =6

( ) 6(0.04)
= = = 0.06
. 4
Roof and Truss Analysis

D. Ceiling
@ = 0.10(2.0)(3.0) = 0.6
@ Joint B : P = Pwt + PRL + PPL = 0.5+0.375+0.06 = 0.935
@ Joint E : P = 0.6+0.5=1.1 kN @ Joint C: P = 1.1(1.5) = 1.65KN
0.935 kN

0.935 kN 0.935 kN

0.468 kN D 0.468 kN
B F

A H
C E G

1.65 kN 1.1 kN 1.65 kN

Roof and Truss Analysis

2. Live Load
= 0.6(2.0)(3.0) = 3.6

3.6 kN

3.6 kN 3.6 kN

1.8 kN D 1.8 kN
B F

A H
C E G
Roof and Truss Analysis

2. Wind Load
= 0.403(3.0)(2.5) = 3.02 = 0.718(3.0)(2.5) = 5.39

B F

A H
C E G
Zero-Force Member

• If two members meet at an • If three members meet at an

unloaded joint, then both unloaded joint of which the
members are zero force two members are collinear ,
members. then the third member is a
zero-force member
0

0 0 0

0
Zero-Force Member

0 0 0
0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0
Truss Analysis

1. Method of Joints
a. Long Method
b. Short –cut method
Rules for method of joints
1. Take a joint with no more than two unknowns.
2. Make a free body diagram of the joint indicating bar
forces, then do the summation of forces vertical and
horizontal.

Note: If you do not know the nature of the forces always

assume that the forces are in tension.
Truss Analysis

2. Method of Sections
Principle:
1. A cutting plane pass through a certain part of a truss,
then a FBD is made. In the FBD, all bars are assumed to
be in tension.
2. In cutting for a section of a truss, no more than three(3)
bars shall be cut, except
a. When all the bars are concurrent except for one.
b. When all bars that act are parallel except for one.
 Example #1
Determine the forces in each member of =0 = +
the plane truss shown. = 4 + 2.5 36.87°
4 kN D =
θ
FDB
FDA At joint C
FDC
=0 =
1.5m
FAD FCD
A B =0 = = .
θ θ
Ah
FAC 2m FCA C FCB 2m FBC
At joint B
6 kN
Av Bv =0

1.5 =
= 0 4 1.5 + 6 2 = (4) = = 36.87° .
2 = = 7.5 kN Compression
= 4.5 . °

=0 At joint A
+ =6
= 1.5 =0

=0 =4 =
.
= . °
= 2.5 kN Compression
 Example #2
Determine the forces at member AH, AB, At joint A
JK and DK due to the three vertical forces
=0
acting on the Howe truss shown.
8kN =

3 = .
10kN J = = 26.57°
6
=0
4kN I K =
= 31.3 26.57° = .
3m

H L
FAH
FAH cosθA
A θA θA G
FAB B C D E F
FAH sinθA
6 @ 2m = 12m
Av Gv

=0 =0

12 = 8 6 + 10 8 + 4(10) 14 + = 8 + 10 + 4
= 14 =8
 Example #2
θA
J FJK cosθA =0
= 26.57°
FJK K = 45° (6) = 0
FJK sinθA
=
3m

0 L
2m
0
θD FDK 0 0 FJK
θA G
FDK cosθD D FDE Zero Force Member:
2m E F FDE
FDK sinθD θ FJK
Gv = 8 kN
Gv
=0 θA
(3) = (6) FDE
= = 8/
3 (26.57)
= . = .
 Example #3
The cantilever truss shown is subjected to =0
four forces normal to its top chord.
Determine the forces in member AF, AB 1 +1 2 + 0.5(3 ) = (ℎ)
and GF. =3

Gv =0

30° − − 3 sin 30° = 0

Gh 3 − 3 sin 30° =
G = 1.50
F
=0
h
E − 3 cos 30° = 0
= 2.60
Ah 30°

A B C D

3 @ 1.5m = 4.5m

ℎ = 4.5 30° = 2.60

1.5
cos 30° =
= 1.73
 Example #3 Using Method of joints
The cantilever truss shown is subjected to At joint G
four forces normal to its top chord.
Determine the forces in member AF, AB =0
and GF. cos 30° − 0.5 sin 30° − =0

Gv=2.6 = .

=0
30°
Gh=1.5 G 2.6 − − 2.02 30° − 0.5 30°
30° = 1.16
F
h FGA At joint A
FAG E ℎ = 3 tan 30° = 1.73
h1 ℎ
= ; = 49.07°
Ah=3 θA 1.5
30°

A FAB B C =0
D
− 49.07° = 0
3 @ 1.5m = 4.5m = .

=0
3− − 1.53 cos 49.07° = 0
= .
 FGF sin30
Example #3 G G
FGF cos30 F
Using Method of Section
Gv E

1.73
30°
FAF sin49.07
30°
Gh
G A FAB B C D
F FAF cos49.07

h 3 @ 1.5m = 4.5m
E
=0

Ah 30° (2.6) 30° = 1 30° 1.5 + 1 30° 3 +

0.5 30° 4.5 − 1 sin 30 1.73 − 1( 30)(0.87)
A B C D
= .

3 @ 1.5m = 4.5m =0
= .
(4.5) 49.07° = 1 2 +1
= .
= .
= .
=0
1.73 = 1 + 0.5(2 )
= .