I.

APPLICATION SCOPE, FEATURES

Long span building has the span over 40m
Chapter 4: 1. Application scope

Long Span Steel Structures  Civil: Theaters, exhibition buildings, swimming

centers, sport arenas, railway stations, supermarket...

Instructor: CUONG NGO-HUU  Industrial: Shipyard, airplane hangars...

2. Features
 Unique, high functioning and architectural
requirements
 Mainly resist self-weight of structures and roof
sheeting
3

CONTENTS Long span structure types

I . Application scope, Features  Planar structures
Girder type
II . Planar Structures 

 Truss type
1. Girder and truss types
 Frame type
2. Frame type
3. Arch type  Arch type

II I. Space Structures  Space structures

1. Concept  Space truss structures

2. Flat space grid system  Shell structures

3. Dome-shaped system  Cable structures
4. Cable structures 2 4

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 II. PLANAR STRUCTURES Roof of ice skating rink (Europe, 1969)

19,0 m
 Girder and truss types  

 h = 1,78 m

35,0 m
73,0 m
 Frame type   

19,0 m
9,05 m 9 x 9,1 m = 81,9 m 9,05 m
100,0 m

 Arch type  Box 0,7 x 4,3 m

 L = 12,0 m
5

1. Girder and truss types 1. Girder and truss types

 Including the main structure of girders or trusses in  Truss type
lateral direction (span direction) connected with RC  More popular than girder type
or steel columns by hinge connections or supported
by simple supports which cannot resist the lateral  The statically determinate or indeterminate
structures
forces such as brick or stone walls. Commonly
used for buildings with rectangular plan.  Truss shape is dependant to :
Usage requirement
Girder type


 Architecture requirement (aesthetic form, ventilation,
 Comonly in I-shape or box built-up sections lighting, drainage…)
 Span about 35 - 40 m  Connecting method to the column, lateral stiffness
 Not popular because of heavy and metal costly
Economic requirement (material saving, ease in
 Advantages: Simple fabrication, ease in mainternace 

fabrication and erection)

(painting), the girder structures in some buildings shows
the structural beauty. 6 8

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 i. Triangular truss
 For roof with large slope: 1/ 5 – 1/ 7  mid-length
height
 Can be composed of 2 halfs connected by tension
member  reducing the transportation height; used
for building span of 40–50 m
 Parallel chord truss with tension and vertical
suspension members used for span up to 90 m and
light loading. Mid-length height of L/ 6 – L/ 10 and
chord spacing of L/ 12 - L/ 20
9 11
ii. Trapezoidal truss
 Used for not large roof slope: 1/ 12 – 1/ 15
 Mid-length height: L/ 8 – L/ 12
 Can be normal or symmetric trapezoidal truss
10
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iii. Parallel chord truss
 Used for small-slope roof, span up to 60 m
 Simple truss with height of L/ 8 – L/ 14
 Continuous truss with height reduced from 15
đến 20% compared to simple truss
 The same nodal detailing, same-length web
members  simple fabrication  widely use
iv. Curved shape truss
 Use for 60 – 100 m span
 If the top chord has the parabolic shape and the truss is
subjected to even distributed load, the internal forces in
the chords are almost constant, and those in the web
members are small
 Curved shape truss with chords in parabolic shape has
identical sections for the chords, the stability is increasing
due to low center of gravity
 Disadvantages: Difficult for fabrication and roof work 
using the polygonal shape
12
 v. Polygonal truss Configuration for web members
 60 - 90 m span  Triangular web members
 Top chord in polyline shape will save material  Usually add the vertical web members
but be difficult for fabrication  The first diagonal member can go up (popular) or
go down
 Reasonable angle between the diagonal web
members and the chords about 450 to 550
 Disadvantage: Some long members under
compression

13 15

Configuration for web members Configuration for web members

 Selection based on:  One-sided diagonal web member system
combined with vertical members:
Truss shape
Setting for long diagonal members subjected to



tension and shorter vertical ones subjected to

 Applied load compression
 Reasonable angle between the diagonal web
How other structures connect to the truss
members and the chords about 350 to 450


 Selection for minimum self-weight and

fabrication cost Pratt truss

14 16

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 Configuration for web members Example
 Divided web system
 In order to reduce the in-plane effective length of diagonal
and top chord members
 Increasing fabrication cost but reduced self-weight

1. Delta truss
2. Tension cable
 For curved shape truss 3. RC panel
 Not large internal forces in the web members  should use 4. Glass window
cross web members for tension only in order to save the
material in comparison with the triangular web system

17

Scheme of truss structural system Plan

 Common system:
 Truss supported by columns (max bay length of
12 m), supports roof panels or purlins
 Use for medium span
 Simple details
40 m 70 m
 Needs the vertical and horizontal bracing systems
to ensure the roof stability
 Complicated system:
 Main truss with span of 70 – 80 m in lateral
direction with truss spacing of 18 – 36 m, 9m 30 m
intermediate trusses are located btw. two main
trusses in the longitudinal direction 18 20

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 Truss deflection
 For large span truss, the deflection limitation
for static and live loads is [ ] = L/ 250
 To reduce the truss deflection, the
construction camber is designed with
deflection of full static load and half of live
load. Then, deflection check is not necessary.
21
Section of truss members
 Selection for the minimum number of members, easy in nodal
fabrication and in connection with other structural system
 Section depth not over 1/ 8 to 1/10 member length in order to
reduce the additional stress due to the connection rigidity
 If the internal forces in the chord is significantly varied, chord
section should be changed, try to change at the construction
joint. If not, the larger section should be lengthened through
the node in 250 mm
 When truss section is changed, the eccentricity is not over 1,5%
section depth for H-shape section, cross section and T-shape,
not over 4% for I-shape and closed section. If the eccentricity is
too large, it should be included in calculation
 With 50 – 60m span, light loading, one web member should be
used, with larger span and loading, double web members
should be used
23

Truss section Truss section types

 Planar

 Rectangular

 Delta

22 24

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 2. Frame type Solid section frame (beam type)
 To use for the building with 40 – 150 m span  For 50 – 60 m span
 Should be designed so as the rigidity unit of the column (I c/ Hc) is
approximate that of the girder (I x/ Lx)  frame action  reducing  hx = L/ 30 – L/ 40
bending moment in girder under gravity load
 Can be detailed as lattice section frame or solid section one
 Advantages: Reduce fabrication cost and
 Advantages in comparison with girder and truss structure:
building height
 Lighter self-weight  Be usually designed as two-hinged frame; the
 Large rigidity underground tension bars between two base
 Small girder depth hinges can be used to reduce the lateral
 Disadvantages: forces to the foundation.
 High column section depth affects to building space
 Be affected by foundation settlement and temperature changes

25 27

Lattice section frame Hinge support for large span girder/truss & frame

 Use for 100 – 150 m span  Under large reaction, can be several hundred
tons
 hx = L/ 12 – L/ 20
bụng
 The change in slope of the deflection curve
 Frame types: (due to rafter deflection or temperature
 Two hinge frame (L= 60–120m): change) can be affected to the support
performance
 Base hinge: Large lateral displacement
 Top column hinge: Simple for erection
but large bending moment in girder

 No hinge frame (L= 120–150m):

strong foundation needed, reducing
the bending moment at girder  Including 2 types: fixed hinge and roller
midlength due to bending moment
at support 26

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 Hinge support for large span girder/truss & frame Structural scheme
 Girder/ Truss with span up to 40 m: Type a)

1 – 3-hinged arch
2 – 2-hinged arch
a) b) c) 3 – fixed arch

 Larger span structure: Type b)

 Fixed hinge: Type c)

1 2 3

31

3. Arch type Three-hinged arch

 Rational for building with spans exceeding 60 - 80 m  Greatest moment at 1/ 4 span  the heaviest system
 Under mainly compression with insignificant moment  Statically determinate system  not affected by
therefore the material is saved in comparison with
support settlement and temperature change
beam and frame structure
 In comparison with frame, the arch occupies more  Light foundation  appropriate for weak soil zone
space, having the “dead” space near the support  Peak hinge causes difficulty in arch and roof details
 Larger deformation than the frame with equivalent
space due to smaller rigidity unit  the arch has not
used for building under large dynamic and lateral loads

30 32

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 Two-hinged arch
 Moments distributed rather uniformly  to be
designed with parallel chords  rational for
fabrication
 Hinged support  arch can be defomable  not
sensitive for support settlement and temperature
change
 Popular application
33
Fixed arch
 Mid-span moment is minimal; though moments at
supports are large, it causes a little large weight for
the arch  lightest weight
 Need heavy foundation to resist support moments 
can increase the construction cost
 affected by support settlement and temperature
change
34
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Detailed features
 Arch axis:
 When the main load applied to arch is uniform and
symetric  parabolic shape
 In reality, for simple design and fabrication  circular
segment or polyline (if not affected to architecture)
 Arch support location:
 When the arch is supported by frame, the frame is
under lateral load and used as functioned rooms.
 Weh the arch is supported by ground foundation, the
space nearby the arch support cannot be used 
vertical line axis nearby the arch support  arch works
as frame with minimal material
35
Detailed features
 When the arch supports connected with the
foundation by hinges, the underground
tension bar should be used for horizontal
reactions, then the foundation is under
gravity forces only
 Main parameters of the arch is the span L
and the rise f. The rise f depends on the
technical, architectural or economical
requirements.
 Most advantageous ratios f/L = 1/ 4 - 1/ 6
 When f increases: axial forces reduce and
moments increases
 Architectural requirement f/L = 1/ 2 - 1/ 5 36
 Detailed features Lattice arch structure
 In section type:
 Solid one ( 60 m):
a)  Small span Lattice truss purlin
Supporting roof and ensure the arch stability

 Arch section depth: L/ 50 - L/ 80

 Can be in I-shape welded built-up section

b)
 Lattice one (60  150 m):
 Arch section depth: L/ 30 - L/ 60
 Common parallel chords. For large span, the segment
near the support is linear
c)  The web system can be triangular with the vertical (a,b)
or the triangular (c). The vertical may be perpendicular
to the chord or in vertical direction For easy transportation, the arch is divided into segments of 6 - 9 m
37 39

Illustration: Arch types Example: Hangar 1

 Span : 100 m
 Length : 60 m
 Arch spacing : 12 m
 Aluminium roof sheet with 12m-span.
a. Solid arch

38 40
b. Lactice arch

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 Example: Hangar 2 Calculation
 Internal forces acting along the arch axis:
Mx= M0-Hy; Nx= Q0sin+ Hcos; Qx= Q0cos -Hsin
 H: thrust at the arch bases (See Structural Mechanics)
 y: ordinate of arch axis (ymax = f)
 : angle between tangent to arch axis and the horizontal
 M0, Q0: Moment and shear force at x location when considering
the arch as a simply supported beam with a span of L

x
41 43

Calculation Calculation
 Applied loads (EC1):  For open-web arches with parallel chords:
 Gravity  Internal forces in chords:
 Wind

 The arch weight can be preliminary found as:

x
 Internal forces in diagonals:

 S: length of arch (m)

 G: total weight of arch,
 B: arch spacing (m)  Internal forces in verticals:
 Cg = 0,02 - 0,04: weight factor

42 44

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 General case Calculation
Ntop  Forces in chords:  Arch is the compression curve member, the
general stability in a vertical plane needs be
D checked.
V Nbot

 Forces in diagonals:

 I x: moment of inertia of the arch section at L/ 4

 of arch f/ L
 Forces in verticals: type 1/ 20 1/ 5 1/ 3 1/ 2.5
3-hinged 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3
2-hinged 1 1.1 1.2 1.3
45 Fixed 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 47

Calculation III. SPACE ROOF STRUCTURES

 Chord and web sections are designed as
ordinary trusses (double angles or H-shape)
 To ensure stability of the compression
members of the chords in a direction
perpendicular to the plane of the arch, it is
 Planar structural system (girder-truss, frame, arch):
 Mainly supporting the loading in one supporting direction,
usually in lateral direction and in vertical plane.
 In longitudinal direction, the members/ frames/ arches are
connected by braces  the space action is not significant,
limiting the bay length

necessary to install horizontal ties, and also  Space structural system:

purlins or braces between the arches, similar
to the arrangement of ties in ordinary
trusses. It is desirable that the distance
between the purlins (braces) should not
exceed 16 to 20 chord widths
 Structural member axes are not in the same plane
 Load transfer in two directions  internal forces spread to
roof surface uniformly  lighter than the planar structure
but increase the bay length in longitudinal direction
Heavy and complicated calculation, difficult fabrication and


erection
46 48
 Beautiful architectural form

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 Relation of W2/ W ~ L2/ L1 1. Flat space system
0,9 I 2/ I 1= 1  Use for the sporting event hall, exhibition, station,
0,8 I 2/ I 1= 2 supermarket with span upto 50 - 60m
I 2/ I 1= 3
They are two parallel chord systems in
0,7
I 2/ I 1= 5 
0,6
perpendicular directions. In composition, the
0,5
/2 W system comprises of many identical modules in
W0,4 combination (crystal structure).
0,3
 Three truss system in three directions: Good torsion-
0,2
resistant structure  high rigidity  reducing self-weight
0,1 but being complex in fabrication and erection.
0
 Two truss system in two directions (easy fabrication):
1,0 1,2 1,4 1,6 1,8 2,0 2,2 2,4 2,6 2,8 3,0
L 2/ L 1 Low torsion resistant  low rigidity  can be reinforced
49 by members in crossed direction. 51

III. SPACE ROOF STRUCTURES Basic types

 Advantages:
 Nodes and members are typical
 Enhance roof rigidity, safety, avoid the sudden failure
 Reduce dimension and self-weight of roof panel due to the
roof frame net
Top chord
 Use modern construction method
Bottom chord
 Classification: Inclined web mem.
 Flat space system
 Needs two layers for the required ridgidity
 Shell space system
 Single layer net: Curved single layer net structure
 Double layer net: Curved double layers structures connected by
50 52
web member system

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 The Space Deck unit Space frame for tennis court

53 55

Structural features:
 High space rigidity, large spanning, small
depth (1/ 15 to 1/ 20 span)
 Many identical members and nodes induces
the typical and standardization task
 The structure can be supported by walls,
boundary trusses or columns. When
supported by columns, it is located as the
cantilevered structure to reduce the mid-
length bending moment and then it is lighter
 Normally, installing the structure on the
54
ground and loading it to the design position 56

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 Structural features:
 Detailing:
 Section: circular hollow (CHS), angle, cold-
formed…; the CHS having the uniform slenderness
in every direction will be more economic than the
angle sections
 The inclined angle of the crossed members from
35 to 500, the best 450
 Nodal spacing S = 2  3 m
 The most complicated components of the
structure are the nodes

57 59

Nodal detailing
 t  Sphere node with
threaded holes:
 Bolts attached to the
member end for
connection to the
jointing sphere
 Maximum 18 bars
connected to the
jointing sphere; CHS
Top chords normally used
Bottom chords
Crossed members

58 60

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 Nodal detailing Flattened end joint detailing
 Hollow sphere joint:
 Weded two halfs
 The CHS directly welded to
the hollow sphere joint by
filled welds
 Resisting the axial forces of
each member until 200 kN

61 63

Nodal detailing 2.1 Cylinder shell roof

Tube joint: Curved surface in one direction, used for the building

2. Space shell-like strucrures

 

having rectangular plan with span up to 90 m

 Two tube joint halfs
connected by bolts  The simplest net has the lozenge form, the inclined
angle of the members to the longitudinal direction is
 The chords transfers loading about 45 – 600. Then:
to the joint by threads
 Shell working as the arch in lateral direction (B span)
 The web member connected  Boundary structure (wall, in longitudinal direction with L
by bolts length):
 Supporting the roof loads
 Under the lateral thrust of the arch
 Should use shear walls at both ends to resist the shear
stresses, principal stresses at boundary edges and building
corners
62 64

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 2.1 Cylinder shell roof
 When having the additional longitudinal members,
the structural rigidity is increased, works as shell with
span of L
 Besides the longitudinal members, if having the
crossed members in 450 compared to the longitudinal
direction:
 The shell rigidity is maximum, the weight is the lightest
 Small lateral deformation, shell bending moments are
spreaded on the shell surface, member forces are even
 The net form:
 Lozenge: Simplest, as presented
 Lozenge nets with longitudinal members
 Lozenge nets with horizontal members
65
 Lozenge nets with longitudinal and crossed members

2.2 Dome-shaped roofs

 Bidirectional curved surface. Dome surface is
the perfect rounded one with the generating
curves in circle, ellipse, and parabolic shape
 Use for the building with circular or regular
polygonal plan.
 Including 3 types:
 Ribbed domes
 Ribbed and ringed domes
 Polygonal domes

66

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