According to Smith, J (2002) he defines trusses as a set of rigid bars connected by pin joints, which

may change location during optimization. A truss is a structure that consists of a collection of
structural elements connected at pin joints or nodes. The pin joints provide no rotational resistance
and behave as hinges. The benefit of a truss is that the members are predominantly axially loaded.
This means they are either in compression, tension or have no force, so-called zero-force members.
They are widely used in construction to support loads over spans, providing stability and strength.
Trusses are designed to efficiently transfer forces, such as compression and tension, to their
supports. The triangular arrangement of members in a truss ensures that loads are distributed evenly
and efficiently, minimizing materials, and maximizing structural performance. Trusses can be
classified into various types based on their geometric configuration and load-carrying capabilities.
According to Sean Carroll (2019), some of the most common are the Pratt, Howe, Warren, and
Modified Warren. The truss pattern refers to the arrangement of internal vertical and diagonal
members. The top and bottom horizontal members are often referred to as truss chords or booms.

According to Carroll (2019), the Pratt truss (first proposed by Thomas Pratt in 1844) is one of the
most common forms of truss and is made up of vertical and diagonal members that form an ’N’
shape or pattern. The diagonal members are arranged so that they only develop tensile forces. As
such, they can be designed to resist axial tension only, avoiding the need for a compression buckling
analysis. The vertical members in a Pratt truss develop compression forces. This means they will
typically be more robust and capable of resisting buckling. The simplicity of the Pratt truss lends
itself to hand analysis techniques. It is often used in bridges and buildings.

Pratt Truss: green members in tension, red members in compression, grey are zero force members.
The Howe truss predates the Pratt truss by 4 years and was proposed by William Howe in 1840. It is
essentially the reverse of the Pratt truss (upside down Pratt truss). As a result, in response to vertical
or gravity loading, the vertical members typically go into tension with the diagonal members going
into compression. This is slightly less advantageous than the Pratt truss configuration as the longer
diagonal members must now resist buckling in compression. This truss type is commonly used in
bridges and roof structures.
Howe Truss: green members in tension, red members in compression, grey are zero force members.
The Warren truss dispenses with internal vertical members entirely and is formed from a series of
equilateral triangles. By eliminating the vertical members, the Warren truss is relatively economical
in terms of material use. The internal diagonal members resist tension and compression forces
alternately. James Warren proposed his Warren truss in 1848. This truss type is lightweight and
commonly used in roof trusses and pedestrian bridges.

Warren Truss: green members in tension, red members in compression, grey are zero force
members.
One consequence of the lack of vertical members in the Warren truss is that the top and bottom
horizontal chords must span a relatively long distance between nodes (or joints). This may become a
problem when the horizontal member is in compression. The modified Warren truss reintroduces
the vertical members, halving the distance between nodes in the top (usually compression) chord.
This is also particularly helpful with the truss must support secondary structure such as roof purlins
for example. One important condition to observe when designing a truss is to ensure any external
loading is applied at a nodal point. The vertical members in a modified Warren truss help to facilitate
this.
Modified Warren Truss: green members in tension, red members in compression, grey are zero
force members.
There are many variations on the common truss types discussed above such as king post truss and
scissor truss. However, one truss that differs significantly is the Vierendeel truss. This type of truss is
fundamentally different in how it transmits forces. One common feature of all pins jointed trusses is
that they are composed of triangular shapes. This is dictated by their pin joints that provide no
resistance to rotation.
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However, a Vierendeel truss has rectangular or square ‘openings. This is made possible by the fact
that all members are joined rigidly. As a result, the members that make up a Vierendeel truss
develop both axial forces and bending moments. Vierendeel trusses will typically be much more
substantial structures due to their need to resist axial and normal stresses due to bending. The
advantage offered by the Vierendeel truss is its increased stiffness (accompanied by higher material
cost) and the fact that the voids are rectangular. This second feature often makes this truss type a
suitable candidate in building structures, where a triangulated truss could result in window and door
obstructions.

Trusses can be constructed using different materials such as steel, timber, or aluminium, depending
on the specific application and design requirements. The selection of materials is based on factors
like structural strength, durability, cost, and aesthetic considerations. The design of trusses involves
analysing the loads acting on the structure and determining the forces and stresses within the truss
members. Various analytical methods, such as the method of joints and the method of sections, are
used to calculate member forces. Computer-aided design (CAD) software and finite element analysis
(FEA) techniques are also employed for more complex truss designs.

References

1. Smith, J., Hodgins, J., Oppenheim, I. and Witkin, A., 2002. Creating models of truss structures
with optimization. ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG), 21(3), pp.295-301.