Types of Truss Structures PDF

12/24/2018 Types of Truss Structures | SkyCiv Cloud Structural Analysis Software
Software Pricing Free Tools Resources Contact Us Login Sign Up
SkyCiv Blog
SkyCiv Cloud Engineering Software
Types of Truss Structures
March 30, 2015 Sam Carigliano 5 Comments Education
https://skyciv.com/education/types-of-trusses/ 1/22
Trusses are an extremely strong, well-accepted, cost e ective option for the
construction of various structures. To maximise the e ciency of the strucutre (which
is often meaured in material used or labour), an appropriate truss type should be

selected for design. Today we will explore what types of structures are out there and
how they can bene t your design.
Pratt Truss
Warren Truss
K Truss
Howe Truss
Fink Truss
Gambrel Truss
Pratt Truss
A Pratt Truss has been used over the past two centuries as an e ective truss
method. The vertical members are in compression, whilst the diagonal members are
in tension. This simpli es and produces a more e cient design since the steel in the
diagonal members (in tension) can be reduced. This has a few e ects - it reduces the
cost of the structure due to more e cient 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.
Below is an example of a Pratt Truss, constructed and analysed using our SkyCiv
Truss Calculator. Compressive members are shown as green and tension as red.
Advantages
Aware of member's behaviour - diagonal members are in tension, vertical
members in compression
The above can be used to design a cost e ective structure
Simple design
Well accepted and used design
Disadvantages
Not as advantageous if the load is not vertical
Best Used For:
Where a cost e ective design is required
Where a mix of loads are applied

Where a simple structure is required
Warren Truss
The Warren Truss is another very popular truss structure system and is easily
identi ed by its construction from equilateral triangles. One of the main advantages
of a Warren Truss is its ability to spread the load evenly across a number of di erent
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.
An example of a Warren Truss, and its axial forces under a distributed load is shown
below. The structure was built and analysed using SkyCiv Truss Calculator.
Compressive members are shown as green and tension as red.
Source: Warren Truss Calculator

Advantages
Spreads load fairly evenly between members
Fairly simple design
Disadvantages
Poorer performance under concentrated loads
Increased constructibility due to additional members
Best Used For:
Long span structures
Where an evenly distributed load is to be supported
Where a simple structure is required
Try our Free Online Truss Calculator
K Truss
The K Truss is a slightly more complicated version of the Pratt Truss. It's main
di erence is that the vertical members have become shortened - improving it's
resistance against buckling. It does however have similar pros and cons to the Pratt
Truss and although it is not widely used, it is a strong design. One of it's main
disadvantages is that the members don't always behaive as expected. A member
may be in compression under one load scenario and in tension under another. This
can mean the structure may not be able to be optimally designed - since
An example of a K-Truss setup and its reaction under an applied load is shown
below. Learn more about our SkyCiv Truss Calculator. Compressive members are
shown as green and tension as red.
Advantages
Reduced compression in vertical members

Possible reduction in steel and cost if designed e ciently
Disadvantages
Slightly more complex

Increased constructibility due to additional members
Howe Truss
Howe trusses are essentially the opposite of Pratt trusses in terms of geometry. In
fact, looking at a Pratt truss upside-down will visualize a Howe truss of sorts. The
entire structure is still relatively the same, but the diagonal braces are now
occupying the opposite or the unoccupied joints. This switch in position of the
diagonal members has a very important e ect structurally.
A Pratt truss (above) and a Howe Truss (below)
Previously, we discussed how Pratt trusses have their vertical members in

compression and diagonal members in tension upon the application of a gravity
loads at the joints of the top chord. For Howe trusses, the reverse becomes true as
diagonal members are now in compression, while the vertical loads are in tension.
Source: Howe Truss Calculator

As they are similar in structure with Pratt trusses, their uses are generally the same.
To maximize the e ciency of the truss, the truss can be loaded at the joints of the
bottom chord. Roof trusses can be loaded with a ceiling loads for example.
Another thing to note is that, depending on the geometry and loading, Pratt trusses
can have more unloaded members than Howe trusses.
Fink Truss
The Fink truss in its most basic form has web members that follow a V-pattern which
can be repeated several times. As the top chords are sloping downward from the
center, the V pattern becomes noticeably smaller. As Fink trusses rely more on
diagonal members, they can be very e cient at transmitting loads to the support.
Derivatives of the Fink truss include the Double Fink and the Fan truss types. Double
Fink trusses are essentially Fink trusses that repeat the pattern twice on either side.
If the most basic Fink truss can be characterized by a double-V, then a double nk
would look like a double-W. Fan trusses are essentially Fink trusses that have its web
members ‘fan out’ from the joints at the bottom, usually the addition of vertical
members.
A Fink (top), a Double nk (middle), and a Fan Truss (bottom)
Source: Fink Truss Calculator
Gambrel Truss
In the exterior, a gambrel truss have two di erent slopes, where the slope gets
steeper from the center. Due to outward-protruding shape, gambrel trusses can be
e ective to be tted with a hollow center, which can be used as a storage area. As
such, the upper section of a barn is usually shaped in a gambrel. In the case of a
barn, as the members are usually constructed with wood, the structure acts more
like a frame than a truss. Derivatives of the gambrel include the Mansard roof, which
is also called a French roof, hence its popularity in France.
SkyCiv Truss Software
SkyCiv o ers two truss software; one Free Truss Calculator to model and analyze the
internal forces of a truss structure. SkyCiv also o ers powerful 3D Structural Analysis
Software to model your 3D trusses and frames.
OR
Learn More about SkyCiv Structural 3D
Sam Carigliano, PEng

CEO and Co-Founder of SkyCiv
BEng (Civil), BCom
LinkedIn 
structural analysis structures bridges truss trusses
Share this Story
Related Posts
5 Comments SkyCiv 
1 Login
 Recommend 14 t Tweet f Share Sort by Best
Join the discussion…
LOG IN WITH
OR SIGN UP WITH DISQUS ?
Name
bob • 3 years ago

the Warren truss actually uses equilateral triangles, not isosceles. The Neville truss is the one
that uses the isosceles triangles.
1△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
kaleb > bob • 3 years ago

read the description of it, it clearly says "The Warren Truss is another very popular truss
structure and is easily identified by its construction from equilateral triangles."
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
Clara > kaleb • 2 years ago

the pic shows isosceles
1△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
cool person • 2 years ago

wheres the howe
Gurman22 • 3 years ago

I need to find the different type of trusses and how they are used in roller coaster designs help
ALSO ON SKYCIV
Tutorial to Solve Truss by Method of Free Online Beam Calculator

Sections 8 comments • a year ago
1 comment • 4 years ago mzo sbongakonke — this is the best free online
Ray Ray — This is a very simple but well study
detailed presentation on the method of section
but with an addition of a short video showing …
How to Draw Bending Moment Diagrams Free Online Truss Calculator

1 comment • a year ago 32 comments • 4 years ago
Femi — Great explanation! bob — Joe Anderson I think you might need to
get a life and stop being a little bit of a pain. You
don't know why he's using it so maybe just …
✉S b ib d Add Di t it Add Di Add 🔒 Di 'P i P li Pi P li Pi
SkyCiv Software Free Resources Industries About Engineers love our

Software
Pricing Beam Calculator Structural Engineering Contact Us
SkyCiv Beam Truss Calculator Mechanical Engineering Documentation
SkyCiv Design Frame Calculator Oil & Gas News & Blog
SkyCiv Structural 3D Shaft Calculator Naval Architecture About Us
SkyCiv Section Builder MoI Calculator Sca olding F.A.Q
SkyCiv Connection Tutorials Event Rigging Terms & Conditions
Design Education Help & Support
SkyCiv Reinforced Careers

Concrete
SkyCiv API
65,854 3,229,073 2,647,258 581,815

 Projects Managed  Projects Solved  Beams Solved  Structures Solved
© Copyright 2017. SkyCiv Engineering. ABN: 73 605 703 071 Language: English

Types of Truss Structures PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Types of Truss Structures PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

12/24/2018 Types of Truss Structures | SkyCiv Cloud Structural Analysis Software

Software Pricing Free Tools Resources Contact Us Login Sign Up

Types of Truss Structures

March 30, 2015 Sam Carigliano 5 Comments Education

is often meaured in material used or labour), an appropriate truss type should be

horizontal spans, where the force is predominantly in the vertical direction.

Aware of member's behaviour - diagonal members are in tension, vertical

Not as advantageous if the load is not vertical

Best Used For:

Where a cost e ective design is required

Where a mix of loads are applied

concentrated at a single point or node.

Compressive members are shown as green and tension as red.

Source: Warren Truss Calculator

Fairly simple design

Increased constructibility due to additional members

Best Used For:

Long span structures

Where an evenly distributed load is to be supported

Where a simple structure is required

Try our Free Online Truss Calculator

shown as green and tension as red.

Reduced compression in vertical members

Slightly more complex

diagonal members has a very important e ect structurally.

A Pratt truss (above) and a Howe Truss (below)

Previously, we discussed how Pratt trusses have their vertical members in

Source: Howe Truss Calculator

can have more unloaded members than Howe trusses.

Try our Free Online Truss Calculator

A Fink (top), a Double nk (middle), and a Fan Truss (bottom)

Source: Fink Truss Calculator

is also called a French roof, hence its popularity in France.

SkyCiv Truss Software

Software to model your 3D trusses and frames.

Try our Free Online Truss Calculator

Learn More about SkyCiv Structural 3D

Sam Carigliano, PEng

structural analysis structures bridges truss trusses

Share this Story

 Recommend 14 t Tweet f Share Sort by Best

Join the discussion…

bob • 3 years ago

kaleb > bob • 3 years ago

Clara > kaleb • 2 years ago

cool person • 2 years ago

Gurman22 • 3 years ago

Tutorial to Solve Truss by Method of Free Online Beam Calculator

How to Draw Bending Moment Diagrams Free Online Truss Calculator

✉S b ib d Add Di t it Add Di Add 🔒 Di 'P i P li Pi P li Pi

SkyCiv Software Free Resources Industries About Engineers love our

SkyCiv Reinforced Careers

65,854 3,229,073 2,647,258 581,815

You might also like