Quick Guide for Truss Types

TRUSS:

A framework composed of members joined at their ends to form a rigid structure, built from basic triangles in the manner described is known as truss.

Plain Trusses:

When the members of the truss lie essentially in a single plane, the truss is called a plain truss.

TYPES OF TRUSSES:

Trusses can be mainly divided into two types:

     I.        Bridge Trusses.

   II.        Roof Trusses.

I. BRIDGE TRUSSES:

1.   Pratt Bridge Truss:

     It includes vertical members and diagonals that slope down towards the center.

2.   Howe Bridge Truss:

    It includes vertical members and diagonals that slope up towards the center.

3.   Baltimore Bridge Truss:

     A Baltimore truss has additional bracing in the lower section of the truss to prevent buckling in the compression members and to control deflection.

4.   K Bridge Truss:

    A truss in the form of a K due to the orientation of the vertical member and two oblique members in each panel is known as a K bridge truss.

5.   Warren Bridge Truss:

    It consists of longitudinal members joined only by angled cross-members, forming alternately inverted equilateral triangle-shaped spaces along its length.

6.   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.

         

II. Roof Trusses:

1.   Pratt Roof Truss:

    It uses vertical member for compression and horizontal members to respond to tension and is most efficient under static and vertical loading.

2.   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.

3.   Howe Roof Truss:

    It is a roof truss with vertical web members to take tension forces and with angled braces to take compression.

4.   Warren Roof Truss:

    In warren roof truss diagonal members are alternatively in tension and compression and are used in a building ranging from 20-100m in length.

5.   King Post Roof Truss:

    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 tie beam (in tension) at the base of the truss.