 Explain different types of trusses considered in Truss Bridge.

1. The Warren truss is the most common truss for both simple and continuous
trusses. For small spans, no vertical members are used lending the structure a
simple look. In the simple Warren truss, the diagonals work alternatively in
compression and tension

To cater for the heavy loading on bridges, the cross girders should be fairly close
together. This requirement, which is especially the case for railway bridges, leads to
vertical members (posts), which supports the upper chord in-between, so-called
“modified Warren truss”

2. The Pratt truss is identified by its diagonal members which, except for those
diagonal members near the center, all slant down and in toward the center of the
span. Except for those diagonals members near the center, all the diagonal
members are subject to tension forces only while the shorter vertical members
handle the compressive forces.
3. The Howe truss is the opposite of the Pratt truss. The diagonal members face in
the opposite direction and handle compressive forces.
 Explain general design principle of Truss Bridge.

Span Range

For spans from 60m to 120m for highways and from 30m to 150m for railways, simple spans
can prove economic when favourable conditions exist.

Large spans using cantilever trusses have reached a main span of 550m. Trusses have to
compete against plate girders for shorter spans, against box girders for medium spans and
cable-stayed bridges for longer spans.

Ratio of Span to Depth

The optimum value for this ratio depends on the magnitude of the live load that has to be
carried. It should be in the region of 10, being greater for road traffic than for rail traffic. For
twin track rail loading the ratio may fall to about 7,5. A check should always be made on the
economic depth for a given bridge.

Geometry

For short and medium spans, it will generally be found economic to use parallel chords to
keep fabrication and erection costs down. However, for long continuous spans, a greater
depth is often required at the piers,

Skew truss bridges should be avoided as far as possible.

An even number of bays should be chosen to suit the configuration of diagonals in Pratt and
modified Warren trusses. If an odd number is chosen there will be a central bay with crossed
diagonals. This arrangement is not usually desirable. The diagonals should be at an angle
between 50 and 60 to the horizontal.

Secondary stresses should be avoided as far as possible by ensuring that the neutral axes of
all intersecting members meet at a single point, in both vertical and horizontal planes.

Grade of Steel

Grade S355 steel should be used for the main members with Grade S275 or S235 used only
for members carrying insignificant load, unless the truss has to be fabricated in a country
where there is no ready supply of higher grade steel. For a truss designed using Grade S355
steel, the amount of Grade S275 or S235 steel used would normally be about 7%. For very
long spans higher grades will be economical, e.g. quenched and tempered steel or thermo-
mechanically processed steel with yield strength 500 - 600 MPa, provided that fatigue is not
governing.
Compression Chord Members

These members should be kept as short as possible and consideration given to additional
bracing if economical.

The effective length for buckling in the plane of the truss is normally not the same as that for
buckling out of the plane of the truss. This effect can be further complicated in through
trusses where horizontal bracing may be provided at mid panel points as well as at the main
nodes. When making up the section for the compression chord, the ideal disposition of
material will be one that produces a section with radii of gyration such that the ratio of
effective length to radius of gyration is the same in both planes. In other words, the member
is just as likely to buckle horizontally as vertically.

Trusses with spans up to about 100m often have open section chords, usually of "top-hat"
section, see Figure 5. Here it is often desirable to arrange for the vertical posts and struts to
enter inside the top chord member, thereby providing a natural diaphragm and also, usually,
avoiding the need for gussets at alternate nodes, although packs will be needed.

For trusses with spans greater than about 100m, the chords will usually be box shaped so
allowing the ideal disposition of material to be made from both economic and maintenance
viewpoints.

For shorter spans rolled sections or rolled hollow sections may occasionally be used.
Tension Chord Members

Tension members should be as compact as possible, but depths have to be large enough to
provide adequate space for bolts at the gusset positions. The width out of the plane of the
truss should be the same as that of the verticals and diagonals so that simple lapping gussets
can be provided without the need for packing.

It should be possible to achieve a net section about 85% of the gross section by careful
arrangement of the bolts in the splices. This means that fracture at the net section will not
govern for common steel grades.

As with compression members, box sections would be preferable for ease of maintenance
but open sections may well prove cheaper.

Vertical and Diagonal Members

These members should be all the same width normal to the plane of the truss to permit them
to fit flush with or to be slotted inside the top chord (where the top-hat section is used) and to
fit flush with the bottom chord. However, the width of the diagonals in the plane of the truss
should be reduced away from the supports by about 75mm per panel. This reduction may
mean that some members are understressed. It is often possible to use rolled sections,
particularly for the lightly loaded members, but packs will probably be required to take up
the rolling margins. This fact can make welded members more economic, particularly on the
longer trusses where the packing operation might add a significant amount to the erection
cost.
Aesthetically, it is desirable to keep all diagonals at the same angle, even if the chords are
not parallel. This arrangement prevents the truss looking over-complex when viewed from an
angle. In practice, however, this is usually overruled by the economies of the deck structure
where a constant panel length is to be preferred.

Maintenance

As with any structural design, the problems that may confront the maintenance team should
be fully appreciated. The problems can be numerous, but a good design will avoid most of
the common difficulties. For example:

Water -Try to keep water out but always assume it is going to get in and provide a way for it
to escape when it does. "Sealed" sections should be provided with a drainage hole at the
lowest point.

Dirt and Debris -Try to keep dirt and debris out, remembering that wind and rain will bring
them in.

Painting- Remember that, if access is difficult, the bridge will not be painted or at least only
badly, and probably not inspected. Box sections make painting easier, but rolled hollow
sections leave nasty crevices at gusset positions, unless the joints are welded.

Birds -Birds will nest and roost in the most unlikely places!