Journal of Technical and Applied Sciences

04(01), 01-14, 2024

DOİ: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11211800
e-ISSN: 2791-6715

Research Article
APPLICATION AND ANALYSIS OF TRUSSES
1
Mehmet Fatih ALTAN ve 2*Payenda Mohammad ZAMANI
1
İstanbul Arel Üniversitesi, İnşaat Mühendisliği Anabilim Dalı
2*
İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi, İnşaat Mühendisliği Anabilim Dalı
*Corresponding author: payendazamani@stu.aydin.edu.tr
Geliş Tarihi: 10/11/2023 Kabul Tarihi: 14/01/2024

ABSTRACT

In general, engineering is growing with the creation of software and the search for ways to build
structures with more resistance and higher performance while also being economically viable
considering all these factors in searching for the right tools. They are one of these structures that
have been used for many years and have been able to give good results in many cases in all cases.
Trusses have been used for many years with relatively easy design and use of cheap materials in
these structures and the use of these structures in sensitive and large places has increased the use
of these structures. In this article, the advantages of this structure and how to use it and I've covered
the places where this structure can be used.
KEYWORDS: Forces, Truss Structure, Pellets and Bolts
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1. Introduction
The truss is a set of metal rods that can be connected in different ways and these metal connections
can be used in rectangular or circular shapes.
He saw trusses in many structures. The use of trusses can be seen on the roofs of bridges and high-
voltage intercity electric poles in cranes in sports studios.
These structures can easily withstand the pressures by transferring the loads to their connection
points and dividing the loads into other connections, and finally transferring the loads to the ground
and neutralizing the loads. The shape of the trusses is triangular, because using the triangular shape,
which is the most durable and simplest shape in geometric shapes, we can easily design and connect
them to each other.
In general, trusses have been used in homes and bridges in the past. Nowadays, the use of trusses
has become very common due to the tolerance of barges in places with a very large area of trusses.
Truss members do not tolerate bending anchors and the stability of the members on the truss plate
is provided by the knots.
How the members of the trusses are connected to each other or how to connect the truss to the
welding machine the bolts, bolts and rivets are connected to each other. It is done or connected to
the truss members by bolts and nuts. These connections are just as important as the other members
of the truss, as they can greatly reduce the risk of damage to the truss with improper welding or
improper bolts.
There are many examples of the use of trusses. There are different types of trusses that are used
depending on the situation. In this study, we discuss the applications and types and how loads are
transmitted by trusses.
2. Material and Method

2.1. Methods of study

The study used static solutions and the type of material used in a truss and how the joints work in
a truss.
2.2. TRUSS STRUCTURE SYSTEM
Trusses are referred to as structures for transferring loads from buildings to ground, which are able
to simultaneously transfer horizontal and vertical loads.
In general, one of the structures that can easily transfer loads is the structure of trusses. Many
engineers in the past have increased the use of these instruments by understanding the issue of how
trusses can be used, and as a result, the use of trusses has increased with the use of transportation
facilities and bridges so the use of trusses increased.
3. Discussion and Result
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3.1. Types of Truss structures

Trusses have different types of structures, each with its own capabilities. Some trusses are used in
sports stadiums and others in bridges, each with its own name and design.
3.2. Trusses are divided into three categories in terms of structure
3.2.1. Simple trusses
which are triangular grids.These trusses are used in simple form in the gables. King poss truss is
one of the forms of simple trusses.

Figure1.simple truss
3.2.2. Compound trusses
These types of trusses are created by combining simple trusses.

Figure 2. compound truss

3.2.3. Complex trusses
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which are used in very difficult conditions.

Figure 3. Complex truss

Figure 3. Space trusses

One of the most durable and beautiful trusses is the space truss. Space trusses are used to cover the
spaces of factories, exhibitions, swimming pools, etc., due to their high hardness and strength. In
practice, this system is used to cover ceilings with an area of 90 x 90 without the use of columns.
In recent years, two-layer networks with one or both layers of hexagons have been used to build
roofs. The material and type of profiles used in space trusses may be metal, aluminum, corner, or
cantilever tubes that are articulated.

Figure 4. space truss

3.2.4. Standard trusses
Trusses that are commonly used and have a simple structure, and each has a specific name, which
we briefly mention the names of some.
I. Commercial roof trusses
Car shops, warehouses, shops, factories and the like are used.
II. Farm trusses
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Poultry, alfalfa, feed and machinery warehouses are used as farm buildings, using a large truss gap,
which saves material but requires careful design to ensure lateral stability as well as compressive
strength. In general, the length is about 60 to 80 meters.
III. Attic trusses
Attic trusses are a great way to add room to a garage or living space.

4. Models of trusses
In general, which are used in important places, or we have introduced the most practical trusses in
the table.
5. Advantages of using trusses
Types of trusses Truss material Place of use Description

Pratt Usually steel, in some Usually on the roof The maximum span is
cases wood and bridge about 30 to 60 meters

Howe Usually wood Usually on the roof, The maximum span is

in the past, it was also about 30 meters
used to build bridges

Fink Usually steel Usually on the roof Usually the opening

is about 20 meters
Bowst ring Usually steel Usually on the roof Usually for roofs of
warehouses and
garages, the opening
may reach 30 meters
Warren Steel Usually on the bridge The span is about 60
meters
Parker Steel Usually on the bridge Craters about 50 to
100 meters
Baltimore Steel Usually on the bridge Craters more than 100
meters
K truss Steel Usually on the bridge Craters more than 100
meters
Trusses are an integral part of modern architecture. Because trusses carry a lot of weight, it is
possible for manufacturers to reduce costs as much as possible, easily cover long distances with
trusses, and evenly transfer loads on the structure. Save on extra materials and build structures that
are easy to maintain.
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The use of wooden trusses is also very common, and in some parts of the world, wooden trusses
are used to build the roof. Wooden trusses can be easily made on site, this truss is cheap, its material
is available and it can bear a lot of weight. Wooden trusses can be used to make openings of more
than 35 meters. Truss is a lightweight structure that can cover large openings and carry a lot of
weight.

6. Forces in truss
The forces acting on the truss structure are distributed collectively in the joints and are either tensile
or compressive. These forces are distributed in each of the constituent bars and can eventually
reach the ground and be repelled by being transferred to other members in the truss.
All of these force divisions in trusses can be tensile and compressive. If there is no resistant joint
in the truss, which is in the form of welding or in the form of bolts and nuts, the truss is destroyed
by the entry of small force, so one of the most important parts in trusses are the joints.
The other part of the transmission force at the outlets is the supports, which are used in a movable
or fixed manner. At moving supports, the forces applied to the truss are neutralized to such an
extent that the forces are in the x-axis.
Due to the structure of the trusses, the applied forces are not affected by the constituent material of
the members, so that considering the truss and its position, delicate members with low resistance
against tensile and compressive forces can be used. This is also one of the properties of trusses.
And reduces consumption in construction.
7. Kinds of joint in truss
One of the most important parts of a truss is the joints that are responsible for connecting and
transferring forces. This part of the truss suffers the most force and pressure in a truss, so it must
be used properly and carefully to prevent the truss from breaking. The joints are placed in several
cases in the truss, examples of which are studied.
7.1. Pellets and bolts
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In this case, we connect the joints with sheets with durable metal platforms using bolts and nuts,
which is currently the most widely used method in connecting joints. As shown in the figure, the
screws also give the truss more flexibility and act like a hinge.

Figure 5. Pellets and bolts

7.2. Welding
In this case, the joints are created in a completely closed form, which is done by welding, and they
are usually used in the use of trusses on certain ceilings and places.

Figure 6. welding in joint

7.3. Mero system
In this case, as shown in the figure, metal balls are used in the joint, which can be used in more
complex design trusses, and the members can be easily connected at different angles. Works with
bolt and nut design.
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Figure 7. Mero system for joints

8. Design and Analysis of truss
Analysis and design in trusses can be considered completely similar to each other in general, so
that we examine the loads on trusses and analyze the tensile and compressive forces in trusses and
identify the joints, and finally the force created in trusses. After transferring to the ground, the
support reaches the ground at the end. As a result of the analysis, we will understand the weaknesses
and problems of trusses. In the following, a small sample of truss is analyzed.
8.1. Loads in truss
When they are repeatedly inserted into a truss, the greatest impact on a truss is in the joints. The
reason for the high impact on the joints is that the joints are responsible for connecting other organs.
For this purpose, they are one of the most important parts in trusses. For this reason, to examine
the forces applied to a truss, we first examine the connecting points, ie the joints.

Figure 8. Loads inserted into a truss

8.2. Divided Loads in truss
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The loads placed on a truss are converted into tensile and compressive forces in a truss.

Figure 9. Divide the load by connecting the connecting points (joints) to the other members of a
truss
We must keep in mind that the forces acting on the trusses act in a tensile and compressive manner.
Figure 7. shows the tensile state in a truss, where the forces applied from the joints to the other
joints are tensile.

Figure 10. Tensile state in a truss

8.3. Neutral members in truss
Considering the shape of a truss and in some cases to beautify trusses, some additional members
are designed and installed, and in general, in each truss there are members that are neutral, which
means that no force is transmitted.
The initial figure shows an example of an organ that does not carry any load.
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Figure 11. In this form, the members shown in different colors are neutral members
8.4. Force effects in members
To analyze and obtain the amount of force applied to a truss, we first select a small part of the truss
and in all the forces entered in the truss along the x, y axis we have to put equal to zero so that we
can know the unknown forces in the truss.
∑Fy=0→ FAB cos( theta)=0→FAB=0

Figure 12. Forces in x and y axises

Sometimes in trusses, some organs only transmit force, which means they are not stretched or
compressed. In this case, all the members connected to this joint have equal forces.
F1 = F2 = F3 = F4

Figure 13. Equal forces in a joint

In the analysis of trusses, we must examine the number of equations formed for the unknown
forces. In the formation of equations for unknown forces, in some cases the number of equations
is less than the number of unknowns, which is called the indeterminate truss.
In the existing truss, the number of unknown forces is 9, and in total there are 4 joints, each joint
has two members, ie the total number of equations in this truss is 8, in which case the number of
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unknowns is less than the equations, so this truss is indefinite. To solve, we have to delete one of
the members in which we delete the BD member and solve the equations.
Other condition is the indeterminacy of trusses
If the number of equations and unknowns in a truss is not equal, they are indefinite. In the figure
above, the number of unknowns was greater than the equations, and we removed a member to
solve. If the number of unknowns is less than the equations, what happens to the truss?
In this truss, the number of unknown forces 7 and the number of joints 4 in this case, the possibility
of stability in this truss is 0, which means that as the force enters this truss, it moves. And in general,
suppose a large truss would be unstable under the same conditions.
8.5. Example for analysis of small section in a truss
An example of a truss is analyzing the effect of forces on members, obtaining the type of tensile
and compressive force, and obtaining unknowns.

Figure 14. A small section of Truss

Equations in trusses
(AF, AB, AE, BE, BC, CE, CD, DE, EF)
Unknown forces = 12
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Ax = 0

Figure 15. show the loads in x and y axises

Calculate the reaction forces at the supports

∑Fx=0 → Cx=15
∑Fx=0 → Ay + Cy – 25 – 10 – 20 = 0
Ay + Cy = 55
Ay * 0 + Cy *4 – Cx * 0 – 20*2 + 15*2 – 10*2 + 25*0 = 0
Cy = 7.5 KN
Ay = 47.5 KN
Calculation of forces in members
(AF, AB, AE, BE, BC, CE, CD, DE, EF)

∑Fx = 0 ∑FY = 0
-FDE – 15 KN = 0 -FDC = 0
FDE = -15 KN FDC = 0
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∑Fx = 0
FFE = 0
∑FY = 0
25 -FFA = 0
FFA = -25

θ = 45
∑Fy = 0
FAE Sin (θ) + Ay - FAB = 0
FAE Sin (45) + 47.5 -25 = 0
FAE = - 31.82 KN

∑Fx = 0
FAE COS (45) +FAB = 0
-31.82 COS (45) +FAB = 0
FAB = 22.5 KN

∑FY = 0
FCE Sin (θ) + Cy – FCD = 0
FCE Sin (45) + 7.5 – 0 = 0
FCE = - 10.61 KN

∑FX = 0
-FCE COS (45) - FCB + CX= 0 FCB = 22.5 KN
10.61COS (45) – FCB + 15= 0 and the end solve FBE ∑FX = 0 FBE
= 20 KN
7.5.1. Investigating the types of forces applied to members
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In all truss members, as mentioned, the incoming forces are in the form of traction and pressure
In this section, we analyze the types of forces applied to members and are shown in the school
table.
9. CONCLUSION
Trusses are flexible yet sturdy structures.
These structures consist of a simple structure and at the same time have a special beauty that in
some cases are used for beautification.
The trusses are connected to each other by joints, the most important part of which is a truss
connecting points or joints.
The structure of trusses is triangular, which is the most stable and at the same time the simplest
possible geometric shape.
In general, trusses are used in many structures due to their low weight and high strength in large
areas without the use of columns, which is one of the advantages of trusses.

REFERENCES
Engineering Mechanics - Statics, R.C. Hibbeler, 12th Edition
Design of Steel Structures: Eurocode 3: Designof Steel Structures, Part 1-1: General Rules and
Rules for Buildings (Eccs Eurocode Design Manuals)
Roof Truss Guide: Design and Construction of Standard Timber and Steel Trusses: FRC/MCR
Toolkit: Element 29 (FCR/MCR Toolkit) Hardcover – January 1, 1999
Trusses and Arches, Vol. 1: Analyzed and Discussed by Graphical Methods; Roof-Trusses, Three
Folding Plates; Roof-Trusses (Classic Reprint) Hardcover – October 20, 2017