Table of Contents
What is truss how is it constructed?
truss, in engineering, a structural member usually fabricated from straight pieces of metal or timber to form a series of triangles lying in a single plane. (A triangle cannot be distorted by stress.) The connected pieces forming the top and bottom of the truss are referred to respectively as the top and bottom chords.
What materials are truss bridges made of?
Truss elements are usually of wood, iron, or steel.
How does a truss bridge stay up?
A single-span truss bridge is like a simply supported beam because it carries vertical loads by bending. Bending leads to compression in the top chords (or horizontal members), tension in the bottom chords, and either tension or compression in the vertical and diagonal members, depending on their orientation.
What is the main shape used in truss bridge construction?
truss bridge, bridge with its load-bearing structures composed of a series of wooden or metal triangles, known as trusses. Given that a triangle cannot be distorted by stress, a truss gives a stable form capable of supporting considerable external loads over a large span.
What is a truss builder?
Truss builders use wood and metal to design and build trusses that meet the needs of their project. In this role, your job duties include assembling pre-cut wood or metal pieces into the triangular structure, either by hand or using an overhead crane.
What is a rafter in construction?
A rafter is one of a series of sloped structural members such as wooden beams that extend from the ridge or hip to the wall plate, downslope perimeter or eave, and that are designed to support the roof shingles, roof deck and its associated loads. A pair of rafters is called a couple.
Why was the truss bridge invented?
Wooden truss bridges provided a means to span large crossings efficiently. These new bridges not only facilitated transportation but also increased awareness and interest in bridge building.
How are truss bridges different from other bridges?
A suspension bridge’s deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Beam bridge’s spans are supported by an abutment or pier at each end. A truss bridge contains a structure of connected elements forming triangular units. Trusses can be placed above or below the beam to spread out the stress of the load.
What are the characteristics of a truss bridge?
Truss bridges are characterized by the joining of numerous relatively small structural members into a series of interconnected triangles. They were first built of wood, then iron, then steel or occasionally a combination of the materials.
How does a truss work?
Trusses are most commonly used in bridges, roofs and towers. A truss is made up of a web of triangles joined together to enable the even distribution of weight and the handling of changing tension and compression without bending or shearing. Trusses consist of triangular units constructed with straight members.
How are triangles used in construction?
Triangles can be used to make trusses. Trusses are used in many structures, such as roofs, bridges, and buildings. Trusses combine horizontal beams and diagonal beams to form triangles. Bridges that use trusses are called truss bridges.