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For other uses, see Truss (disambiguation).
Truss bridge for a single-track railway, converted to pedestrian use and pipeline support
An Egyptian ship with a rope truss, the oldest known use of trusses. Trusses did not come into common use until the Roman era.

In engineering, a truss is a structure that "consists of two-force members only, where the members are organized so that the assemblage as a whole behaves as a single object".[1] A "two-force member" is a structural component where force is applied to only two points. Although this rigorous definition allows the members to have any shape connected in any stable configuration, trusses typically comprise five or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. In this typical context, external forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in forces in the members that are either tensile or compressive. For straight members, moments (torques) are explicitly excluded because, and only because, all the joints in a truss are treated as revolutes, as is necessary for the links to be two-force members.

A planar truss is one where all members and nodes lie within a two dimensional plane, while a space truss has members and nodes that extend into three dimensions. The top beams in a truss are called top chords and are typically in compression, the bottom beams are called bottom chords, and are typically in tension. The interior beams are called webs, and the areas inside the webs are called panels.[2]

Etymology of truss[edit]

Truss derives from the Old French word trousse, from around 1200, which means "collection of things bound together".[3][4] The term truss has often been used to describe any assembly of members such as a cruck frame[5][6] or couple of rafters[7][8] but often means the engineering sense of "A truss is a single plane framework of individual structural member connected at their ends of forms a series of triangle [sic] to span a large distance."[9]

Characteristics of trusses[edit]

A truss consists of typically (but not necessarily) straight members connected at joints, traditionally termed panel points. Trusses are typically (but not necessarily[10]) composed of triangles because of the structural stability of that shape and design. A triangle is the simplest geometric figure that will not change shape when the lengths of the sides are fixed.[11] In comparison, both the angles and the lengths of a four-sided figure must be fixed for it to retain its shape. The joint at which a truss is designed to be supported is commonly referred to as the Munter Point.

Simple truss[edit]

Planar roof trusses
The roof trusses of the Basilica di Santa Croce (Florence)

The simplest form of a truss is one single triangle. This type of truss is seen in a framed roof consisting of rafters and a ceiling joist,[12] and in other mechanical structures such as bicycles and aircraft. Because of the stability of this shape and the methods of analysis used to calculate the forces within it, a truss composed entirely of triangles is known as a simple truss.[13] However, a simple truss is often defined more restrictively by demanding that it can be constructed through successive addition of pairs of members, each connected to two existing joints and to each other to form a new joint, and this definition does not require a simple truss to comprise only triangles.[10] The traditional diamond-shape bicycle frame, which utilizes two conjoined triangles, is an example of a simple truss.[14]

Planar truss[edit]

A planar truss lies in a single plane.[13] Planar trusses are typically used in parallel to form roofs and bridges.

The depth of a truss, or the height between the upper and lower chords, is what makes it an efficient structural form. A solid girder or beam of equal strength would have substantial weight and material cost as compared to a truss. For a given span, a deeper truss will require less material in the chords and greater material in the verticals and diagonals. An optimum depth of the truss will maximize the efficiency.[15]

Space frame truss[edit]

A space frame truss is a three-dimensional framework of members pinned at their ends. A tetrahedron shape is the simplest space truss, consisting of six members that meet at four joints.[13] Large planar structures may be composed from tetrahedrons with common edges and they are also employed in the base structures of large free-standing power line pylons

Simple tetrahedron 
Diagram of a planar space frame such as used for a roof 
A pylon, a three-dimensionally trussed structure 

Truss types[edit]

A large timber Howe truss in a commercial building
For more truss types, see truss types used in bridges.

There are two basic types of truss:



Warren truss[edit]

Warren Truss Truss members form a series of equilateral triangles, alternating up and down.

Pratt truss[edit]

Pratt Truss The Pratt truss was patented in 1844 by two Boston railway engineers,[16] Caleb Pratt and his son Thomas Willis Pratt.[17] The design uses vertical members for compression and horizontal members to respond to tension. What is remarkable about this style is that it remained popular even as wood gave way to iron, and even still as iron gave way to steel.[18] This continued popularity of the Pratt truss is probably due to the fact that the configuration of the members means that longer diagonal members are only in tension for gravity load effects. This allows these members to be used more efficiently, as slenderness effects related to buckling under compression loads (which are compounded by the length of the member) will typically not control the design. Therefore, for given planar truss with a fixed depth, the Pratt configuration is usually the most efficient under static, vertical loading.

The Southern Pacific Railroad bridge in Tempe, Arizona is a 393 meter (1,291 foot) long truss bridge built in 1912.[19] The structure is composed of nine Pratt truss spans of varying lengths. The bridge is still in use today.

The Wright Flyer used a Pratt truss in its wing construction, as the minimization of compression member lengths allowed for lower aerodynamic drag.[20]

Bowstring truss[edit]

Named for their shape, bowstring trusses were first used for arched truss bridges, often confused with tied-arch bridges.

Thousands of bowstring trusses were used during World War II for holding up the curved roofs of aircraft hangars and other military buildings. Many variations exist in the arrangements of the members connecting the nodes of the upper arc with those of the lower, straight sequence of members, from nearly isosceles triangles to a variant of the Pratt truss.

King post truss[edit]

Main article: King post
King Post Truss


Queen Post Truss

The queen post truss, sometimes queenpost or queenspost, is similar to a king post truss in that the outer supports are angled towards the centre of the structure. The primary difference is the horizontal extension at the centre which relies on beam action to provide mechanical stability. This truss style is only suitable for relatively short spans.[21]

Lenticular truss[edit]

The Waterville Bridge in Swatara State Park in Pennsylvania is a lenticular truss

Lenticular trusses, patented in 1878 by William Douglas (although the Gaunless Bridge of 1823 was the first of the type), have the top and bottom chords of the truss arched, forming a lens shape. A lenticular pony truss bridge is a bridge design that involves a lenticular truss extending above and below the roadbed.

Town's lattice truss[edit]

Main article: Lattice truss bridge
Lattice Truss

American architect Ithiel Town designed Town's Lattice Truss as an alternative to heavy-timber bridges. His design, patented in 1820 and 1835, uses easy-to-handle planks arranged diagonally with short spaces in between them.

Vierendeel truss[edit]

A Vierendeel bridge, which lacks diagonal elements in the primary structure

The Vierendeel truss is a structure where the members are not triangulated but form rectangular openings, and is a frame with fixed joints that are capable of transferring and resisting bending moments. As such, it does not fit the strict definition of a truss (since it contains non-two-force members); regular trusses comprise members that are commonly assumed to have pinned joints, with the implication that no moments exist at the jointed ends. This style of structure was named after the Belgian engineer Arthur Vierendeel,[22] who developed the design in 1896. Its use for bridges is rare due to higher costs compared to a triangulated truss.

The utility of this type of structure in buildings is that a large amount of the exterior envelope remains unobstructed and can be used for fenestration and door openings. This is preferable to a braced-frame system, which would leave some areas obstructed by the diagonal braces.

Statics of trusses[edit]



In order for a truss with pin-connected members to be stable, it does not need to be entirely composed of triangles.[10] In mathematical terms, we have the following necessary condition for stability of a simple truss:



Some structures are built with more than this minimum number of truss members. Those structures may survive even when some of the members fail. Their member forces depend on the relative stiffness of the members, in addition to the equilibrium condition described.

Analysis of trusses[edit]

Cremona diagram for a plane truss



Structural analysis of trusses of any type can readily be carried out using a matrix method such as the direct stiffness method, the flexibility method or the finite element method.

Forces in members[edit]



Design of members[edit]



Truss sections stabilize this building under construction in Shanghai and will house mechanical floors

In addition to carrying the static forces, the members serve additional functions of stabilizing each other, preventing buckling. In the adjacent picture, the top chord is prevented from buckling by the presence of bracing and by the stiffness of the web members.





Design of joints[edit]

After determining the minimum cross section of the members, the last step in the design of a truss would be detailing of the bolted joints, e.g., involving shear of the bolt connections used in the joints, see also shear stress. Based on the needs of the project, truss internal connections (joints) can be designed as rigid, semi rigid, or hinged. Rigid connections can allow transfer of bending moments leading to development of secondary bending moments in the members.


Post frame structures[edit]

Component connections are critical to the structural integrity of a framing system. In buildings with large, clearspan wood trusses, the most critical connections are those between the truss and its supports. In addition to gravity-induced forces (a.k.a. bearing loads), these connections must resist shear forces acting perpendicular to the plane of the truss and uplift forces due to wind. Depending upon overall building design, the connections may also be required to transfer bending moment.

Wood posts enable the fabrication of strong, direct, yet inexpensive connections between large trusses and walls. Exact details for post-to-truss connections vary from designer to designer, and may be influenced by post type. Solid-sawn timber and glulam posts are generally notched to form a truss bearing surface. The truss is rested on the notches and bolted into place. A special plate/bracket may be added to increase connection load transfer capabilities. With mechanically-laminated posts, the truss may rest on a shortened outer-ply or on a shortened inner-ply. The later scenario places the bolts in double shear and is a very effective connection.


See also[edit]


  1. ^ Plesha, Michael E.; Gray, Gary L.; Costanzo, Francesco (2013). Engineering Mechanics: Statics (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. pp. 364–407. ISBN 0-07-338029-6. 
  2. ^ Ching, Frank. A Visual Dictionary of Architecture. 2nd ed. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2012. 277. Print. ISBN 9780470648858
  3. ^ Reif, F., (1965).
  4. ^ Oxford English Dictionary
  5. ^ Noble, Allen George. Traditional buildings a global survey of structural forms and cultural functions. London: I.B. Tauris ;, 2007. 115. ISBN 1845113055
  6. ^ Davies, Nikolas, and Erkki Jokiniemi. Dictionary of architecture and building construction. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Architectural Press, 2008. 394. ISBN 0750685026
  7. ^ Davies, Nikolas, and Erkki Jokiniemi. Architect's illustrated pocket dictionary. Oxford: Architectural Press, 2011. 121. ISBN 0080965377
  8. ^ Crabb, George. Universal Technological Dictionary Or Familiar Explanation of the Terms used in All Arts and Sciences...", Volume 1 London: 1823. Couples.
  9. ^ Shekhar, R. K. Chandra. Academic dictionary of civil engineering. Delhi: Isha Books, 2005. 431. ISBN 8182051908
  10. ^ a b c Beer, Ferd; Johnston, Russ (2013). Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. pp. 285–313. ISBN 0-07-740228-6. 
  11. ^ Ricker, Nathan Clifford (1912) [1912]. A Treat on Design and Construction of Roofs. New York: J. Wiley & Sons. p. 12. Retrieved 2008-08-15. 
  12. ^ Maginnis, Owen Bernard (1903). Roof Framing Made Easy (2nd ed.). New York: The Industrial Publication Company. p. 9. Retrieved 2008-08-16. 
  13. ^ a b c Hibbeler, Russell Charles (1983) [1974]. Engineering Mechanics-Statics (3rd ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. pp. 199–224. ISBN 0-02-354310-8. 
  15. ^ Merriman, Mansfield (1912) [192]. American Civil Engineers' Pocket Book. New York: J. Wiley & Sons. p. 785. Retrieved 2008-08-16. The Economic Depth of a Truss is that which makes the material in a bridge a minimum. 
  16. ^ Bethanga Bridge at the NSW Heritage Office; retrieved 2008-Feb-06
  17. ^ A Brief History of Covered Bridges in Tennessee at the Tennessee Department of Transportation; retrieved 2008-Feb-06
  18. ^ The Pratt Truss courtesy of the Maryland Department of Transportation; retrieved 2008-Feb-6
  19. ^ Tempe Historic Property Survey at the Tempe Historical Museum; retrieved 2008-Feb-06
  20. ^
  21. ^ Covered Bridge's Truss Types
  22. ^ Vierendeel bruggen