Design of Steel Structures (DSS)

Unit 8: Roof Truss

Types of Truss:
Guidelines:

1. Pitch of Truss: (Ratio of height of the truss to the span)

Galvanized Iron (G I) Sheet Roofing: 1/6

Asbestos Cement (AC) Sheet Roofing: ½

2. Spacing of Truss (Distance between two consecutive Trusses)

Span spacing
< 15 m 3 m to 4.5 m
15 m - 30 m 4.5m to 6.0 m
> 30 m 12 m to 15 m

Note: if spacing is more, cost of purlin increases

3. Purlins

The function of a purlin is to support roofing sheets as well as to stiffen the entire roof structure.
Purlins provide immediate support for the common rafters in a roof. Purlins are either supported by
gable ends or by trusses.

Generally the spacing of purlins varies from 1.35 m to 2.0 m.

Spacing of roof truss Type of Steel Section

Small (3 m to 4 m) Angles
Medium (4 m to 5.0 m Channels
Large (> 5.0 m) I-Section

4. Sheeting

• GI Sheet
o Available gauges are 16,18,20,22,25. Thickness = Gauge / 25 mm
o Available lengths are 1.8 m, 2.2 m, 2.5 m, 2.8 m and 3.0 m
o Side laps: 1, 1.5, 2 corrugations
o End lap: 100 mm for slope > 200 and 150 mm for slope < 200
• AC Sheet
o Available lengths are 1.75 m, 2.0 m, 2.5 m, and 3.0 m
o Available thickness: 6 mm (for 1.4 m spacing), 7 mm (for 1.6 m spacing)
o Side laps: 1 corrugation
o End lap: 150mm

Load Analysis

Main loads on trusses are

• Dead Load
o GI Sheet: 100-150 N/m2
2
o AC Sheet: 170-200 N/m
2
o Purlin: 100-120 N/m
o Truss

W = 20 + 6.6L

W = 10 (L/3 + 5) (s/4)

Where s = spacing of truss

• Imposed Load
o Upto 100 slope: 0.75 kN/m2
0 2
o > 10 slope: 0.75 + 0.02 (θ – 10) kN/m
Where θ = slope of sheeting
o Minimum is 0.40 kN/m2

• Wind Load

Basic Wind Pressure, pz = 0.60 Vz2

Where Vz = K1. K2. K3. Vb

K1 = Risk Coefficent (Table 4 of IS 875)

K2 = Coefficent depends on Terrain, Height and Structure size factor (Table 5 of IS 875)
K3 = Topographic Factor = 1 + Cs
Vb = Basic Wind Speed (IS 875 part 3) based on 6 zones of india (between 33 m/s to 55 m/s)

Load Combinations:

• Dead Load + Imposed Load

• Dead Load + Snow Load
• Dead Load + Wind Load

Types of Problems:

A) Find member forces of Roof Truss

Procedure:

Step 1: Choose Pitch of truss

Step 2: Find Slope of Roof
Step 3: Find length of Panel = Slope Length / No. of Panels
(Provide Purlins always on Panel Point)

Step 4: Find Member Forces due to vertically downward loads (DL + IL) - Case 1
Step 4a: Find Vertical Load on Shoe
Step 4b: Find Vertical Load on Intermediate Panel Point
Step 4c: Draw Truss with vertically download loads
Step 4d: Find Member Forces in Truss Members (using Method of Joints)

Step 5: Find Member Forces due to vertically upward loads (DL + WL) - Case 2
Step 5a: Find Wind Load
Step 5b: Find Vertical Load (DL + WL) on Shoe
Step 5c: Find Vertical Load (DL + WL) on Intermediate Panel Point
Step 5d: Draw Truss with vertically upward forces
Step 5e: Find Member Forces in Truss Members (using Method of Joints)

Step 6: Tabulate forces and consider maximum values of member forces from the both cases 1 & 2

B) Design of Roof Truss Members (Tension & Compression Members)

(Refer unit 3 & 4)
1. Explain various types of Roof Trusses with neat sketch

Hint:
Refer page 363 of “Design of Steel Structures” by S.S. Bhavikatti

2. Draw a Flink Roof Truss of 12m span. Explain and label following members on
a) Top Chord Members
b) Bottom Chord Members
c) Struts
d) Slings
e) Sag Tie

Hint:
Refer page 364 of “Design of Steel Structures” by S.S. Bhavikatti

3. Find member forces in a steel roof truss as shown in Fig. for a clear span of 12.45 m. The trusses
supported over masonry columns 45cm x 45 cm. The trusses are placed at 3 m c/c and support
galvanized iron sheet on rafters and steel purlins. The rise of the truss is 1/3 of span and tile wind
normal to the roof surface is 1500 N/m2

Hint:
Find Member Forces (Refer Procedure for “Type of Problem A”)

4. Design a channel section purlin for the following data:

Spacing of Trusses: 4m
Spacing of Purlins: 1.8m
Weight of Sheets: 100 N/m2
Weight of Purlin: 100 N/m
2
Live Load: 0.5 kN/m
Wind Load: 1.5 kN/m2 (Suction)
0
Inclination of main Rafter is 20

Hint:
Step 1: Find Member Forces (Refer Procedure for “Type of Problem A”)
Step 2: Design Purlin as Laterally Unsupported Beam (Unit 6)