SECTION 10

PIN-CONNECTED PRATT TRUSSES General This special section is provided because pin-connected Pratt trusses are unique and have many fracture critical members with significant maintenance problems. The Pratt truss is easily recognized by the diagonals, typically eyebars, sloping downward toward the center of the span. The most common Pratt trusses are through trusses of six to eight panels in length of 25 ft. long for an overall length from 150 ft. to 200 ft. The Pratt truss is also used as a deck truss. Most of the Pratt trusses were built in the 1890's to 1920's. Features The Pratt truss is a unique truss bearing the name of its originators, Thomas and Caleb Pratt. The interior diagonal members are all tension members and commonly consist of two or more eyebars and are fracture critical members. If the diagonal consists of more than two eyebars, it has internal redundancy. The primary diagonal members all are orientated from top to bottom pointing towards the truss bottom-center. The single diagonal eyebars orientated from bottom to top towards the end, are called counters. Counters are tension members which come into play when loads on the span are in certain positions. The end diagonals, or end posts are compression members. The first interior vertical member is commonly called a hip hanger as it connects to the hip joint on the span. This member is a tension member highly prone to fatigue damage and may be an H-shape which can be pinned or rigidly connected to the truss top connection. The remaining interior vertical members are generally all box members as they are compression posts, usually pinned at both top and bottom. The top chords are compression members and are generally composed of an open bottom box member with a solid top cover plate and a laced bottom. The bottom chords other than the end two panels are tension members usually of two or more eyebars. The bottom chord end two panels are usually a box member and although they are tension members, due to braking and the possibility of compression in the end two panels, they are shaped to carry compress loads. The Pratt truss has both top and bottom bracing systems and usually a conventional floor system. Most Pratt trusses have all truss connections pinned, except that some hanger members may be rigidly connected to the bottom chord. Pratt trusses usually have segmental expansion roller bearings. Pratt Truss Variations A camelback type truss is a Pratt truss which is identified by the top chord being in three

chord segments between hip joints. The outer segments slope upward toward mid-span resulting in greater depth and lower chord stresses in the center of the span. A Parker type truss is a Pratt truss of multiple segments of the same section properties arranged in an arc.

Nomenclature The standard nomenclature for truss spans, as adopted by AREMA is given in the Nomenclature section of this Handbook. Specific railroads may use varying number systems, such as stringers numbered from left-to-right or right-to-left, and tower piers from top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top, and so forth. Many inspectors have slang names for a number of bridge elements which sometimes makes it difficult in communicating a field problem to the office. Inspectors are encouraged to use standard nomenclature.

Pratt Truss Deterioration Scenario It has been observed that there is a typical scenario for the deterioration of pin-connected Pratt trusses. At first, there is light wear at the pin joints typified by a rust halo between the pin and connecting members. As the wear continues, primarily in the vertical compression members at the pin joints, there is actually a small change in the geometric distance between the top and bottom chords which results in a change in length for the diagonal eyebars. This change allows the eyebars to become slack. As the pin hole wear continues to increase in the top chord and in the vertical members, when a live load crosses the bridge, the floor system deflects excessively under each wheel load and rebounds between wheels, resulting in flexing of the stringerfloorbeam joints and causing cracks to form in the connection angels. By the time there is significant wear in the pin joints (3/8 in. to in. gaps or more), the truss hip plate flexes and retrofit patch plates over the joint crack shortly after being installed. The sway from upper connection cracks in a fatigue pattern due to flexing, with the movement coming from the connection being attached to the top chord and separately to the vertical with movement between the two members.

With extreme wear in the pin holes, the truss becomes quite vulnerable to lateral sway and speed restrictions become necessary. At the top chord, vertical movement is noted in the chords as the wheel loads pull downward the verticals. The appearance is like a wave acting at the speed of the train. With extensive wear in the pin holes, there is also concern for the pins that will have stress concentrations at the grooves worn into the pins and the possibility of fracture. Because the Pratt trusses are generally designed in the E-50 range and comprised primarily of eyebar members, it is usually not economical to rehabilitate these trusses since it is difficult to add eyebars or otherwise strengthen the trusses. For those trusses that are not extensively worn, pin plates and other means to hold the pins in proper location will result in extended span life. PRATT TRUSS INSPECTION CHECKLIST Track Alignment horizontal on approach vertical on approach on structure surface Support behind abutment (hanging ties) on span Fastening to deck movement (sliding) hook bolts rail anchors on and off structure General condition ties rails joints inner guard rails (if used) outer guard timbers spacer straps spacer blocks Walkways/Platforms Walkway surface holes tripping hazards toeboards fasteners, support members, decking (planks/grating)

Handrail posts rails cables fastenings Overall safety items Truss Top Chords worn pin holes in web at verticals cracked cover plate at hip joint deteriorated rivet heads on top cover plate section losses in top cover plate Bottom Chords unequally tensioned eyebars eyebars scored from contracting verticals End Posts collision damage from wide loads (compression member) Interior Diagonals unequal eyebar tension worn eyebar heads accident damage Counters loose eyebars worn eyebar heads loss of section where striking adjacent eyebars frozen turnbuckles Hangers fatigue crack at top connection section loss above floorbeam connection section loss in section at top pin hole accident damage Posts section loss at both ends at pin hole accident damage Pins wear at member contact grooves at counters and at posts

corrosion under spacer loose, unchecked thread loose nuts Top Laterals section loss adjacent to connection deteriorated fasteners loose rods Bottom Laterals section loss at end connections, spread back-to-back angles, loss at stringer connections connection plates with corrosion losses Sway Frames/Portal Frames fatigue cracks in upper connections damage from high loads Floor System see Floor System Section of this chapter for inspection details Bearings see Bearing Section of this chapter for inspection details Emergency If the inspector discovers a bridge condition that affects the integrity of the bridge under train loads, contact the railroad dispatcher and responsible authority to stop any trains and arrange for immediate repairs. Criteria for the limits of acceptable/tolerable conditions must be provided by the Railroad Owner or their designated engineer based on the principles of acceptable rating contained in the appropriate chapter of the AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering.

PRATT TRUSS

Figure 9-155 Pratt Truss side view

Figure 9-156 Pratt Truss end view

Figure 9-157 Joint U1 hip joint Patch plates over crack in bent plat Joint movement

Figure 9-158 Bottom chord loose eyebars Note bow in bars

Figure 9-159 Pratt Truss loose diagonal eyebars

Figure 9-160 Pratt Truss loose counter with section loss

PRATT TRUSS

Figure 9-161 Slippage mark indicates amount to wear in joint

Figure 9-162 Pin and counter wear

Figure 9-163 Lower pin joint Slippage marks indicate wear in components

Figure 9-164 Interior of upper chord joint Note wear at pin and slippage between diagonal and chord

Figure 9-165 Reinforced stringer floorbeam connection due to movement in truss members

Figure 9-166 Sway frame connection plate crack