Truss Systems Flashcards
What distance can modern trusses span without the installation of intermediate load-bearing partition walls?
18 m (60 ft)
How do increased spans affect the interior design of a building?
Greater freedom in design and allow the inclusion of large living spaces without the need for beams, columns or load-bearing partition walls.
What is a trussed rafter?
A pre-assembled unit built to form the shape of a desired roof style.
What is the maximum allowable moisture content for lumber used in the manufacture of trusses at the time of construction?
19 %
In the last 50 years, what advance in the design/construction of trusses has had the greatest impact on the development of the truss?
The development of metal connector plates.
What are the two most common sizes of material used in the construction of wood.
2x4
2x6
How are truss connector plates attached to the truss members?
Pressed or rolled into place by means of large hydraulic presses that exert well in excess of 1000 lb per square inch. Most presses exceed 60 TONs in capacity.
Which truss design is prone to horizontal deflection as well as to vertical deflection?
Scissor Truss
A roof with a single slope (shed roof) is built using which type of truss?
Mono Truss
What are the names of the 2 styles of flat roof trusses?
- Pratt Design
2. Warren Design
When would you use a combination truss?
A combination truss is used when you want a roof with two different exterior slopes and two different interior slopes.
Why should connector plates not be installed with a hammer?
They do not develop the resistances (solid anchorage) for which they are designed. These resistances can only be achieved when the plates are pressed into the lumber.
What is a girder truss?
A girder truss is comprised of two, three or more trusses laminated together to form a single truss capable of transferring much greater loads than a single truss.
Where can the instructions for the proper lamination of a girder truss be found?
They should be sent out with the shipment and will be included with the truss documentation.
Loads can be divided into two groups. What are they?
Live and Dead
Which type of load is a layer of roofing plywood attached to the trusses?
A dead load
Which type of load is a pile of roofing plywood placed on the roof trusses prior to installation?
A live load
What is a point load?
A concentration of loading in one area of a building or roof. An air conditioning unit would be a point load on a roof.
What are two basic forces that continually act on a truss?
Tension and compression
On what does the compressive strength of a member depend?
It’s unsupported length. The longer the unsupported length the less resistance it has to a compressive load.
What is the purpose of the lateral bracing that is installed on the various members of a truss?
It serves to reduce the unsupported length of the members, which increases the compressive strength of those members.
Against what type of forces is wood the weakest?
Against tension forces that are perpendicular to the grain.
Why has the 1/2” maximum bearing gap rule been established for the installation of certain types of trusses?
Research has shown that following this rule helps reduce truss failure due to horizontal shear.
How can the amount of deflection in a particular member be decreased without decreasing the unsupported length of the member?
By decreasing the depth of the member. For example, if the floor in a building deflects too much when a person walks across it, a deeper truss remedies this problem.
Which truss will deflect the most given the same span and loading: a higher pitched truss or a lower pitched truss?
The lower truss will deflect the most.
What can be done to help eliminate the movement in the walls of a building when the truss being installed is prone to horizontal deflection?
Special truss hangers that allow the truss to deflect horizontal and independently of the wall can be installed when trusses prone to deflection can be used.
When is the best time to inspect for missing or damaged trusses?
While they are being in-loaded on-site. Any damage or missing items should be noted on the receiving documents. If this is done at the time of delivery, it is likely that the manufacture will take responsibility.
What type of info is included in the document package with the truss delivery?
Truss design drawings, truss placement and layout drawings, detail drawings for laminating girders, applying “T” braces and any other assembly or installation details. Also hanger installation instructions as well as the WWTAs recommendations for handling, erecting and bracing wood trusses.
When trusses are delivered to the site, they are usually banded together. Is it good practice to use the banding for lifting the pile of trusses off of the truck?
No. They keep the trusses in an orderly pile and is likely to fail if used to lift the bundle of trusses
Why must care be taken when lifting a truss that is laying flat on the ground?
They are very weak laterally and bending the truss while it is laying flat can easily cause damage to the truss at the point of the connector plate.
What is the maximum amount of lateral deflection that can be applied to a truss before it is likely to start causing enough stress at the connector plates to begin weakening the joints?
Lateral deflection greater than 150 mm (6”) over 6 m (20’) is considered excessive and can cause weakening at the joints.
What is the best position in which to keep a truss while it is being lifted and moved?
A vertical position
When should you consider getting a crane or picker in to hoist your trusses into place rather than lifting the trusses by hand?
When the size and situation make it difficult to place the trusses without placing undue stress on the joints and connectors.
For what size of truss is a single pickup point suitable hoisting?
Trusses twenty feet and under in length.
When lifting a truss over 30’ in length it is recommended that two lifting lines be used. What is the max recommended angle between the two lines and why is the recommendation made?
60 degrees in order to minimize the possibility of the truss buckling during the lift from pressure created by the lifting lines.
What type of of equipment is recommended when lifting trusses ranging in length from 30’ to 60’?
A spreader bar and slings should be used.
A strong back should be used when lifting large trusses over 60’ in length. Where should the strong back be positioned in relation to the truss?
At or slightly above the mid-height point of the truss, to prevent overturning of the truss while it is being lifted.
What are two advantages in using a crane for lifting multiple trusses onto a roof?
Faster and safer
What are 4 types of braces that should be installed when performing multiple truss lifts with a crane?
- Lateral bottom chord bracing
- Lateral top chord bracing
- Diagonal top chord bracing
- Diagonal centre web bracing
Why should care be taken to limit the amount of extension of braces and lifting beams beyond the ends of the trusses on a multiple truss lift?
So that the braces and/or lifting beams do not interfere with trusses already installed on the roof.
When can you find info regarding appropriate pickup points on a truss when performing a crane lift with multiple trusses?
The manufacturer
Why is it critical to ensure that the first truss is solidly anchored and properly braces before setting the subsequent trusses?
Because all subsequent trusses are anchored to it and if it topples, the whole set of trusses will fall like dominoes.