BUILDINGCONSTRUCTION-III

B . A rc h II/II

ROOF TRUSSES
TIMBER AND STEEL TRUSSES
2. ROOF TRUSSES

ROOF TRUSSES :

• Truss can be of two types (according to materials)

➢ Timber truss
➢ Steel truss

• Both type include of flat and pitched roof.

• They are structurally designed frames based on the principle of triangulation and thus
their members can resist primarily compressive and tensile stresses and also small
bending stresses.
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

• Trusses are mainly used to give

a clear working/functional
space in a room free from load
bearing walls

• They are generally used for

large spans e.g. at auditoriums,
theatres, industrial buildings
etc. for light load roofing only.
ROOF TERMINOLOGY

Roof Terminology
2. ROOF TRUSSES

• To make a suitable rigid joint, truss members are connected by various

members:

➢Strap Tie: This metal strap is

perhaps the most versatile
fastener and may be used for
connecting many types of
framing joints.
➢Spike Grid: These devices may be
curved on one side for joining a
round post to a flat beam or may
be flat on both sides. They add
considerable strength to the joint. ➢Flat Plate Connecter: This device is especially useful for
splicing (join) beams together or for joining a flat beam to
a round post in a top load situation.
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

• To make a suitable rigid joint, truss members are connected by various

members:

➢Rafter Anchor: These are used to anchor the

building’s rafters to the wall studs and also have ➢ Plywood gusset plates
application as tie- down devices.
(glued and nailed)

Plywood
gusset
plates
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

• They may be girder (heavy beam)

or wall supported with edge
condition
Flush Eaves
➢Flush roof edge / Flush Eaves
➢Roof overhang/ Projecting
Eaves

• False ceiling may be applied to

the bottom chords

Projecting Eaves
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

Roofs can be classified in a number of ways and these

are a few of them:

A. By roof pitch:
i. Pitched roofs and
ii. Flat roofs

B. By Roof Form
i. Flat roof
ii. Lean-to roof
iii. Monopitch roof
iv. Symmetrical pitched roof
v. Asymmetrical pitched roof
vi. Gabled roof Name of Stick in Roof
vii. Hipped roof
viii. Mansard roof
2. ROOF TRUSSES

B. By Roof Form
i. Flat roof
ii. Lean-to roof
iii. Monopitch roof
iv. Symmetrical pitched
roof
v. Asymmetrical pitched
roof
vi. Gabled roof
vii. Hipped roof
viii. Mansard roof

Roof form outlines

 2. ROOF TRUSSES
Gambrel or Mansard Roof
Gambrel roofs are double
pitched with a break in the
roof slope. The pitch angle
above the break is less than
45 relative to the horizontal,
whilst the pitch angle below
the break is greater.
Generally, these angles are 30
and 60.

Gambrels are useful in

providing more attic
headroom and frequently
incorporate dormers and
rooflights. They have a variety
of constructional forms.
2. ROOF TRUSSES

Timber trusses can be classified under followings;

Pitched trusses:

• They are triangular design frames spaced at 4500- 6000 mm c/c and with
spans up to 30m.
• The pitch is in 1:5 ratio or steeper and made to suit roof coverings.

Examples;
➢ Fink truss
➢ Double fink truss
➢ Howe truss
➢ Mono pitch truss

Pitched trusses
2. ROOF TRUSSES
Flat trusses( Flat top girders):
▪ They are low pitched frames having pitch of less than 10 degree to the horizontal.
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

Joists set horizontally but taper cut

timbers set at right angles now known as
Joist
declivity pieces.
slope end
Flat roofs in timber for end

There are few of

these roofs which
are truly flat, i.e. the
surface is horizontal.
Joists are horizontal but
The upper edge of the
set at different levels
joists is cut to a slope

The majority have a

fall or falls to take
the rainwater off to Everything built horizontally and
one side or to a Joists are horizontally with insulation layer over deck is cut to taper
collection point. tapered cut timber on top
called a firing piece

Flat roof – options for structure.

2. ROOF TRUSSES
Trussed roofs

Before the trussed rafter, timbers:

i. for roofs had to be of sufficient strength
to span quite considerable distances
using nails and simple jointing
techniques. If the timber couldn’t make it
on its own, then strong beams

ii. could be used to break up the spans of

these timbers, and if that was not
enough extra strong frames
iii. were made up and put in to break the
span of the beams.

Thus we had:
i. These timbers would be the rafters, ties,
collars and hangers of an ordinary roof.
ii. The beams used would be purlins to
support the centre of the rafters, and
binders to support the ties, generally at Pitched roof shapes and types
their third points.
2. ROOF TRUSSES
Trussed rafter :

• These are triangulated plane roof frames designed to give clear spans between
the external supporting walls.
• They are delivered to site as a prefabricated component where they are fixed to
the wall plates at 600mm centres.
2. ROOF TRUSSES
B) Steel Trusses:

• These are triangulated plane frames

which carry purlins to which the roof
coverings can be fixed.
• Steel is stronger than timber and will
not spread fire over its surface and
for these reasons it is often preferred
to timber for medium and long span
roofs.
• The rafters are restrained from
spreading by being connected
securely at their feet by a tie
member.
 2. ROOF TRUSSES
B) Steel Trusses:
• Struts and ties are provided within the basic triangle to give adequate bracing.
• Angle sections are usually employed for steel truss members since they are economic and
accept both tensile and compressive stresses.
• The members of a steel roof truss are connected together with bolts or by welding to
shaped plates called gussets.
• Steel trusses are usually placed at 3,000 to 4,500 centres which gives an economic purlin
size.
2. ROOF TRUSSES
2. ROOF TRUSSES
2. ROOF TRUSSES

MS Angles Steel Truss Construction

2. ROOF TRUSSES
 2. ROOF TRUSSES
•The advantages of steel trusses are;
• They are stronger than timber trusses

• They are light in weight and can be fabricated in any desired pattern to suit architectural

pattern
• They are free from the attack of white ants, termites or any insects

• They have more fire resisting capacity than the timber trusses

• They do not have restriction of the span and thus they can be used for any required large
spans

• They are easy in transportation

• The process of roofing work is fast

• The disadvantages of triangular steel trusses are;

• They might not have good appearance.

• They require frequent painting to prevent from rusting or any other weathering effects
2. ROOF TRUSSES
2. ROOF TRUSSES

Flat Trusses :
• They are low pitched trusses having pitch of less than 10
degree to the horizontal

• Normally used to fulfill the architectural requirements.

• They are structurally less efficient for medium and large spans and
therefore more expensive than slope truss or portal frames.

• The main reason is the need to prevent too large deflection under
load.
2. ROOF TRUSSES

• For this reasons flat roof beams and girders have

to be deeper than is necessary for strength alone.
• Rain water ponding is another serious problem.
• To avoid ponding, the roof surface has to have a
positive fall or slope to outlets.

• The advantages of flat roof frames are;

➢ there is comparatively little unused roof space to
be heated in the cold areas and
➢ it requires lesser area of roofing material than
sloped roof.
 2. ROOF TRUSSES
STEEL FLAT TRUSSES:
Types:
A. Main and secondary beam flat roof construction:
• Solid I-section main beams are
supported by steel columns with
I- section secondary beams

• Demerits :
➢ Heavy in construction and
➢ Not structurally efficient because of the
considerable depth required to limit
deflection under load

❖ Generally used for single bay short or medium

span roofs
❖ In some cases, the solid web beams may have
openings
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

B. Lattice girder flat roof construction:

•Constructed from cold formed steel strip top hat
section for top and bottom booms with a lattice
steel rods welded between them
• Depth of the beams for flat roof is governed by
➢ the need to limit deflection under load and
➢ the rigidity of depth more than the weight of
the beam.
• Thus, a lattice beam or girder of comparatively
small section members, fixed between top and
bottom boom provides
➢ adequate stiffness,
➢ economy in the use of materials and
➢ low self-weight
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

• It is an advantage to taper the top boom

to provide a positive fall or slope

• They are considerably cheaper

• In many cases, the lattice beams used

for flat roofs are fabricated from hollow
round and rectangular steel sections
• Hollow rectangular section booms are
preferred
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

C. V-beam flat roof construction:

• The V-section or
prismatic beams are
fabricated from
tubular steel sections
welded together.
 2. ROOF TRUSSES
D. Space grid flat roof construction:

• Three dimensional truss composed of linear structural

members that form a series of triangulated
polyhedrons(many faces)
• Form horizontal plane of constant depth and are capable
of relatively large clear spans
• commonly used for single storey
buildings such as sports halls,
shopping centres, factories and
buildings required whole floor area
free of obstructing columns
• The space deck roof is
assembled on site from Space Truss

standard space deck units

 2. ROOF TRUSSES

• Space deck units are in the form of an inverted

pyramid with a steel angle tray base, tubular
diagonals welded to tray and coupling boss.
• They are bolted together through the angle trays
and connected with tie bars through the
coupling bosses.
• Space deck roofs may be designed as either two-
way spanning structures with a square column
grid or as one-way spanning structures with a
rectangular column grid. Economic column grids
are;

➢ 12m. X12m.
➢ 18m. X 18m.
➢ 12m. X 18m.
2. ROOF TRUSSES
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

Advantages :
• Comparatively wide spacing of the
supporting columns
• Economy of structure in the use of
standard units
• Speed in erection

Disadvantages :
• The great number of lattice members that will collect dust
• Require careful maintenance to inhibit rust
 2. ROOF TRUSSES
TRIANGULAR TRUSSES:
1.Timber triangular trusses:
• Triangulated structural framework of timber framing members, which form a
light and strong structural unit.

• To make rigid joint, members are connected by:

➢ Plywood gusset plates or
➢ Truss or nail plates or
➢ Bolts and timber connectors

• The spans can be generally between 6m. to 18m.

• The size of the members, their pattern and the depth of the truss depend on the
loading condition and the availability of the good timber length.

• They may be supported on column, girder or wall.

• Some of the triangular timber trusses are;

➢ King post truss; Fink truss; Double fink truss; Howe truss; Mono pitch truss
 2. ROOF TRUSSES
2. Steel Triangular Trusses:

Various forms of steel triangular trusses are;

A. Symmetrical pitch steel lattice truss construction:

• One of the most simple and cheapest forms of roofing

structure

• Normally used at simple normal sheds

• The considerable depth of frame at mid span provides

adequate strength and rigidity to minimize deflection
under load.

• For maximum structural efficiency, the slope of the rafters > 17°
• To limit the volume of unused roof space,
➢ span < 12m.
➢ spacing = 3 - 5m.
• The trusses are either supported on the steel columns, girders or side walls.
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

• The glass or transparent sheets may

be used in the slope roof to gain
natural day light as per design.
2. ROOF TRUSSES

▪ The advantages of this type of truss are;

➢ simple
➢ economical
➢ easily fabricated and
➢ quickly erected.
➢ Easy to gain natural light

▪The disadvantages are;

➢ considerable volume of unused roof space which can
only be used for housing the various services and
➢ considerable visible unattractive area of roof.
 2. ROOF TRUSSES
B. North light steel lattice truss construction:

• It has asymmetrical roof profile with the

south facing slope at 17° or more with
CGI sheets and the north facing slope
at 60° with clear glass or transparent
sheets.

• It provides light admittance from north

slope only

• It is used to avoid overheating in

summer and glare from the roof lights
set in east and west
2. ROOF TRUSSES
•The space inside the roof trusses is greater than that of symmetrical
pitch roof having same span.
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

C. Multi-bay lattice steel roof truss construction:

• For structural efficiency, a triangular truss should have a pitch of not less than
17° to the horizontal.
• With increase in span there is an increase in unused roof space and length of
truss members.
• Thus, to cover large areas it is better to use two or more bays of pitch roofs

• Usually valley beams or lattice girders are used with multi-bay roofs to
reduce the number of internal columns and give clear working floor area.
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

D. Multi-bay valley beam lattice steel roof truss construction:

• A valley beam is used

under the valley of
adjacent roofs to
support the ends of roof
trusses between the
internal columns
• The depth of the valley
beam depends
upon the span or the
space between
the internal
columns,
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

E. Cantilever (Umbrella) Multi-Bay Lattice

Steel Truss Roof Construction
• Support at mid span of the roof truss between
comparatively widely spaced trough internal
columns
• Girder supports half of each truss with each
half cantilevered each side of the truss,
hence the name ‘ cantilever truss”
• Outline in section of column and truss
cantilevered each side of the lattice girder
resembles umbrella >> umbrella roof
• Disadvantages>> widely spaced internal column
provide little fall for rainwater>> requires greater
number of lattice member which collect dust, dirt
need frequent painting >> obstruct natural roof
light
 2. ROOF TRUSSES

Method Lattice steel truss

construction:
Standard MS angles:

• For the sake of

economy, lattice steel
trusses are often
fabricated from
standard steel angle
section with

➢ Two angles, back to back, for the

rafters and main tie
➢ a single angle for
the internal struts
and ties.
2. ROOF TRUSSES

▪ The members of the steel truss are joined by the flat steel gusset
plates that are cut to shape to house the required numbers of bolts/
rivets.
2. ROOF TRUSSES

• The bearing plates fixed to

foot of each truss also acts as
cap plates to columns.

• Standard I-section steel

columns are generally used to
support the roof truss.
2. ROOF TRUSSES

Tubular steel:
• The lattice trusses can be
fabricated from tubular steel
sections that are cut and welded
together

• The middle third of the length of the

main tie being raised in medium
and long span trusses to achieve
some working height below.
PURLINS @ 1.4 m c/c

3.5m
12m
Scale: 1:200
Scale: 1:100

200x200 200x20
0

200x200

Joints Details
200x200
Scale: 1:10
150x100
500x300 20mm BOLT

Maintain slope angle @ 20-25o

RaisedtieMS angle steellatticetruss
Scale: 1:20

Typical roof sheetingfixings Scale: 1:10

Scale: 1:20
 2. ROOF TRUSSES
Triangular Trusses:
The advantages of triangular trusses are;
• They are stronger than flat trusses
• They can used for the buildings
having large spans viz. halls,
factories, theatres etc.
• Rainwater can be easily drained out

The disadvantages of triangular trusses are;

• They form considerable volume of roof
space.
• The unused space beneath the roof
also requires to be heated in cold
areas.
• The roofing material requires more than
in flat trusses