Truss Connections
Truss Connections
(OP)
I have a custom steel truss that I am designing. (HSS web members, and W section chords). What is typically done for the connections? Do most people just list the axial loads of the web members on the plans, and delegate the design to the fabricator, or do most just design and detail the connections themselves?






RE: Truss Connections
RE: Truss Connections
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: Truss Connections
RE: Truss Connections
DaveAtkins
RE: Truss Connections
RE: Truss Connections
RE: Truss Connections
Not to question your abilities, I have found that many engineers of record have little to no experience with connection design.
RE: Truss Connections
RE: Truss Connections
RE: Truss Connections
What are you reasons for designing them yourself?
RE: Truss Connections
No really, I just prefer to do them myself as this is what makes engineering fun! And avoids the nebulus "other person" doing design that I have to check anyway.
RE: Truss Connections
Now I don't mean you have to detail all the connections. In your case, your gusset connections slotted into the hollow sections need to be defined on your drawings, but not detailed. The way I do it is to specify for each size web member the gusset thickness, slot length, and welding requirements to chord and web.
I think the comments jike made about eccentric connections was for the hollow sections to be directly welded to the chords. He is correct that it is cheap to do it that way, but depends on how hard the members are working. If you need to fully develop the hollow sections, backing bars would be required.
RE: Truss Connections
Eccentric connections are typically used with gusset plates as hokie66 says. We often do this when there is architectural considerations.