Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
(OP)
I have a double angle truss and I am looking for the simplest connection from web to chord. All members are double 3x3 and I need to get about 25k in the web at the ends (much less towards mid).
The building is located in a somewhat undeveloped area and the materials are limited and simplicity is key since this will be field constructed by local laborers. Material is their biggest expense, labor is cheap so I am trying to eliminate material from the connection.
Some info:
-Truss spans ~ 75+ ft.
-Hurricane Winds and partially open building so bott chords have a decent amount of compression (~50k), I have braced the bottom chords.
-Chords are 3x3x5/16 (they do not have access to larger than 3x3), web is also made of 3x3 angles
- They do have qualified welders (or so I am told).
I would like to avoid using a gusset at each node and welding everything up, however there is not enough weld length available if I try to just overlap the web angles to the chord angles. Using gussets at each node is a lot of plate material and fabrication, I am looking for a way to simplify this but still get a web to chord connection able to develop 25+ kips. Anyone have any ideas?
The building is located in a somewhat undeveloped area and the materials are limited and simplicity is key since this will be field constructed by local laborers. Material is their biggest expense, labor is cheap so I am trying to eliminate material from the connection.
Some info:
-Truss spans ~ 75+ ft.
-Hurricane Winds and partially open building so bott chords have a decent amount of compression (~50k), I have braced the bottom chords.
-Chords are 3x3x5/16 (they do not have access to larger than 3x3), web is also made of 3x3 angles
- They do have qualified welders (or so I am told).
I would like to avoid using a gusset at each node and welding everything up, however there is not enough weld length available if I try to just overlap the web angles to the chord angles. Using gussets at each node is a lot of plate material and fabrication, I am looking for a way to simplify this but still get a web to chord connection able to develop 25+ kips. Anyone have any ideas?






RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
A gusset plate to pick up all the angles is the simplest connection. It can be bolted or welded, preferably welded.
RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
Dik
RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
Are you going to be able to impose weld testing?
RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
Abusementpark - I thought of the WT's, those are not readily available and I'm trying to avoid it. I would have preferred the T's.
I'm skeptical of using bolts, I don't think they have the equipment/ability to fabricate with those kind of tolerances if at all.
What I was wondering was if anyone had a detail that avoided gussets. For example - has anyone ever turned the web angles 90 degress and then thread them through the chord angles welding the overlapping faces. I would then need a lot of stitch plates to tie everything together but this still seems simpler than all the larger gusset plates at each node....
Any other ideas to simplify the connection? The goal is to keep this simple in hopes that it can be built easily and correctly.
RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
What is the depth of the truss?
RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
Just put of curiosity, how are you adressing the horizontal thrust?
RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
Trusses sit on cantilevered concrete columns, the columns have been designed to take the thrust and they are fairly robust. They are actually restrained... hard to describe but there's sort of a mid-height slab tied into them. I also checked the truss with a roller in case the columns do not actually provide much resistance.
RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?
You would need 5" or so of weld on each side of the chord if you use 3/16" filet welds.
RE: Simplest Double Angle Truss Connection?