Advent of Trusses and Structural Analysis
Advent of Trusses and Structural Analysis
(OP)
All,
I've often heard, but have yet to read or otherwise quantify dates truss design. Some information I seen indicates that various early trusswork was done prior to actual structural analysis. More of a craft of capentry rather than one of science. Can anyone place any dates on these two items, trusses and mechanics? I suspect that mechanics might have been around since the late 15th century but definitely in the 16th century. Any other information?
I've often heard, but have yet to read or otherwise quantify dates truss design. Some information I seen indicates that various early trusswork was done prior to actual structural analysis. More of a craft of capentry rather than one of science. Can anyone place any dates on these two items, trusses and mechanics? I suspect that mechanics might have been around since the late 15th century but definitely in the 16th century. Any other information?





RE: Advent of Trusses and Structural Analysis
The oldest trusses I've ever seen were inside an old convent built in the late 1800's but I'm sure trusses were used prior to that.
RE: Advent of Trusses and Structural Analysis
Chapter 1: A Brief History of Structural Theory
Section: The Early Period (1493-1687)
'Andrea Palladio (1518-1580) an Italian architect, is believed to have first used trusses, although his designs were not the result of rational analyses. Prior to this development all construction, except solid masonry, was composed of beams, columns arches and domes.
RE: Advent of Trusses and Structural Analysis
Having said that it's nice to see Palladio mentioned!
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: Advent of Trusses and Structural Analysis
Trusses were first seriously used in cathedral construction. Cathedrals demanded long spans to support the roof, and trusses fitted the bill.
But cathedrals builders developed truss technology, they did not invent them. It is hard to say exactly when the very first trusses were built, but we do know that ordinary roof structures for barns and the like used a simple roof truss design as far back as the late dark ages (~900AD).
I'm not sure when they figured out how to analyze a truss...If I had to guess it would have been around the time of Da Vinci.
Michael
RE: Advent of Trusses and Structural Analysis
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: Advent of Trusses and Structural Analysis
Qshake
RE: Advent of Trusses and Structural Analysis
A modern engineer will look at some of the 16th century trusses and pick them to pieces. They had all kinds of members in them which didn't need to be there, and awful joint details. But they worked. And they developed into the railroad trusses of the late 18th and 19th century.
The signiature Howe, Warren, and Pratt trusses which are common currency today were all invented by engineers during this time, primarily for use in railroads. There were also tonnes of other standard designs like the lattice truss and Whipple truss which have long fallen out of use for a variety of reasons.
I did a big historical study of all of the timber truss bridges in my home state in Australia, which included a good introduction to the historical development of trusses...I might be able to get you a copy of the report if you are interested. (The report won a couple of awards and I like to show it off
Michael
RE: Advent of Trusses and Structural Analysis
That sounds like a very interesting report. Could you please give us a Title, Date and Author reference. (Then I might be able to find it at Monash or Melbourne Uni libraries ??)
RE: Advent of Trusses and Structural Analysis
The report was entitled "Heritage Study of All Timber Truss Road Bridges in NSW", June 1999, by McMillan Britton and Kell prepared for the NSW RTA.
Though I doubt you'll be able to find it in the library. We did the study for the New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority.
btw: are you or do you know Tim Wilkinson?
Michael
RE: Advent of Trusses and Structural Analysis
No, I am not Tim Wilkinson. There must be more Tims in Aus than I knew of