VECTOR STRUCTURAL SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION TO THE
SYSTEM
The system of straight linear
members in which the
redirection of forces is
effected by multi-
directional splitting of forces
into vectors along
compressive and tensile
elements.

•VECTOR :value describing

magnitude of load and THE DISTRIBUTION OF LOAD BY SPLITTING IT UP
direction of its application. AT JUNCTIONS THAT ARE MUCH MORE CAPABLE
OF BEARING LOAD THAN STRAIGHT CROSS
SECTIONS OF MATERIALS.
•The main unit is a triangle. THIS IS THE PRINCIPAL THAT VECTORS USE
THOROUGHLY.
 TYPES OF VECTOR ACTIVE
STRUCTURES

TRUSS
A truss is composed of triangles because
of the structural stability of that shape
and design.
A triangle is the simplest geometric
figure that will not change shape when
the lengths of the sides are fixed. In
comparison, both the angles and the
lengths of a four-sided figure must be
fixed for it to retain its shape.
 BRACING

• Bracing is mainly used in

facade of the building to
protect it from
deformation due to wind
pressure and other forces
opposing the vertical
structure system.
 SPACE FRAMES

•A space frame truss is a

three-dimensional framework
of members pinned at their
ends.
•A tetrahedron shape is the
simplest space truss.
 Evolution of the Vector Structural
System
Trussing, that is triangulating of a framework, was invented expediently by various
people in the process of producing frameworks that were stable at the very dawn of
prehistoric architecture. The idea of truss as a stabilizing device preceded the idea
of the truss as a spanning structure. For buildings natural frame patterns involved
use of vertical members or posts and horizontal members like lintels. This produces
rectilinear frames which were inherently unstable to planar distortions, that’s is,
non resistive to lateral effects. Thus arose the need for some kind of bracing i.e. use
of diagonal members.
As building size i.e. span increased, rectilinear frames were subjected to sagging. Thus
Triangulation of members came about. For buildings, principal early applications of
trusses were in achieving the basic gable form roof, with two opposed sloping flat sides
meeting at a ridge at the top and forming two draining edges at their opposite bottom sides.
Horizontal tie across this building held the two edges from thrusting outward and thus
forming a single triangular truss, with two compression members ( the rafters) and one
tension member ( the horizontal tie).

Subdivision of truss as
span increased.

Concrete lintel to truss

Arches to well defined and

stronger trusses
 THE NEXT TRUSSED STRUCTURES,
BRIDGES & TIMBER BRACED HOUSES
The same forms of spanning structures utilized for building roofs were applied to other
spanning situations also like bridges. A new era of guaranteed high-tech stability was
started through successive transport of load in a built up form. Splitting at various
branches into different compositional forces, load is transferred to earth through various
truss units.
 THE INVENTION OF VARIOUS TRUSSES

Burr truss 1804 Town truss

1820

Howe truss 1841 Pratt truss 1844

Warren truss 1848

Whipple truss 1846
 FAMOUS HISTORICAL EXAMPLES
St. Catherine
at Mt. Sinai
567 AD

Pantheon portico ( Rome) 126 AD-

2nd century
Truss bridge
by Villard de
Honnecourt
13th century

San Clemente, Rome 1100 AD

 1758 AD Truss
bridge by the
Grubenmann
brothers.

Andrea Palladio Bridges 1540-

1580 AD

Eiffel tower 1887-1889 AD . Both by Gustave Eiffel

Statue of Liberty
1865-1884 AD
 TRUSSES
A truss in architectural and
structural aspects can be defined as
a systematic combination of
interconnected tension and
compression members that are
freely and smoothly connected to
each other by pins.

All the members in a

truss are considered and
practically connected in
triangular or tetrahedral
(in case of double grid
space frames) geometry.
TOP CHORD:
It is that member of the truss
that undergoes compression
TERMINOLOGY
and takes the thrust directly
from the load above it. It may
be flat or inclined depending
upon the type of structure we
want and also on the fact that
how we want to utilize the
truss.
BOTTOM CHORD:
It is that member of a truss
that undergoes tension due to
the load above it and it ties
the compression members
above it.

WEB TIES:
These are the diagonal
members that share the
load between the top
chords and the bottom
chord and ties the whole
system together.

HEEL JOINT:
These can be termed as
the bands that bind the
two types of chords.
PANEL POINT:
It is the point at which the webs are joined.
These joints are considered to be smooth
and are mostly free to move.

WEDGE:
It is that triangular member that is fit
onto the joint between the top chord and
the bottom chord so as to avoid the
breaking of the joint.

TRUSS PLATE: BEARING:

It is that steel plate that is joined at the It is that wooden member that is situated on
joint between the top chord and the web the inferior of the heel, simply to support the
or between the web or bottom chord. heel joint.

PANEL LENGTH:
It is the span between two consecutive panel
HEEL: points.
It happens only in the case of trusses
made out of wood and it is the point at
which the top chord and the bottom PEAK:
chord are joined. It is the highest point of the truss and where two
top chords confine to meet.
 THEORY OF TRUSSES,
TENSION AND COMPRESSION
&
APPLICATION IN TRUSSES
Trusses can be further classified
•All members in a truss are according to an equation between
considered to be straight, stiff and the no. of members the truss
unstretched within the elastic limit of possesses and the no. of joints it is
the material of which it is made. bound by.

•The total load acting on a truss is The equation is as follows:

taken to be concentrated upon the Let m be the no. of members the
joints that it possesses. truss has and j be the no. of joints
the truss has , then ,
•All the members are axial load If
elements which may either exist in 1.2j-3<m then the truss is termed as
tension or compression. redundant and,
2.If 2j-3> or =m, then the truss is
stable.
 APPLICATION IN TRUSSES
As a result of the members
undergoing tension and
compression , the load gets
distributed evenly on all the
members of the truss and
eventually finds the shortest
possible way to transfer the
load to ground.

In addition to this, materials

which are less bulky and
highly tensile in comparison
to the ethnic materials that
have been used in the past
are a lot cheap ,easy to install
and highly mobile to use.

Challenging the strength of

materials and making use out
of it is what vector structural
system roams about.
 RELEVANCE OF LAMI’S THEOREM

We first basically need to know

what drives us to mention Lami’s
theorem in the context of truss. Consider this square
framework for example,
As mentioned earlier in the it would slacken if a
force is applied in the
definition of truss, a truss is a
direction of the
combination of interconnected pointer.
compression and tension
members. This is because force
applied on the top bar
But it is highly noticeable a fact , doesn’t get distributed
equally on the side
that what exactly must be the
posts and eventually
geometry of such members that it the weight of the
may actually take that much of system and the that of
compression and tension. the load is not
GROUNDED or
Why actually we do not take any EARTHED and
form or shape to construct a truss. eventually the shear This happened due to the fact
force of the load will
slacken the structure.
that the forces as per lami’s
THE ANSWER RESTS WITHIN THIS theorem did not resolve at a
LAMI’S THEOREM. point and a disbalance made
the structure to collapse.
Now in this case we have simply added
another member that undergoes diagonal
compression that takes the load from one
corner of the square directly to the
ground.

THIS SHOWS THAT WE NEED THE

SHORTEST POSSIBLE WAY TO
GROUND THE LOAD , WHICH IS This is the smallest unit that we use
INDEED PROVIDED BY THE BODY in case of flat trusses.
DIAGONAL.

THIS PHENOMENON OF LOAD

TRANSFER BY ADDING A DIAGONAL
MEMBER ON EITHER CORNERS IS AN
EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE KNOW AS
BRACING.
TRIANGLE according to lami’s NEED OF TRIANGULATION
theorem is the most rigid and
stable of forms due to the fact
that being a combination of
AND
three coplanar elements i.e. its
arms.
POINT CONNECTION
Any 3 force that are applied at NOW HERE WE EXPLAIN THE MECHANISM OF TRIANGULATION.
the three corners of the
triangle be it a force of 1. When we apply a force at the junction of the two arms, they tend
to slacken due to shear action.
compression or tension, nullify
at the centroid of the triangle. 2.Now if I just add a tie chord to tie these ends together it just hold
onto the structure. This tie would take all the tension to overcome the
shear.

1 2
Joints in a truss are
the most requisite
aspect of balance.
The stability of a
truss depends upon
the no. of joints it
possesses.

More the no. of

joints mean more
are the shortcuts to
load grounding and
henceforth the
structure becomes
stable.

PURLINS i.e. the

connecting plates of
these joints spread
the load evenly
above all the points.
 TYPES OF TRUSSES
A structure composed of members connected together to form a rigid
framework.
Usually composed of interconnected triangles.
Members carry load in tension or compression.

Pratt Parker K-Truss

Howe Camelback Warren

Fink Double Intersection Pratt Warren (with Verticals)

Bowstring Baltimore Double Intersection Warren

Waddell “A” Truss Pennsylvania Lattice

KING POST
A king post is a central vertical supporting post used in
architectural, bridge, or aircraft designs.

QUEEN POST
A Queen post is a supporting post designed to span longer
openings than a king post.Qqueen post uses two central
supporting post.
 HOWE TRUSS
Includes vertical members and diagonals that slope up
towards the centere .The diagonal we web

PRATT TRUSS
The flat truss is used in roofs or floors.
In pratt truss diagonal members on the bridge angled toward
the bottom center of the bridge identify the Pratt configuration
 ATTIC TRUSS
The attic truss provides useable area within the roof space.
Bottom Chord in centre designed as a floor.

SCISSOR TRUSS
The scissor truss is used to create a vaulted ceiling along the
entire span. The slope of the bottom chord is usually equal to
1/2 of the slope of the top chord. Scissor Truss.
WARREN TRUSS

The warren configuration is composed of diagonals that

alternate their angle, forming a repeating v-shaped pattern. A
Warren truss has no vertical members.
DUAL SLOPE
This truss provides an asymmetric roof slope.

DUAL SLOPING CHORD FLAT

This shape is used to provide positive drainage to both sides of the
building and is also referred to as a High Heel Common Truss.
3-DIMENSIONAL TRUSSES
CURVED SYSTEMS
 BRACING
Bracing is mainly used on the façade of the
building to protect it from deformation due to
wind pressure and other forces opposing the
vertical structure system.

This bracing should be designed to transmit wind

loads on the building to bracing in vertical planes
along the sides and ends of the building, for
transmission to the foundations.
CONCEPT OF BRACING
There are two distinct
types of bracing.

Temporary or Construction
Bracing:
This is the proper bracing of the trusses
during the erection phase of the
structure.

Permanent Bracing
Permanent bracing typically includes
continuous lateral bracing (CLB),
diagonal bracing, bridging and blocking
at the heels and ends of the trusses.
CROSS BRACING
Cross bracing is a system utilized to reinforce
building structures in which diagonal supports
intersect.

 The cross bracing is usually done with two

diagonal supports placed in a ‘X’ shaped
manner, these supports withstand only
tension.

The cross brace technique used as a part of

disaster-proofing buildings can only be done if
the foundation is solid enough.
 ROOF BRACING
Why brace trussed rafter roofs?

Trussed rafters must be braced to create a rigid and stable

roof structure. If the bracing is omitted, wrongly positioned
or badly fixed, it may result in distortion or failure of
individual trusses or in some instances the whole roof.
The Functions of Roof Bracing
Roof bracing performs three distinct functions:

1- Temporary bracing
This is used to restrain the trusses
during erection.

2- Truss Stability bracing

This is permanent bracing which
holds the trusses upright, straight and prevents any out-of plane
buckling of the members.

3- Wind or wall bracing

This bracing is installed in the roof in
addition to the truss stability bracing and its purpose is to
stabilise the gable walls under the action of wind loading
 SPACE TRUSSES OR FRAMES
1- A space frame is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking
struts in a geometric pattern.

2- Space frames utilize a multidirectional span, with few supports.

3- They derive their strength from the inherent rigidity of the triangular frame

4- Space frames are double layered grids, excellent in appearance with large column free
spaces. Single grid space frames can also be created but they are not that prominently
used due to the fact that they are not that strengthful due to absence of panel points.

5- All type of elegant shape could be made by these systems using variety of grids.
 TYPES OF SPACE FRAME

 BALL JOINT

GRID JOINT
 JOINTING IN SPACE FRAMES
As discussed in earlier
slides ,space frames
have two kinds of joints:
1.Ball joints
2. Welded joints.

The ball joints can also PINNING

be termed as pinning
because all the struts in PICTURE
the space frames are SHOWING
PINNING
joined to each other at OF JOINTS
AND LOAD
the panel points on a BEING
TRANSFER
plate and are pinned RE VIA
that are free to rotate PANEL PTS.
TOH
on their spot as per load VRTICAL
SUPPORT
variation.
 MECHANISM OF LOAD TRANSFER

The mechanism
followed by a double
grid space truss is
same as that seen in
an egg crate.

From all the panel points on

the grid, the load gets
transferred through the
struts of the tetrahedron to
the vertical support which
inturn transfers the load to
the earth.
 SALIENT FEATURES OF SPACE FRAME

1) Enormous Spanning Capability.

2) Light Weight

3) High Aesthetics

4) High Resale Value

5) Higher Safety Factor

6) Extension With Additional Unit

 APPLICATION OF SPACE FRAMES
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS
USED IN AIR PORTS

VIEW OF KANSAI AIRPORT, JAPAN

VIEW OF TERMINAL AT COLOGNE

BONN AIRPORT,GERMANY

ENTRANCE AT T3,IGI AIRPOT,DELHI

USED IN ROOFING OF STADIUMS

BIRD’S NEST ,BEIJING

ANZ STADIUM, SYDNEY

 FRAMING IN CARS

CANOPY MADE OF TRUSS

BRIDGES BEING MADE OF

SPACE FRAMES
 GEODESIC DOME
( Jee-O-dess-ikk) as pronounced.

A geodesic dome is a spherical or partial-

spherical shell structure or lattice shell based
on a network of great circles (geodesics) lying
on the surface of a sphere. The geodesics
intersect to form triangular elements that have
local triangular rigidity and also distribute the
stress across the entire structure.

The dome is mainly composed of small

triangles that are
equilateral and congruent , such that the
vertices of the
triangles lie on the surface of a sphere.
 EVOLUTION
Dome for the first time was called GEODESIC by walther bauresfeld soon after the
first world war for a planetarium to house his planetarium projector. It was then
constructed on the roof of zeiss plant in JENA,GERMANY in 1926.

However R.BUCKMINSTER FULLER mathematically tested the strength of geodesic

dome in form of field experiment in developing TENSEGRITY ,an engineering principle
of continuous tension and discontinuous compression.

“SPHERE” – a mathematical object… and, from the architect’s point

of view…. It is the object that contains maximum volume as
compared to it’s area coverage.

To get exact sphere is tough job, so

these are made of struts….. Forming
triangles.

Simplest unit - TRIANGLE

 WHY TRIANGLE????
• If it consist of any quadrilateral or more complex
polygons, they can flex, if connections at the end are
not rigid.
• if the pieces, for example, are just connected with
bolts, through the member of strut, it is impossible
to make the joints rigid.

But if the structure are completely

composed of triangle, it can b made
completely rigid, even if the
individuals are not joined.

Load gets distributed equally

Another engg. Consideration is that, if the triangles are made perfectly equilateral,
then the stresses will be approximately same on all the struts.
 IF TRIANGLE,HOW COMPLEX TRIANGLE STRUCTURE
HELPS

Perfect and imperfect solutions

As we have know, that the perfect solution will be triangles that are all
equilateral and the only dilemma is that , this can be achieved with three
mathematical forms.
These so called
platonic solids are
approx to sphere, but
only icosahedron is
very close, but only
limitation is for any
tetrahedron octahedron icosahedron large structure it will
need long struts.

One way to proceed, is simply to divide the triangle in one of

the regular platonic solid, and this is how geodesic dome is
consructed.
 METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION

The geodesic dome being constructed in…

Wooden dome have a hole drilled in

the width of the strut. Struts are made
of exact length and a stainless steel
band lock the strut’s hole to a steel
pipe.

Temporary greenhouse are constructed by

stapling plastic sheet onto dome. It should
be stacked to the ground to prevent
movement by wind.

Steel framework dome, constructed by

electrical conduit. One flattens the end
of the struts and drills bolt holes at the
needed length.
 PANEL JOINTS IN GEODESIC DOMES
•To joint all the struts member together, a hole has to be drilled in the joints to
hold the end of the poles.
•The holes has to be fractionally larger than the pole being used. This
will ensure enough ‘give’ to create the angles necessary in the dome
building.
here we have 72deg joints
for ‘pentagonal’ shape

here we have 60deg angle

for ‘hexagonal’ shape

Timber made geodesic done has again

Joints for steel member using joints made of steel rims and bolts to
bolts and steel plate tighten it.
 The Geodesic dome is made of two different length
material.

Hexagonal shape
The two geometric
shapes in the dome…

Pentagonal shape
TYPES OF GEODESIC DOME ON
THE BASIS OF UNITS
 MATERIALS OF TRUSS
Basically there are three types of materials used in
trusses, namely
1- Timber

2- Metals

.
TIMBER:

-Generally timbers are used during the construction

of the trusses which are of shorter spans.

-Due to the compression in timbers, these are abundantly used in the construction of the
short span trusses, since it doesn’t have tension.

Commonly used

timbers are teak, sal, mahogany, deodar, etc.

Disadvantages of timber

-Due to the non availability of the timbers in certain areas,

-it is restricted to specific places only.

-Due to the occurrence of the several defects , it is not reliable.

METALS:
-They are abundantly available in nature.
-These are strong so they are durable.
Commonly used
metals are iron, aluminium and steel.

Disadvantages of metals

-Due to thermal expansion, the chances of expansion and contraction of the metals
increases.
-Continuous exposure to the atmosphere leads to the corrosion.
-Sometimes welding get destructed.
 load
Vectors system
:merits
• All elements of the space gride
contribute to the load caring capacity.

• Loads are distributed more evenly to the

supports.This can reduce the cost of
supporting structure.

• The open nature of the structure

between the two grids allow installation
of services.

• Failure of one or limited number

elements does not lead to overall
collapse of the structure.
•Trusses on a bridge may look aesthetic in some locations.

• It is economically good in comparison to the beam structure.

 Vector system:demerits
• Number of complexity of joints can
lead to longer erection time on
site.

• Failure of trusses occurs due to fire

in the structure rising the
temperature to an extent due to
which trusses melt down.

•Steel truss bridges may require

repeated painting to keep them
from rusting.
 •The geometry is fixed regular to
make trusses so it is difficult to make
trusses for regularized shaped
building.

•The conventional truss design leaves

a large volume of attic space
PICTURE GALLERY