A Simple Approach to Truss Deflections

WAN-TSWAN TSAI

The determination of deflections for a longspan truss has long beam of a truss. This paper introduces a simple concept of
been considered a troublesome subject by structural estimating shear deflections; these deflections, together with
engineers. The most popular approach, other than utilizing the bending deflection, give the approximate deflection of a
established computer programs, is the unit-load method,1 in truss.
which In order to clarify the determination of truss deflection,
SL the author classifies trusses into four basic types, namely, N-
∆=∑ u (1) braced (Pratt) type, W-braced (Warren) type, K-braced type,
AE
and X-braced type. For each type, the equivalent moment of
where inertia for bending deflection, the shear deflection due to
S = internal force in any member due to actual loads diagonals, and the shear deflection due to posts are
u = internal force in the same member due to a fictitious individually discussed and applied. The elastic modulus is
unit load at the point where the deflection is sought, assumed to be constant for simplicity's sake.
acting along the desired direction
L = length of the member N-BRACED TYPE
A = cross-sectional area of the member The diagonals of an N-braced (Pratt) truss are all parallel, as
E = elastic modulus of the member shown in Fig. 1. For this type of truss, the equivalent moment
The simplest way to use Eq. (1) is to compile a table to of inertia for the bending deflection is intuitively given by the
compute (1) L/EA, (2) S, (3) u, (4) SLu/EA, and (5) the cross-sectional area of chord members about their averaged
summation of item (4), so that the deflection at the joint and neutral axis in the depth. The result is
along the direction of the fictitious unit load is determined. It At Ab
can be seen from this procedure that the use of Eq. (1) is very l= h2 (2)
At + Ab
time consuming because member stresses must be provided
before the evaluation of deflections. This paper proposes a where At and Ab are the cross-sectional areas of the upper
new and simple approach to preclude the evaluation of and lower chords, respectively, and h is the depth of the
member stresses, so that deflections of longspan trusses of truss.
parallel chords can be easily and accurately estimated by The shear deformation, as shown in Fig. 1, consists of
hand calculation. two portions: one due to diagonals and the other due to posts.
The basic concept in the estimation of vertical deflections With a shear force V in the panel, the elongation in the
for a longspan truss is that the truss is considered as a beam, diagonal AD produces a vertical displacement DD ′ as
the deflection of which is composed of two portions: one due Vp/EAd sin2 θ cos θ . At the same time, the displacement of
to beam bending and the other due to beam shearing. The the post AC is given by Vh/EAp. Therefore, the total
bending deflection is evaluated by using established
deflection formulas of beams as in any structural analysis
references, for instance, Ref. 2. The moments of inertia in the
formulas are to be determined from chord members. The
shear deflection involves web members only. It is known that
the shear deflection is not important in a regular beam.3
However, it is very significant in the simulated
Wan-Tswan Tsai is Senior Structural Engineer, R. M. Parsons Co.,
Pasadena, Calif., and is Chief Engineer, Tsais and Associates,
Norwalk, Calif. Fig. 1. Typical portion of N-type truss

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ENGINEERING JOURNAL / AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
shear deflection difference between two joints distance Ls For the case of uniform load:
apart is given by the proration of Ls to panel length p:
Bending deflection:
VLs  1 A  5wL4 5(W / p)(8 p) 4
∆s =  2 + d tan θ  (3) ∆b = =
EAd  sin θ cos θ A p  384 EI 384 E (16 Ap 2 / 9)
Wp
It is noted that for practical applications the shear force V = 30
may not be constant throughout the truss span. When this is EA
the case, V represents an averaged value of the shear force Shear deflection at L4 :
over the distance Ls.
With V = 2W averaged over Ls = 4p:
Example 1
Wp
∆ s = 315
.
Given: EA
An 8-panel simply supported N-braced truss, as in Fig. 2. Hence, the approximate total deflection at L 4 is:
The depth is 4/3 of the panel length. The cross-sectional area
Wp
of each chord member is 2 A and of each web member is A. ∆ = 615
.
Two types of loading condition are considered: a vertical EA
load W at joint L 4 and a set of vertical loads W at each lower Compared to the result of 61.875 Wp/EA from Eq. (1), the
chord joint. Determine the deflection at L 4 for each loading error in the approximate result is only 0.6%.
case.
W-BRACED TYPE

Figure 3 is a typical portion of a Warren truss, showing the

diagonals arranged in a W shape. Since the stress distribution
in chord members for this type of truss is similar to that for
the N-type, the moment of inertia for the W-type is assumed
to be the same as that for the N-type and Eq. (2) can be
Fig. 2. Example 1
utilized.
Solution:
The equivalent beam of this truss is considered as a simply
supported beam subjected to two types of load: a
concentrated load at the middle span and a uniform load W/p
over the whole span. The moment of inertia is I = 16Ap2/9.
From Eq. (2), the span for the bending deflection is L = 8p,
the distance for the shear deflection is Ls = 4p, the web
members are Ad = Ap = A, tan θ = 4/3, and sin2 θ cos θ =
0.384. Then, the deflection of the truss is as follows:
For the case of concentrated load:
Fig. 3. Typical portion of W-type truss
Bending deflection:
WL3 W (8 p) 3 Wp The shear deformation of a W-braced truss can be seen
∆b = = =6
2
48 EI 48 E (16 Ap / 9) EA from Fig. 3. The displacement DD ′ due to diagonals is the
same as that for the N-type. However, the deflection due to
Shear deflection: posts is different. Since post members within Ls do not affect
From Eq. (3), with V = 0.5W: the deflection difference between the ends of Ls, only the
posts at both ends of Ls may contribute their elongation
. W (4 p)  1
05 4 Wp Vh/EAp to the shear deflection. The total shear deflection can
∆b =  +  = 7.875
EA  0.384 3 EA then be written as:
VLs  1 h Ad 
Therefore, the approximate total deflection at L 4 is: ∆s =  + c  (4)
 sin 2 θ cos θ Ls A p 
Wp EAd 
∆ = ∆ b + ∆ s = 13875
.
EA where c is a constant which is 0, 1 or 2, depending on
The result utilizing Eq. (1) is 14.063 Wp/EA. The error in the whether no post, one post, or two posts at both sides of Ls are
approximate result is only 1.3%. under stress.
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THIRD QUARTER / 1976
Example 2 For the concentrated load case:
Given: Wp
∆ s = 5.208
An 8-panel simply supported W-braced truss as shown in EA
Fig. 4. Wp
∆ approx. = 11208
.
EA
and for the uniform load case,
Wp
∆ s = 20.833
EA
Wp
∆ approx. = 50.833
EA
Fig. 4. Example 2 The exact solutions for these two loading cases are
11.396Wp/EA and 51.208 Wp/EA, respectively, and the error
Solution: in the approximate result is only 1.6% for the concentrated
The bending deflections are the same as those in Example 1. load and 0.7% for the uniform load.
The only portion of deflection which is different from
Example 1 is that due to the posts. For both the concentrated K-BRACED TYPE
load and the uniform load cases, the stresses in posts U0 L0
K-braced trusses are more complicated than N-type and W-
and U4 L4 are nonvanishing. Hence, c = 2 and Eq. (4) gives:
type trusses. Since the result for the N-type is so accurate, as
For the case of concentrated load: illustrated in Example 1, the bending deflection for the K-
type will be estimated with the N-type as a base. First, it has
. W (4 p)  1
05 4
 Wp
∆s =  + 2 3  = 6542
. to be recognized that the upper and lower chord forces at any
EA  0.384 4 EA panel of an N-truss are not of equal magnitude, whereas the
For the case of uniform load: corresponding chord forces at a panel of a K-truss are equal.
From this it follows that if two trusses are of the same size,
Wp but one is K-braced and the other is N-braced, the panel
∆ s = 26167
. moments due to chord forces are different in each truss.
EA
Figure 5 illustrates the panel moments for both trusses by
These shear deflections together with the bending deflections solid lines which are step functions. The averaged panel
6Wp/EA for the concentrated load and 30Wp/EA for the moments are shown by straight dashed lines as a continuous
uniform load give the following total deflections at joint L4 : function of the moment at the middle point of a panel. It is
seen that the moments for both trusses always have a distance
For the concentrated load case:
lag of a half-panel. This means that the moment at any point
in either truss is equal to the
Wp
∆ approx. = 12.542
EA

Wp
∆ exact = 13.396 (error = 6.4%)
EA
For the uniform load case:
Wp
∆ approx. = 56167
.
EA
Wp
∆ exact = 57.208 (error = 1.8%)
EA

It is noted that when all diagonals in this example are

changed across the other corners of every panel (for example,
U0 L, and L1 U2 become L0 U1 and U1 L2 , respectively), the
stress at both ends of Ls vanishes and the constant c in Eq.
(4) equals zero. Hence, the shear deflections are independent
of post members. Fig. 5 Diagram of panel moments

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moment at a point approximately a half-panel distance away
in the other truss. By extending this throughout the trusses, it
may be said that the effective span for each type of truss is
different. It follows that with the span, Lr, of the equivalent
N-type truss as a reference, an artificial span Lk has to be
introduced to modify the bending deflection of the K-truss.
Since the bending deflection of a beam is always proportional
to L3/I, the modification is to divide the deflection of the N-
truss by Lr3 and to multiply the result by Lk3. It is also clear
that the modification for the K-truss span can be used to
modify the moment of inertia instead of the truss span. The Fig. 7 Typical portion of K-type truss
modified moment of inertia is thus given as:

L 
3 ends of the truss as that shown in Fig. 6(b), and Lk is
At Ab
I= h2  r  (5) measured to the middle point of that panel. For example, if
At + Ab  Lk  all bracing in Example 3 were turned aside, Lr would be
The method for determination of Lr and Lk follows. given by 8p, whereas Lk would be 8p plus p/2 for each end of
In most applications, the reference span Lr is taken as the the truss, or 9p.
actual span of the truss, because the averaged panel moment The shear deformation for a K-truss also consists of two
can be approximately drawn to the ends of the truss. portions, one due to diagonals and the other due to posts. For
However, the modified span Lk is dependent upon the pattern the portion due to diagonals, either one of the K arms, MB
of K-bracing. If the K-braces diverge toward midspan in the and MD in Fig. 7, can be utilized to evaluate the shear
direction that the absolute value of panel moment is deflection. However, for a more accurate result, the longer K
increasing, as shown in Fig. 6(a), the chord forces of the K- arm is considered. With this, the first portion of Eq. (3) of
type truss are equal to the smaller chord forces of the the N-type is readily applicable, except that V is replaced by
equivalent N-truss. For this case, the bending deflection of Vd/h, with d as the larger of dt and db, and θ as the larger of
the K-truss is smaller than that of the N-truss. This is θ t and θ b. The shear deflection due to posts is determined as
equivalent to saying that the modified moment of inertia for follows. The elongation of a post, such as AC in Fig. 7, is
the K-truss has to be larger than that for the N-truss and Vd(h/d – 2 + 2d/h)/EAp. The effect of this elongation on the
extensibly equivalent to Lk < Lr. It follows from the previous deflection at any point at distance Ls from the post can be
discussion that the modified span Lk is taken as the reference determined by multiplying the post elongation by the ratio
span, Lr, minus a half-panel distance at each end, as shown in Ls/p, where p is the panel length.
Fig. 5(b). For instance, in Example 3 (see below) Lr is the Having determined both the shear deflection components,
actual span 8p, whereas Lk is 7p, which is Lr minus p/2 at the total shear deflection of a K-truss is:
each end of the truss. VLs d  1  h h2  A 
On the other hand, if the K-braces diverge away from ∆s =  2 +  2 − 2 + 2  d tan θ 
EAd h  sin θ cos θ  d d  Ap 
midspan, in the direction that the absolute value of panel
moment is decreasing, as shown in Fig. 6(b), the chord forces (6)
of the K-truss are the same as the larger chord forces of the Example 3
equivalent N-truss. Accordingly, the bending deflection of
the K-truss is larger than that of the N-truss and the modified Given:
span Lk has to be larger than the reference span Lr. Similarly The truss shown in Fig. 8 is K-braced and is subjected to two
to Fig. 5(b), Lk is approximately equal to Lr plus a half-panel types of loadings: one a concentrated load at L4 and the other
distance at each end of the truss. This is equivalent to a set of equal joint loads over the lower chord. Determine the
attaching an imagined panel to the deflection at L4 .

Fig. 6 Measurement of spans Lr and Lk Fig. 8. Example 3

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THIRD QUARTER / 1976
Solution: X-BRACED TYPE
Since Lr = 8p and Lk = 7p, as discussed previously, the
An X-braced truss can be considered either as an N-braced
moment of inertia is:
3
truss overlaid by another set of N diagonals, or as a W-
At Ab L  braced truss overlaid by another set of W diagonals. The
I= h2  r 
At + Ab  Lk  bending deflection may be assumed to be the same as for the
3
N- or W-type. Therefore, the bending deflection of an X-type
(2 A)(2 A)  4 p   8 p 
2
truss is determined using the equivalent moment of inertia of
=    
2 A + 2 A  3   7 p Eq. (2).
Inspection of shearing stress in an X-type truss shows
=2.654 Ap2
that the posts do not contribute much to shear deflections.
The bending deflection for the case of concentrated load is: Therefore, this doubly braced truss behaves more like a W-
type truss and the shear deflection can be determined from
WL3 W (8 p) 3 Eq. (4), with Ad replaced by 2Ad and c = 0:
∆b = = VLs
48 EI 48 E (2.654 Ap 2 ) 1
∆s = (7)
2 EAd sin θ cos θ
2
Wp
= 4.019 Example 4
EA
Given:
The shear deflection, with V = 0.5W, Ls = 4p, Ad = Ap = A, h
Determine the deflection at L 4 for the truss of Example 1
= 2d, tan θ = 2/3, sin θ = 0.5547, and cos θ = 0.8321, can be
(Fig. 2) if it is overlaid by another set of N diagonals,
found from Eq. (6):
creating an X-type truss.
(05
. w)(4 p)
∆s = × Solution:
EA For the case of concentrated load, the bending deflection was
1 1 A  2  found in Example 1 as 6Wp/EA. The shear deflection from
 + ( 2 − 4 + 4)   
2  (05547
. 2
) (08321
. ) A  3  Eq. (7) is 2.604Wp/EA. The total deflection, then, is
8.604Wp/EA, which is in error by only 3.2% compared with
Wp the computer result, 8.890Wp/EA.
= 5.239
EA When the truss is subjected to a set of equal joint loads,
the bending deflection is 30Wp/EA and the shear deflection is
Hence, the total deflection at L 4 is 9.258Wp/EA. Compared 10.417 Wp/EA. Hence, the total deflection at L4 is
to the exact solution of 9.010Wp/EA, this result is in error by 40.417Wp/EA. Again, this is in error by only 1.1% compared
2.8%. to the computer result, 40.854Wp/EA.
For the case of uniform load, the bending deflection is
20.097Wp/EA, the shear deflection is 20.957Wp/EA, and the SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
total deflection is 41.054Wp/EA. Again, compared to the Truss deflection is estimated by considering the truss as a
exact solution of 41.166Wp/EA, the error in approximate beam. The deflection is composed of two portions. One is the
result is only 0.3%. bending deflection, which is determined as for a regular beam
Consider, on the other hand, the condition where all with moment of inertia evaluated from chord members. The
diagonals in the same truss are reversed so that they diverge other portion is the shear deflection, which is evaluated from
away from midspan, so that the absolute value of panel the deformation of web members.
moment is decreasing in the direction that the K-braces The most remarkable feature of this approach is that no
diverge. The reference span Lr is still 8p, whereas the member stresses are required. The deflection is given by the
modified span Lk equals 9p, as discussed previously. The direct calculation of simple formulas which already involve
modified moment of inertia is given by 1.249Ap2. Upon the properties of material and geometry. The examples given
applying this quantity to the case of concentrated load, the above, together with a good number of other studies, have
bending deflection is 8.543Wp/EA. This, with the previously shown that:
determined shear deflection of 5.239Wp/EA, gives an
approximate result of 13.782Wp/EA, which is in error by 1. This approach requires very little time to attain an
0.8% compared to the exact solution of 13.677Wp/EA from accurate result.
Eq. (1). 2. The results of this approach, compared with the results
Also for the truss with diagonals turned aside, if it is of either the unit-load method or computer analysis, show an
subjected to the set of equal joint loads, the bending averaged error for all examples of less than 5%.
deflection is 42.704Wp/EA. This, in conjunction with the 3. The accuracy of the result depends upon the spandepth
shear deflection of 20.957Wp/EA, gives a total deflection at ratio. The result is more accurate if the ratio is larger. In
L4 of 63.661Wp/Ea. This result, when compared to the exact general, the error of this approach is less than 5% when the
solution of 59.332Wp/EA, is in error by 7.3%. span-depth ratio is larger than 4.

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 NOMENCLATURE ∆ = a deflection
∆b, ∆x = bending and shearing deflections,
A = cross-sectional area of a member respectively
Ap = cross-sectional area of lower chord
Ad = cross-sectional area of diagonal ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Ap = cross-sectional area of post
The author is grateful to his wife, Pin Fun, for her
At = cross-sectional area of upper c hord
devoted discussion and encouragement throughout the
c = a constant
d = the larger of db and dt
preparation of this paper. He also thanks Mr. R.
db, dt = lengths of the lower and the upper portions Onodera for his suggested improvements to the paper
of K-post, respectively and Mr. C. Blue for his work in preparing the
E = the elastic modulus illustrations.
I = equivalent moment of inertia of a truss REFERENCES
L = span of bending deflections
Lk, Lr = reference spans 1. Hsieh, Y. Y. Elementary Theory of Structures,
Ls = distance between two joints to measure the Prentice-Hall, 1970, pp.152-156.
difference of shear deflections 2 Manual of Steel Construction 7th Edition, American
p = panel length of a truss Instutute of Steel Construction, 1970, pp. 2-198-2-
V = a shear force 211.
W = an applied load 3 Timoshenko, S. Strength of Materials 3rd Part 1, Van
Nostrand, 1955, pp. 170-175.

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