Tubular Steel Trusses with Cropped Webs

Abstract

Experimental investigations of the force‐deformation behavior of cropped‐web tubular Pratt type truss joints and specimens representing truss compression webs are described. Dimensionless empirical expressions are presented for estimating the strength and flexibility of square‐chord and roundchord joints with end‐cropped webs. Strength and flexibility comparisons are drawn between round‐chord and square‐chord joints. The behavior of isolated joint specimens is compared to that of similar joints in trusses. The influence of chord axial force and secondary bending moment on joint strength is examined. The influence of end‐cropping on effective‐length factors of truss compression webs is demonstrated. A procedure is proposed for designing tubular trusses with end‐cropped webs.