Analysis and design of a triangular cross section truss for a highway bridge

A review of the available literature on past and present uses and advantages of a triangular cross-section truss was made. A span length of 150 feet was selected for study of a truss to carry two-lane traffic over a 30-foot wide roadway. The structural analysis program TRUSS1, written by the author, was used for preliminary analysis of various truss configurations. Several primary bracing, sway bracing, and truss depth configurations were analyzed, and final selection for design was based on least weight criteria.

The final design conformed to the AASHTO Bridge Specifications. The design dealt with member selection considering buckling and stress constraints, joint design, deflection critiera, bearings, and secondary stress considerations.

The structural analysis program STRUDL was used to check the final design and verify the accuracy and results of the TRUSS1 program. The paper cited 80 references.