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ProtaStructure Design Guide - Space Trusses

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
271 views13 pages

ProtaStructure Design Guide - Space Trusses

Uploaded by

Denys Pacheco
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ProtaStructure Design Guide

Space Trusses
Version 1.0 July 2024

Please contact us for your training and technical support queries

asiasupport@protasoftware.com

globalsupport@protasoftware.com

Publisher
Page - 2

Limitation of Prota shall not be held responsible for any losses caused by
Responsibilities documentation, software, or usage errors.

In addition to Prota License Agreement Terms, it is the responsibility of


the user.

• to check results generated by documentation and software,


• make sure that the users of the software and their supervisors
have adequate technical capabilities,
• make sure the software is correctly used per the reference
manual and documentation,

Intellectual ProtaStructure is a registered trademark of Prota Software Inc, and all


Property intellectual property rights belong to Prota Software Inc. Documentation,
training, and reference manuals. Any program component cannot be
copied, distributed, or used in violation of the license agreement.

Trademarks ProtaStructure®, ProtaDetails®, ProtaSteel® ve ProtaBIM® are registered


trademarks of Prota Software Inc. Prota logo is a trademark of Prota
Software Inc.
Page - 3

Table of Contents
Table of Contents..................................................................................................................................... 3
Space Trusses........................................................................................................................................... 4
Inserting a Space Truss ........................................................................................................................ 5
Framing Type ....................................................................................................................................... 6
Top Surface and Bottom Surface Shape .............................................................................................. 6
Adjusting Grid & Offset ........................................................................................................................ 7
Changing Profiles ................................................................................................................................. 7
Applying Loads on Space Truss ............................................................................................................ 7
Applying Loads on Space Truss via Load Editor.................................................................................... 9
Extending Top of the Columns to Space Truss ................................................................................... 10
Design of Space Trusses ..................................................................................................................... 11
Thank You… ........................................................................................................................................... 13
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Space Trusses
Space trusses are three-dimensional counterparts of planar trusses. These structures consist of
members connected at their ends, often utilizing ball-and-socket joints to create a stable and versatile
framework. Space trusses find wide application in various construction projects due to their adaptability
and capacity to withstand complex loads. They are commonly used in steel buildings, bridges, and other
large-scale structures.

A space truss is a rigid, lightweight structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern.
Unlike planar trusses, which lie in a single plane, space trusses extend into three dimensions.

Space trusses consist of straight members (often called bars or struts) connected at their ends. These
members can be made of steel, aluminum, or other materials.

The joints in space trusses are typically ball-and-socket joints, allowing rotational freedom. This flexibility
enables the truss to accommodate various load conditions.

Simple space trusses can be obtained by adding three elements at a time to three existing joints and
joining all the new members at a point. The most elementary 3D space truss structure is the
tetrahedron.

Space frames are used to span large areas with few interior supports. They are commonly found in
architectural designs for roofs, canopies, and other large-scale structures.

Space trusses are versatile and efficient, making them valuable components in modern engineering and
architecture. ProtaStructure 2025 offers powerful steel modeling macros like trusses, purlins, girts,
braces, steel domes, etc. With these macros, creating a fabrication-ready steel model with accurate
eccentricities and member positions is very easy.

In ProtaStructure 2025, we have developed Space Truss macro. This is a powerful addition to our steel
modeling arsenal. With this macro, you can specify a region and insert a space truss parametrically. You
can control parameters such as cell size, number of rows and columns, curvature and more.
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Inserting a Space Truss


To insert a steel space truss:

1. Pick the Space Truss command on the Modeling > Steel Members ribbon tab.

2. Draw a rectangular area on the screen where the space truss will be placed. Space trusses can
only be placed in a rectangular area.

3. The parametric Space Truss Editor will be launched. On this editor, you can control the
parameters for top and bottom surface separately. Additionally, you can change the steel profile
to be used in space truss, define uniform loads and change number of truss grids.
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Framing Type
You can select Reducing or Increasing option for auto-generation of space truss pattern. The icons on
the toolbar being self-explanatory, the Reducing option creates bottom surface larger than the top
surface while Increasing option does the opposite.

Top Surface and Bottom Surface Shape


The space truss module is quite powerful, so that it allows you to specify different curvature for top and
bottom surfaces of the truss. The parameters on the left panel will change depending on the surface
type. Planar, cylindrical and spherical surfaces can be selected.
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Adjusting Grid & Offset


You can specify number of grids (space truss triangular modules) in terms of Column Count and Row
Count. You can also enter an offset value in Z direction to shift the entire truss. You must click the
Generate button to apply the changes.

Changing Profiles
You can change the steel profile to be used in truss rods using the Section button under Loads tab.

Applying Loads on Space Truss


The self-weight of the truss members itself is automatically calculated. We have provided fields for easy
application of uniform loads on truss cladding.

The cladding object that facilitates the load transfer will be automatically inserted on the space truss
and is an inseparable part of the truss. That means you cannot delete it. Apart from the uniform loads
specified in the space truss editor, You can assign any loads on the space truss using the ProtaStructure
Load Editor.

Self-Weight: Enter the self-weight of the cladding in this field. The self-weight will depend on the type
of the cladding profile. We have provided a library of cladding loads for easy application of cladding self-
weight. You can access the cladding load library by clicking the small button next to Self-Weight field.
Page - 8

Dead Load: Enter the additional dead loads (finishes etc.) in this field. ProtaStructure already has a
library of additional dead loads. You can access the cladding load library by clicking the small button
next to Dead Load field. The library editor is in Building Setout > Slab Additional Loads ribbon tab.

Live Load: Enter the live loads in this field. You can access a quick list of imposed load values by clicking
the small button next to Live Load field.

Roof Live Load, Snow Load and Rain Load fields will be activated if the associated load cases are defined
in the Load Combinations Editor.
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Applying Loads on Space Truss via Load Editor


If you want to add further loads on the space truss, you can do so by using the ProtaStructure Load
Editor.

1. Select the space truss on the screen


2. Right click and pick Edit Loads command.

3. On the load editor you can assign Uniform Area Loads on any region on the truss cladding or
Point Loads on any joint under any load case (except seismic and notional load cases)
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Extending Top of the Columns to Space Truss


We also enhanced existing features around recently introduced ones. For example, you can extend an
existing column to a selected space truss. So that it becomes very easy to place the intermediate
supports after space truss insertion. To extend a column to a space truss:

1. Select the column and pick “Extend Column to Member” command on the right-click menu.

2. Pick the space truss.

3. The extend command will calculate the nearest point on the bottom surface of the space truss
and assign a Del Z-Top value to the column.
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Design of Space Trusses

After you analyze the building with space truss, you can continue with designing the space truss
members. There is a dedicated design interface where you can check the sub members and control the
whole process in a well-coordinated environment. To access the space truss design:

1. Select the space truss member

2. Pick the Steel Member Design command on the right click menu

3. Click Check All button to design all space truss sub members. The steel design will take place for
sub members using a multi-threaded approach utilizing computer’s all available CPU cores.

4. Alternatively, you can access the design of all space trusses via Design > Space Trusses ribbon
tab.
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Important
ProtaStructure can only design the members of a space truss. Ball & Socket joint design is currently
out of ProtaStructure and ProtaSteel’s scope.
Page - 13

Thank You…
Thank you for choosing the ProtaStructure Suite product family.

Our top priority is to make your experience excellent with our software technology solutions.

Should you have any technical support requests or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at all
times through globalsupport@protasoftware.com and asiasupport@protasoftware.com

Our dedicated online support center and our responsive technical support team are available to help
you get the most out of Prota’s technology solutions.

The Prota Team

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