What is a Warren Truss?

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A Warren truss is a type of structure used in different types of construction to support a load. Trusses are elements that architects and engineers use in residential and public works projects. Warren Truss is often part of the structure that is used by professional designers in bridge construction.

Some experts define a Warren truss as a truss that has a set of diagonals in a “W” pattern relative to a horizontal frame. Others include trusses with diagonals and verticals in the definition of a Warren-style truss. The common version has a distinctive look, where a series of triangles connect to a long section. Bridges using Warren truss have rigid, block designs, rather than curves.

Many engineers working with these types of trusses will refer to a top and bottom chord, which are the horizontal parts that the individual diagonals attach to. These steel diagonals are sometimes called net diagonals. Warren trusses also often include internal handrails attached to the diagonals of the web to prevent pedestrians or others from falling off a bridge.

Warren Trusses have a long history of providing the foundation for continuous bridges in many parts of the world. This style of latticework was patented in 1848 by James Warren and quickly became a common type of construction. Historians show it as an element of British and European bridges, which later spread to become a common staple on the American scene. In the United States, the Warren structure was often the type of engineering worker used to build the traditional rail bridges that were part of the rail infrastructure that paved the way for cross-country travel and easy boarding in the United States. XIX century.

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Now that some of the oldest bridges across the country are in need of structural examination, public officials in many states are looking at the bridge design to see if modern engineering can add safety to some of the traditional facilities still in use today. USA. . . Engineers can check to see if an older Warren truss bridge includes verticals or how to limit the live load or dead load stress on the bridge. Actual load is defined as some load factor that will change over time, such as snow or ice. Dead load is a constant load. All of these factors contribute to stress, which engineers study to make sure a bridge can withstand the demands placed on it.

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