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Bottom Cord: The main member of a
truss running along its lower side between supports and usually carrying
combined tension and bending.
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Cantilever: The condition where top
and bottom chords extend beyond a support with no bearing at the
extended portion.
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Clear Span: Horizontal measurement
between the inside faces of the bearing supports.
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Heel: The point on a truss at which
the top and bottom chords intersect, usually occurring at support.
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Level Return: A horizontal member of
the truss running from the end of the overhang back to the outside of
the wall to form a soffit.
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Nominal Span: Horizontal distance
between outside edges of supports.
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Overall Truss Length: The horizontal
length of truss including the cantilever, but not the overhang.
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Overhang: The extension of a top or
bottom chord of a truss beyond a support.
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Panel Point: A point at which one or
more web members intersect the top or bottom chord.
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Panel Length: The centerline
distance measured horizontally between two panel points.
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Peak: The point on a truss where the
sloping top chords meet.
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Pitch: The inches, or fraction
thereof, of vertical rise in 12 inches of horizontal run for inclined
members. Usually expressed as 4/12, 8/12, etc.
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Purlin: Horizontal member placed
between two main load carrying structural members. They can be used as
spacers carrying decking or roofing materials and providing some lateral
support for the main members.
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Slope: See Pitch.
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Top Chord: Main member of a truss
running along its upperside supporting the decking and usually carrying
combined compression and bending.
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Webs: Members
that connect top and bottom chords together forming triangular openings
to give truss action and usually carrying compression or tension forces.
