Truss Calculators

Started by Medeek, March 12, 2013, 06:33:08 AM

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Medeek

Progress is slow but steady:



Now I just need to add the bolts to the peak and heal plates...
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

brandywine

Is this calculator available somewhere?
This goes in hand with the question I just posted under GENERAL about our trusses. I hope we didn't screw up! I posted pictures.
Maybe you can help us....?

-Mickie


azgreg

Quote from: brandywine on August 06, 2017, 05:21:18 PM
Is this calculator available somewhere?
This goes in hand with the question I just posted under GENERAL about our trusses. I hope we didn't screw up! I posted pictures.
Maybe you can help us....?

-Mickie

http://design.medeek.com/
http://design.medeek.com/calculator/calculator.pl

Medeek

I've posted the Html Timber Truss input page at the link below so anyone can start putting it through its paces and offer me some feedback.

http://design.medeek.com/resources/timbertruss/web_dialog_timber_truss.html

I still need to add in the algorithms for the bolts into the top chord and top of the king post, should be able to knock that out this evening.

I will probably need to add in some extra logic that deals with bolt placement at the heel joints especially when the scarf cut on the bottom chord extends below the centerline of the bottom chord.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

I've got all of the bolts working now for each plate as well as the extra logic to make sure bolts don't get too close to the scarf line at the heel joint. 

http://design.medeek.com/resources/timbertruss/web_dialog_timber_truss.html

Please go ahead and test out the link I've given above. 

If there are no major fixes then I am ready to implement this module into the plugin.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer


Medeek

This is would be the typical output of the html input for the timber trusses:



I may add in the L1 dimension and the heel height dimension.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

No major complaints or concerns with the way I have it currently configured, so far.  I've starting creating the ruby code that does the heavy lifting.  By the end of the week I should have something ready to go for timber trusses. 

My goal is to also add in the Queen Post and Howe configuration for timber trusses, these other two seem to be the most commonly used.

There is a number of ways one could arrange the bolts on these plates or even configure the plates.  I am trying to come up with the mostly widely accepted method that will make at least 75% of the user base happy.  Hopefully I can achieve that.

At another level I am really happy about this latest edition to the plugin,  I now have a better understanding and comfort level with designing bolt connected timber trusses and I can better address local customer requests in this regard.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

The html webdialog is now integrated into the plugin and variables are passing correctly between the two:



Developing new modules, especially one with some many variables/inputs is a time consuming process.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

I've uploaded a minor update which integrates the timber truss web dialog (won't actually create anything just yet) for those interested in testing it in SketchUp.  It will only load up in Imperial/US unit templates for now.  My main concern is cross browser issues that I'm not aware of but may pop up for other users who have their PC's configured differently than my own.

Let me know if there are any issues.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer


Medeek

I've spoken with another engineer about timber trusses and he swears by timber rivets.  I've only ever seen pictures of their application, anyone have any real life experience with timber rivets?
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Don_P

None, neat concept, there is a section in the NDS on them. Because of the machining, I doubt they will replace bolted connections for most work.

Medeek

#661
Version 1.9.7 - 08.26.2017
- Added king post timber trusses with bolts and metal plates.



There may be a few bugs to work out as I haven't had the time to test every possible configuration but it appears to be mostly working now.  The metric version is not quite ready so the GUI defaults to the imperial units regardless of the template.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/b9530289-89ff-40c4-ac55-754344864d3a/Timber-Truss-King-Post

I will add in the Queen Post and Howe configurations if requested by users and make any other corrections or adjustments as needed.



The permutations with this thing is ridiculous.  The truss above has larger members with a wider plate width that allows for two rows of bolts.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

We got about 50% the way there which in my mind is pretty good.  I don't know that Kickstarter was the right venue for trying to stir up the momentum for a SketchUp plugin but I thought it's at least worth a shot.  I sincerely appreciate all who have pledged their hard earned money and supported me in this endeavor.  Your faith in me is the reason I keep plugging away at these tools.

I am currently pursuing other funding options.  To produce a wall plugin that can do what the other "big boy" softwares can do will take a serious investment of my time and effort.  I'm am figuring at least two years of solid programming to produce a polished product that has all the bells and whistles. 

How I get there, I'm still trying to figure out.  Currently I spend my weekends and a small amount of my time during the regular work week (usually going after the low hanging fruit).  Surprisingly I am able to make some headway but progress is too slow in my opinion, somehow I will need to speed up.

Again I would like to thank everyone who participated in this campaign and for all of your pledges, it means a lot to me.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Looking at the code structure of the timber truss module and the html web dialog it doesn't appear to be too difficult to add in the Queen Post and Howe type truss.  This addition will make this feature considerably more versatile and useful in my opinion since it should cover 90% of most timber trusses of this type used in residential and commercial construction.

I will make it a point to add in both additional truss types before moving on to something else. 

Recently I have not had a lot of feature requests so please fire away.

The next big item on the list is the implementation of the straight skeleton algorithm and the ability to create any rafter roof shape, this is a big one.  If I succeed, which I will, this should be tremendously valuable to many of the plugin users. 

How to do this sort of thing for truss roofs becomes a bit more difficult since truss roofs are a bit more ambiguous and can be pieced together in a variety of ways.  I think it is possible but I will need to give this one more thought.

The next big item which needs to be tackled is the ability to generate floor joists and trusses for any floor outline.  I've already given this some serious thought and the path forward is clear to me but it will just take some focused coding time and debugging.  Along the same lines, the ability to cut holes in the floor assembly (stairwells, access doors etc...) is also a hot item, I will address this at the same time.

Work on the Wall Plugin has begun in earnest but my free time right now is limited so meaningful progress is slow, especially as I am still devoting the bulk of my time towards the truss plugin.

I have exactly zero feedback on the timber truss module so I am curious if anyone has used it yet and if they are encountering any difficulties or other issues that they would like to see addressed. 

- Is this feature useful? 

- What would make it more useful?

- Would other timber truss types (timber rivets, etc...) be more useful?

Just because I find it fascinating and would like to add it to the plugin doesn't mean it has any real world utility, I've learned that through experience.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer


Medeek

Plates are mostly there now just need to work on the bolts for the Howe Timber Truss:

Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Don_P

These appear to be drawing the truss, can they also be made to design or check it structurally?
I noticed that I can enter plates larger than the members, not sure that it is an issue.
Can the kingpost be drawn with fan web members to break the top chord spans... halfway to the Howe?

Medeek

So far I've only gotten to the geometry of the timber truss, the engineering portion will be next.

I haven't implemented too many checks into the code yet, so yes it is possible to draw a "goofy" truss.  The preview screen is there to help avoid these situations but I will probably need to add some logic in that keeps certain things within reasonable limits.

The queen post truss is also in the works.  The three truss types will be:  King Post, Queen Post, and Howe.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Bolts and plates are now complete for the Queen and Howe Timber Truss types:

http://design.medeek.com/resources/timbertruss/web_dialog_timber_truss.html

Please feel free to test out the web dialog at the link above.

Now all that remains is to bring the javascript code into the ruby.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

#668
Version 1.9.8 - 09.04.2017
- Added queen post and howe timber trusses with bolts and metal plates.



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/11b78080-be08-4492-805c-2d73c9871ec6/Timber-Truss-Yard

Timber trusses haven't seemed to garner much interest or feedback but I do feel like it is a worthwhile contribution to the plugin.

There is more to be done with the engineering side but I will move on to something else unless customer feedback brings me back to it.

The big prize right now is the straight skeleton implementation.  I have been mulling this one over for at least a year now.

The truss yard now has 23 different truss types/profiles:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/828e8b19-fac1-418e-bc64-f00294f453d0/Medeek-Truss-Yard-5
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Don_P

Looking good.
In heavy timber both right hand examples would be called kingpost trusses, a quick google gave this comparison to a queen post;
http://www.vermonttimberworks.com/blog/hail-to-the-king-and-the-queen/


Medeek

Yes, technically you are correct and I have always found it confusing.  My naming convention is trying to stay consistent with the nomenclature for MPC trusses.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 1.9.8c
- Enabled option for F436 vs. F844 flat washers for timber trusses (in the materials tab within the global settings).
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Starting to work on the straight skeleton algorithm today, complex roofs have got my attention.

The model below has a saddle point and this lends itself to some rather complex framing:



Even with the roof primitives and trim tool, which helped out tremendously, it still took me almost an hour to fully generate the roof framing. 



The goal is to turn hours into seconds.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/a2b2efad-71a5-4982-b40b-e7057dd7edf7/Complex-Roof-3
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Don_P

From a structural view, would you install props under all the hip junctions?