Abstract

Most code requirements concerning bracing are based on principles developed by Winter. The present research is devoted tostudy a lateral buckling of truss with linear elastic side supports. The classical Winter's model of truss chord in the case ofout of the truss plane buckling is compared with nonlinear analysis of 3D truss model. Full bracing condition, that permitsthe truss chord to support load level corresponding to an unbraced length equal to the distance between braces is calculated.Then an approximate buckling load with less than full bracing is developed and the model is modified to account for unequalnormal force distribution in compressed chord. The coefficient of buckling length related to side support distance infunction of bracing stiffness is also calculated. The results are compared to design code requirements. It is shown thatbuckling length of truss chord with side supports considered as elastic elements is larger than assumed in design codes.

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