General Information
Figure 1 shows a freestanding steel carport.
The steel structure consists mainly of columns, tapered trusses with back braces, tie beams, purlins, and metal roofing sheets.
Irregular Structural System
Figure 2 shows the carport.
There are a total of five tapered trusses (numbers 1 to 5) and two different web member arrangements (A and B); tapered trusses 1 and 2 are each supported by a column and a back brace, while tapered trusses 3 to 5 are each supported by two columns and a back brace. Figure 3 shows a schematic patial-lateral view of tapered trusses 1 and 2.
The distance s equals about 6 m, the truss spacing is about 4.5 m, and the internal purlins are placed away from the truss nodes. Figure 4 shows tapered trusses 4 and 5.
Is the web member arrangement the result of structural optimization?
For the tapered trusses with front columns, are the back braces required for structural reasons?