Joining trusses

• In the real world various techniques are used to join trusses in ways that prevent joints from becoming points of weakness
• Steel trusses are usually joined by welding them together
• This ensures that stresses are transmitted equally along the joint
• A gusset plate can also be used to join two or more members of wooden/metal trusses
• Gusset plates are thick sheets of steel that are used to connect beams and girders to columns or to connect truss members.
• A gusset plate can be fastened either by bolts, rivets or welding or a combination of the three
• Wooden trusses are joined using gang nails seen in the picture above
• These are steel plates with steel spikes the stick out
• The increased number of spikes help to evenly spread out the stress at joints
• Joints in furniture are often a source of weakness
• This is because they are usually subjected to high tension forces
• Furniture often starts failing along these joints

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