What is the difference between a space frame and a truss

The space frame structure is a spatial structure composed of multiple rods connected by nodes according to a certain space frame form. It has the advantages of space force, light weight, high stiffness, good seismic performance, etc. It can be used as the roof of the stadium, theater, exhibition hall, waiting hall, stadium stand awning, hangar, two-way large column space frame structure from the workshop and other buildings. The disadvantage is that the number of rods delivered to the node is large, and the production and installation are more complicated than the plane structure.

A truss is a flat or spatial structure consisting of straight rods and generally having triangular elements. Under the action of load, the truss members mainly bear axial tension or pressure, so as to make full use of the strength of the material, in the span is larger than the solid belly beam to save material, reduce the weight and increase the stiffness, so it is suitable for large span of load-bearing structures and high-rise structures, such as roof truss, bridge, transmission line tower, satellite tower, hydraulic gate, crane frame.

Compared with the space frame structure, the tube truss structure can meet the requirements of different architectural forms by eliminating the lower chord longitudinal bar and the ball node of the space frame frame, especially the circular arch and arbitrary curve shape are more advantageous than the space frame structure. Its anisotropic stability is the same, saving the amount of material. Steel pipe truss structure is developed on the basis of the space frame structure, compared with the space frame structure has its unique advantages and practicability, and the amount of steel used in the structure is more economical.

Compared with the traditional open section (H-shaped steel and I-shaped steel) steel truss, the tube truss structure section material is more evenly distributed around the axis, so that the section has good compressive and flexural and torsional bearing capacity and large stiffness, without node plate, simple structure, and importantly, the tube truss structure is beautiful in appearance, easy to shape and has a certain decorative effect. Tubular truss structure has good overall performance, large torsional stiffness and beautiful appearance, and it is easy to manufacture, install, turn over and lift. The steel pipe roof truss made of cold-formed thin-wall steel has the advantages of light structure, good rigidity, saving steel, and giving full play to the strength of the material, especially in the pressure rod and support system controlled by the slenderness ratio.

At present, the buildings using this structure are basically public buildings. The structure has the characteristics of beautiful shape (can be built flat, round arch, arbitrary curve shape), easy production and installation, good structural stability, large roof stiffness, good economic effect and so on.