BURR TRUSS

The 'Burr Arch Truss' or simply 'Burr Truss' or 'Burr Arch' is a combination of an arch and a ''multiple kingpost'' truss design, invented in 1804 by Theodore Burr^[1], patented on April 3, 1817^[2], and used in bridges, usually covered bridges.^[3][4] The design principle behind the Burr arch truss was that the arch should be capable of holding the entire load on the bridge while the truss was used to keep the bridge rigid. Even though the kingpost truss alone was capable of bearing a load, this was done because it is impossible to evenly balance a dynamic load crossing the bridge between the two parts.^[5] The opposite view is also held, based on computer models, that the truss performs the majority of the load bearing and the arch provides the stability . Regardless, the combination of the arch with the truss provides a more stable bridge capable of carrying greater weight than with the either the truss or arch alone.

Example of a Burr Truss - Baumgardener's Covered Bridge in Pennsylvania

Contents

References

References

★ Theodore Burr and his bridges across the Susquehanna
1. The Burr Truss
2. Publication Number: X0002769
3. Truss Types
4. Truss Types
5. The Burr Truss