Full-Scale Tests on 32-Foot Hip Roof System

Abstract

This report covers the full-scale testing of a 32-foot, 4/12 slope, hip-roof system. The program was a cooperative investigation between the Small Homes Council-Building Research Council, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and GBH-Way Homes, Inc. of Walnut, Illinois. Full-scale testing is generally accepted as a means of determining deflection characteristics for nail-glued truss designs because the graphical methods of analysis are unreliable in calculating stresses for this type of rigid connection. The combined stresses, due to secondary bending caused by the extreme rigidity of the nail-glued joint, are not considered in graphical methods of analysis. The objectives of this program included load tests on a full-scale hip-roof system to obtain deflection performance of the hip truss. In addition, the hip-truss was supported by a calibratedload cell at each end to determine the percentage of design load carried by the truss, and that carried by the wall. For safety reasons, the program did not include running the test to failure.