Originally posted by John Buday:
Joe
You mentioned that the bottom chord tends to bend at the kingpost.
I assume this is because as the truss settles the kingpost moves down relative to the bottom chord and so the shoulder of the kingpost at the post bottom tenon presses down causing the chord to bend downward.J.E.B.
The purpose of the king post is to keep the bottom chord from sagging. The king post is literllay hanging from the rafter peak connection, and holds up the bottom chord in the middle. That's why the king post is in tension, and that's why the bottom chord wants to bend in the middle where the king post is pulling up on it. If a 2 piece chord is used, then the joint would have to withstand not only the large tension force from the rafter thrust, but also the bending force from the king. CB.
