Kirk Martini . We now turn attention from tools and criteria for single elements to assemblies of elements. Trusses are a good place to start since they are one of the simplest form of assembly. Palladio knew this.
Triangulation is the key to trusses.
Using triangulation, it is possible to form a stable assembly with pin connections only. Rectangles require moment-resisting connections to be stable. The connections are more expensive to make, and the resulting moments require larger members. Classical Truss Theory A set of simplifying assumptions that make it easy to analyze trusses by hand, and to visualize how they work. Assume members are pin connected.