{"id":33831,"date":"2026-04-27T13:04:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T13:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/technical-manuals\/structural-modelling\/working-with-space-truss\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T12:37:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T12:37:44","slug":"working-with-space-truss","status":"publish","type":"wiki","link":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/working-with-space-truss\/","title":{"rendered":"Working With Space Truss"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><span class=\"size\" style=\"font-size: 11pt\"><span class=\"colour\">This function can specify a region and<br \/>\ninsert a space truss parametrically. You can control parameters such as cell<br \/>\nsize, number of rows and columns, curvature and more.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"colour\"><br \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"toc_anchors\" id=\"Inserting_a_Space_Truss\"><a name=\"_Toc171085044\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Inserting a Space Truss<\/span><\/span><\/a><br \/><\/h2>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">To insert a steel space truss:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"colour\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div><span style=\"text-indent: -18pt\"><span class=\"colour\">1. Pick the Space Truss command on the <\/span><\/span><b style=\"text-indent: -18pt\"><span class=\"colour\">Modeling &gt; Steel<br \/>\nMembers<\/span><\/b><span style=\"text-indent: -18pt\"><span class=\"colour\"> ribbon tab.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-916764d9fb850f56234b45821bf7cdcc.png\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"text-indent: -18pt\"><span class=\"colour\">2. Draw a rectangular area on the screen where the space truss<br \/>\nwill be placed. <\/span><\/span><span class=\"colour\"><br \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><span style=\"margin: 10px 0px;position: relative;padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px\" class=\"KB_New_Editor_Highlights\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-ece5e4a4081d7325567dfb55c3538df7.png\" data-type=\"non-resize\" style=\"position: absolute;left: 12px;top: 14px;width: 15px;max-width: 100%\" data-image=\"contentStyle\"><\/p>\n<div><span class=\"colour\">Space trusses can only be placed in a rectangular area.<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\" class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: left\" class=\" align-left\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-zdeskdocselectedclass=\"best\" class=\"docsimage\" data-zdeskdocid=\"img_621124848198116\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%;width: 576px;height: auto\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-6804ff7a803d806bfcd35e865094c07a.png\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left\" class=\" align-left\"><span style=\"text-indent: -18pt\"><span class=\"colour\">3. The parametric Space Truss Editor will be launched. On this<br \/>\neditor, you can control the parameters for top and bottom surface separately.<br \/>\nAdditionally, you can change the steel profile to be used in space truss,<br \/>\ndefine uniform loads and change number of truss grids.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\" class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: left\" class=\" align-left\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-zdeskdocselectedclass=\"original\" class=\"docsimage\" data-zdeskdocid=\"img_011911511638798\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%;width: 800px;height: auto\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-1611c2356287ad9ac8595225a9c58123.png\"><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" data-zdeskdocselectedclass=\"original\" class=\"docsimage\" data-zdeskdocid=\"img_9188178912022544\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%;width: 808px;height: auto\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-c5f7e99514dd8406efc03a581b24eb9b.png\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"toc_anchors\" id=\"Framing_Type\"><a name=\"_Toc171085045\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Framing Type<\/span><\/span><\/a><br \/><\/h2>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div><span class=\"colour\">You can select <\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">Reducing<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> or <\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">Increasing<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> option for<br \/>\nauto-generation of space truss pattern. <\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span class=\"colour\">The icons on the toolbar:<\/span><\/div>\n<div><b><span class=\"colour\">Reducing<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> option creates bottom surface larger than<br \/>\nthe top surface<\/span><\/div>\n<div><b><span class=\"colour\">Increasing<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> option&nbsp;<span>creates top surface larger than the bottom surface<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" data-zdeskdocselectedclass=\"original\" class=\"docsimage\" data-zdeskdocid=\"img_9280084155062902\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-25b064a87fb17cbaf2ca1fa9bf9ae178.png\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span lang=\"EN-US\"><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"toc_anchors\" id=\"Top_Surface_and_Bottom_Surface_Shape\"><a name=\"_Toc171085046\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Top Surface and Bottom Surface Shape<\/span><\/span><\/a><br \/><\/h2>\n<div><span class=\"size\" style=\"font-size: 11pt\"><span class=\"colour\">The space truss module allows<br \/>\nyou to specify different curvature for top and bottom surfaces of the truss.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span class=\"size\" style=\"font-size: 11pt\"><b><span class=\"colour\">Planar<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\">, <\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">cylindrical<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> and <\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">spherical<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> surfaces can be selected.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%;width: 244px;height: auto\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-a6456f82070a0671cdec82bcf62eb2e2.png\" data-zdeskdocid=\"img_346066923909367\" class=\"docsimage\" data-zdeskdocselectedclass=\"original\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"toc_anchors\" id=\"Adjusting_Grid__Offset\"><a name=\"_Toc171085047\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Adjusting Grid &amp; Offset<\/span><\/span><\/a><br \/><\/h2>\n<div><span class=\"size\" style=\"font-size: 11pt\"><span class=\"colour\">You can specify number of grids (space truss triangular modules) in terms of Column Count and Row Count. You can also enter an offset value in Z direction to shift the entire truss.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span class=\"colour\"><span class=\"size\" style=\"font-size: 14.6667px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-9e21f267f0683940f7fe437ffb1a209c.png\" style=\"font-size: 15px;padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><span class=\"KB_New_Editor_Highlights\" style=\"margin: 10px 0px;position: relative;padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-image=\"contentStyle\" style=\"position: absolute;left: 12px;top: 14px;width: 15px;max-width: 100%\" data-type=\"non-resize\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-91aff036800d697fca8f4ced1acf2ec2.png\"><span class=\"highlight\">Click&nbsp;<\/span><b>Generate<\/b><span class=\"highlight\">&nbsp;to apply changes on the space truss.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"toc_anchors\" id=\"Space_Truss_Parameters\"><span class=\"size\" style=\"font-size: 24px\">Space Truss Parameters<\/span><br \/><\/h2>\n<div><span class=\"colour\"><span class=\"size\" style=\"font-size: 14.6667px\">The parameters on the left panel will change depending on the surface type.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b>Elevation<\/b> : Height of the space truss. Only shown when planar surface is chosen.<\/div>\n<div><span><b>Column Count <\/b>: Number of grids in X-direction<\/span><\/div>\n<div><b>Row Count <\/b>: N<span>umber of grids in Y-direction<\/span><\/div>\n<div><b>Z Offset<\/b> : Offset height from the supporting column<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-408b585669a249e637c8facb48d0c4a6.png\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><b>Start Radius<\/b> : Radius of the curvature at the start in X-direction<\/div>\n<div><b>End Radius<\/b> :&nbsp;<span>Radius of the curvature at the end in X-direction<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span><b>Start Center Z<\/b> : Height of the space truss at the start point. To be used to set the height of the top and bottom surface of the space truss for cylindrical and spherical surface.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><b>End Center Z<\/b> :&nbsp;<span>Height of the space truss at the end point. To be used to set the height of the&nbsp;top and bottom surface of the&nbsp;space truss for cylindrical and spherical surface.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-68515c8186bea15719a16f6630deb823.png\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><b>Start Center X<\/b> : Center of space truss from the&nbsp;<span>space truss&nbsp;starting point in X-direction&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div><b>Start Center Y<\/b> :&nbsp;<span>Center of space truss from the&nbsp;<\/span>space truss&nbsp;starting point<span>&nbsp;in Y-direction&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div><b>End Center X<\/b> :&nbsp;<span>Center of space truss from the&nbsp;<\/span>space truss ending point<span>&nbsp;in X-direction&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div><b>End Center Y<\/b> :&nbsp;<span>Center of space truss from the&nbsp;<\/span>space truss ending point<span>&nbsp;in Y-direction&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-c6f27035580473a0f848d33105116be6.png\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"toc_anchors\" id=\"Changing_Profiles\"><a name=\"_Toc171085048\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Changing Profiles<\/span><\/span><\/a><br \/><\/h2>\n<div><span class=\"size\" style=\"font-size: 11pt\"><span class=\"colour\">You can change the steel profile to be used in truss rods<br \/>\nusing the Section button under Loads tab.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"colour\"><br \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><span lang=\"EN-US\"><br \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-10415c8b1547685281b4f7515868387b.png\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"toc_anchors\" id=\"Applying_Loads_on_Space_Truss\"><a name=\"_Toc171085049\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Applying Loads on Space Truss<\/span><\/span><\/a><br \/><\/h2>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div><span class=\"colour\">The self-weight of the truss members itself is automatically calculated.<br \/>\nWe have provided fields for easy application of uniform loads on truss<br \/>\ncladding.<br \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<div style=\"border: none;padding: 0cm 4pt 0cm 0cm\">\n<p style=\"border: none;padding: 0cm\" class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><span style=\"margin: 10px 0px;position: relative;padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px\" class=\"KB_New_Editor_Highlights\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-e4969fd577b646f7a57231353e277f4f.png\" data-type=\"non-resize\" style=\"position: absolute;left: 12px;top: 14px;width: 15px;max-width: 100%\" data-image=\"contentStyle\"><\/p>\n<div><span class=\"colour\">The cladding that facilitates the load transfer will be automatically inserted on the<br \/>\nspace truss and is an inseparable part of the truss, thus it cannot be deleted. Apart from the uniform loads specified in the space truss editor,<br \/>\nYou can assign any loads on the space truss using the ProtaStructure <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.protasoftware.com\/portal\/en\/kb\/articles\/load-editor-ps2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"colour\">Load Editor.<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-79e9849650852f6f137b4e7298c687e1.png\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Self-Weight:&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/b><span><span class=\"colour\">Enter the self-weight of the cladding in this field.<br \/>\nThe self-weight will depend on the type of the cladding profile. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Dead Load: <\/span><\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Enter the additional dead loads (finishes etc.) in this<br \/>\nfield.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><span class=\"KB_New_Editor_Highlights\" style=\"margin: 10px 0px;position: relative;padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-image=\"contentStyle\" style=\"position: absolute;left: 12px;top: 14px;width: 15px;max-width: 100%\" data-type=\"non-resize\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-e4969fd577b646f7a57231353e277f4f.png\"><span class=\"colour\">The library editor for Dead Load is in&nbsp;<\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">Building Setout &gt; Libraries &gt; Slab Additional Loads<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\">&nbsp;ribbon tab.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><b><span class=\"size\" style=\"font-size: 11pt\"><span class=\"colour\">Live<br \/>\nLoad: <\/span><\/span><\/b><span class=\"size\" style=\"font-size: 11pt\"><span class=\"colour\">Enter the live loads in this<br \/>\nfield. You can access a quick list of imposed load values by clicking the small<br \/>\nbutton next to Live Load field.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><span class=\"KB_New_Editor_Highlights\" style=\"margin: 10px 0px;position: relative;padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-image=\"contentStyle\" style=\"position: absolute;left: 12px;top: 14px;width: 15px;max-width: 100%\" data-type=\"non-resize\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-91aff036800d697fca8f4ced1acf2ec2.png\"><span class=\"colour\">The cladding loads library is provided for easy application. The library can be accessed by clicking the small button next to Self-Weight, Dead Load and Live Load field. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><b><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Roof Live Load, Snow Load<\/span><\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\"> and <\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">Rain Load<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> fields<br \/>\nwill be activated if the associated load cases are defined in the Load<br \/>\nCombinations Editor.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><span class=\"colour\"><br \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"toc_anchors\" id=\"Applying_Loads_on_Space_Truss_via_Load_Editor\"><a name=\"_Toc171085050\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Applying Loads on Space Truss via Load Editor<\/span><\/span><\/a><br \/><\/h2>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">If you want to add further loads on the space truss, you can do so by<br \/>\nusing the ProtaStructure Load Editor.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"colour\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">1.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><span style=\"text-indent: -18pt\"><span class=\"colour\">Select the space truss on the screen<\/span><\/span><span class=\"colour\"><br \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"text-indent: -18pt\"><span class=\"colour\">2.&nbsp;Right click and pick <\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">Edit Loads<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> command.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-1781b29806420d588f6b80a7ac52c370.png\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span class=\"colour\">&nbsp;3.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"text-indent: -18pt\" lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">On the load editor you can assign <\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">Uniform Area Loads<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> on any region on the truss cladding or <\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">Point Loads<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> on any joint under<br \/>\nany load case (except seismic and notional load cases)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"text-indent: -18pt\" lang=\"EN-US\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-92eb59f87ca9195a2b9a56d5db738bc4.png\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><span class=\"KB_New_Editor_Highlights\" style=\"margin: 10px 0px;position: relative;padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-image=\"contentStyle\" style=\"position: absolute;left: 12px;top: 14px;width: 15px\" data-type=\"non-resize\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-91aff036800d697fca8f4ced1acf2ec2.png\"><\/p>\n<div><span class=\"colour\">For more details of load editor, kindly refer to&nbsp;<\/span><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/support.protasoftware.com\/portal\/en\/kb\/articles\/load-editor-ps2022\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Load Editor<\/a>.<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"Extending_Top_of_the_Columns_to_Space_Truss\" class=\"toc_anchors\"><a name=\"_Toc171085051\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Extending Top of the Columns to Space Truss<\/span><\/span><\/a><br \/><\/h2>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div><span class=\"colour\">We also enhanced existing features around recently introduced ones. For<br \/>\nexample, you can extend an existing column to a selected space truss. So that<br \/>\nit becomes very easy to place the intermediate supports after space truss<br \/>\ninsertion. To extend a column to a space truss:<br \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 35.7pt;text-indent: -17.85pt\" class=\"MsoListParagraph\">\n<div><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">1.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><span class=\"colour\">Select the column<br \/>\nand pick \u201c<\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">Extend Column to Member<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\">\u201d command on the right-click menu.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 35.7pt;text-indent: -17.85pt\" class=\"MsoListParagraph\">\n<div><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">2.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><span class=\"colour\"><span class=\"colour\">Pick the space<br \/>\ntruss.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 35.7pt;text-indent: -17.85pt\" class=\"MsoListParagraph\">\n<div><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">3.&nbsp;The extend command<br \/>\nwill calculate the nearest point on the bottom surface of the space truss and<br \/>\nassign a <\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">Del Z-Top<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> value to the column.<br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -18pt\" class=\"MsoListParagraph\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-682abedaa3e74617ddd68c8b12ec485c.png\"><\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-7a7a4aa5dd9d8395a7a2ae1e9c0969ab.png\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"toc_anchors\" id=\"Design_of_Space_Trusses\"><a name=\"_Toc171085052\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">Design of Space Trusses<\/span><\/span><\/a><br \/><\/h2>\n<div><span lang=\"EN-US\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-20bfadcf82f4f63af22453fdbfae28bf.png\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div><span class=\"colour\">After you analyze the building with space truss, you can continue with<br \/>\ndesigning the space truss members. There is a dedicated design interface where<br \/>\nyou can check the sub members and control the whole process in a<br \/>\nwell-coordinated environment. <\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span class=\"colour\">To access the space truss design:<\/span><span class=\"colour\"><br \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 35.7pt;text-indent: -17.85pt\" class=\"MsoListParagraph\">\n<div><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">1.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><span class=\"colour\">Select the space<br \/>\ntruss member<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 35.7pt;text-indent: -17.85pt\" class=\"MsoListParagraph\">\n<div><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">2.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><span class=\"colour\">Pick the <\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">Steel<br \/>\nMember Design<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> command on the right click menu<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 35.7pt;text-indent: -17.85pt\" class=\"MsoListParagraph\">\n<div><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">3.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><span class=\"colour\">Click <\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">Check All<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> button to design all space truss sub members. The steel design will take place<br \/>\nfor sub members using a multi-threaded approach utilizing computer\u2019s all<br \/>\navailable CPU cores.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 35.7pt;text-indent: -17.85pt\" class=\"MsoListParagraph\">\n<div><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span class=\"colour\">4.&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"colour\">Alternatively, you<br \/>\ncan access the design of all space trusses via <\/span><b><span class=\"colour\">Design &gt; Space Trusses<\/span><\/b><span class=\"colour\"> ribbon tab.<\/span><span class=\"colour\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"padding: 0px;max-width: 100%;width: 902px;height: auto\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-2678306561e92cbf04cc2ed124ce29b5.png\" data-zdeskdocid=\"img_1591119730616637\" class=\"docsimage\" data-zdeskdocselectedclass=\"original\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"margin: 10px 0px;position: relative;padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px\" class=\"KB_New_Editor_Highlights\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prota-doc-342d532351b50ebf749ea5b93e34e69d.png\" data-type=\"non-resize\" style=\"position: absolute;left: 12px;top: 14px;width: 15px;max-width: 100%\" data-image=\"contentStyle\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<div><span class=\"colour\">ProtaStructure can only design the members of a space truss. Ball &amp; Socket<br \/>\njoint design is currently out of ProtaStructure and ProtaSteel\u2019s scope.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 35.7pt;text-indent: -17.85pt\" class=\"MsoListParagraph\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This function can specify a region and insert a space truss parametrically. 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