Short Element Wood Lattice Roof

[Meditator]

In Los Angeles, we have a number of old commercial buildings with unusual curved wood roofs. The typical width of the building will be around 60'. The roof is made of a diamond lattice of identical elements, each about 7' long. Typically, these elements are a section of 2"x8" or 2"x10" slightly curved on one side to match the curve of the roof. Any given element is bolted at each end to the center of two adjacent elements. In turn, that element will have two other elements bolted through either side to its own center. The elements connect throughout at an acute angle of about 25 degrees. The buildings are probably 50 to 70 years old. Does anyone know what this system is called or can give references to where its analysis or practical points of construction may be studied, please?

 

[redhead]

This type of roof is called "lamella" construction. There is a fairly thorough description of the system in the "Timber Design and Construction Handbook" prepared by the old Timber Engineering Company and published by F.W. Dodge Corp. My copy is dated 1956. You should be able to find one in a university library.

Good luck!