Round-end cut truss webs — the South African Omni-webJ experience

This paper discusses the concept of round-end cut webs for timber trusses. Patented punched-nail plates or punched-steel gusset plates that are nailed by means of individual nails may be used to assemble trusses with round-end webs. Full-scale truss test results are presented for both methods of 6xing. Ways of improving the performance of nailed gusset plates are also suggested. The author points out that this method of truss assembly has advantages for the owner–builder and the small rural builder. In underdeveloped (Third World) countries, this method is particularly suitable due to its job-creation possibilities, which are referred to as the reconstruction and development programme (RDP) in South Africa