Calculating size of wooden members

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the size of wooden members for a truss supporting solar panels, first determine the total load and the stress on each member. A safety factor of 2.0 is suggested, but a higher safety factor may be advisable due to the significant weight of 600 pounds per truss from the solar panels. Common rules of thumb can aid in these calculations, and further inquiries about these methods are welcome. Proper calculations ensure structural integrity and safety for the shade structure. Engaging in detailed discussions about these calculations can enhance understanding and application.
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I need help calculating the size of the wood members I need in my truss. I understand the basics; I first need to calculate the load, then the stress on each member, then pick a wooden member which has that stress with a safety factor of let's say 2.0. The reason why I want to perform the calculation, is that the solar panels I plan to put on this shade structure at heavy. Each truss would carry a weight of 600 pounds in solar panels alone. Attached is my drawing:

ORI6O1w.jpg
 
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For something like this, I think you want a safety factor higher than 2.0.
 
I found out this is commonly done using several rules of thumb, feel free to ask about them in this thread
 
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