What role do web or diagonal members play in a truss?

Web or diagonal members in a truss are crucial components that help distribute loads and provide stability to the entire structure. They are specifically designed to work in tension or compression, reducing the overall weight and material needed while optimizing support.

The correct response identifies these diagonal members as vertical components located between the top and bottom chords of the truss. This positioning is vital because it allows the web members to effectively transfer loads from the top chord down to the bottom chord, ensuring the structural integrity of the truss. Their arrangement contributes significantly to the truss's overall strength and helps resist bending and shear forces, making them essential in maintaining the structure's performance during load conditions.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately depict the function of web or diagonal members. While connecting the chords is a part of their role, their primary function within the context of a truss is to provide the necessary support and structural integrity between the main structural elements (the chords). They are not the primary support structure, nor are they the outermost framework, as those roles belong to the chords that typically define the shape and outline of the truss.