×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Openings in cylindrical shells

Openings in cylindrical shells

Openings in cylindrical shells

(OP)
I am seeking advice on the design of a handhole opening in a round steel column used to support an overhead sign. Biaxial bending, axial compression and torsional forces are applied.

The client wants a 6" x 8" handhole placed in an 18" upright, near the column base. The 6" dimension is along the circumference, and the 8" dimen is along the axis. The hole will be capsule shaped (i.e., 3" radii)

I've seen other details where the edge is reinforced using a metal plate, full pen welded all around.

Any ideas where I can find a good reference or design example for this problem?

Thanks for your valued assistance!

RE: Openings in cylindrical shells

Check out the American Petroleum Institute's publication API 650.  The situation described appears to be similar to a nozzle penetration in a fuel tank.

The basic principle for reinforcing such an opening is to replace the area of material lost due to the cutout.  For example, for a 6" diameter cutout, the reinforceing plate will typically be twice the diameter of the hole.  The reinforcing plate will be the same thickness as the material removed.

Consult ACI650 for additional information.

RE: Openings in cylindrical shells

Look up your state highway department website.  They often have standard designs for overhead signs.  The detail you're asking about is pretty standard.  Unfortunately, the one I was familiar with (Arizona) took the details off their site, so now you have to buy them.

RE: Openings in cylindrical shells

(OP)
Thanks for everyone's comments & advice.

While our local DOT does have details for reinforced handholes, they are typically used for signal and lighting masts. The bending and torsional forces are much greater on the sign structures.

Regards,   RAF

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources