Steel beam supported with a wood column:
Steel beam supported with a wood column:
(OP)
Howdy all. I am working on a wood framed apartment building. The floors are wood joist on wood load bearing walls. The corridor between units is metal deck and concrete. Large open areas in the corridor are desiged to be W-sections on HSS columns. As a VE item the architect wants to change the columns to wood (to negate the fireproofing cost). Size and span are factors in the beam selection. Steel is best for the deflection issues (L/360)and available depth (9" after allowing for mech ducts, concrete & deck). Is supporting steel beams on a wood column (probably a parallam or similar)accepted? I'm using IBC 2003 and haven't seen a definiative "yes" or "no". Any comments will be appreciated. Thanks.






RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
BA
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
BA
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
Remember to provide a contnous path for the columns to whatever is below. We use "squash" blocks between sub-floors to transfer these vertical loads.
No complaints to date and have been doing so for many years.
Good luck.
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
Awsome, thanks for the insight.
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
As far as steel beams on wood posts, I've used 3/16" side plates and glulam rivets for holding the steel beam to the post.
Dik
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
BA
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
Dik
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
I won't say that you cannot use steel beams and wood columns in six storey buildings, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be my first choice.
BA
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
Beware cross grain compression on wall plates e.t.c.
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
The limiting factor is wood studs bearing on plates, a perpendicular to grain bearing area.
To help provide a good brace for the steel beam from rotation, be sure to provide studs the full width of the steel beam and a full height king stud each side.
MiketheEngineer hit on another good reason why to use wood studs when the rest of the structure is wood. I've done many 4 story wood structures and always use wood columns when possible. The lower levels tend to go to steel columns depending on the geometry of the structure. Also, when the main structure is wood and your columns are steel, you loose any bracing from the sheathing nails.
Beware of a 4 story steel beam and column system that will not shrink while the rest of the structure will...
Jim Houlette PE
Web: www.evstudio.us
Online Magazine: www.evstudio.info
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
Dik
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
But the steel columns do not bear on plates right?
So you still have shrinkage across the grain at each plate, several stories it adds up.
Jim Houlette PE
Web: www.evstudio.us
Online Magazine: www.evstudio.info
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
Dik
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
So, 2/3 to the joists, 1/3 to the plates of the total shrinkage seen.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
Dik
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
Dik
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
All this discussion about shrinkage; is that because the non-engineered timber that you use is not kiln-dried?
I would only consider shrinkage if using green timber, and that would be very unusual where I am.
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
Even at a moisture content of 19% or less, kiln drying, you will still get shrinkage. The effect should not be ignored, especially relative to finishes.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
RE: Steel beam supported with a wood column:
-Due to cost we are using 2x material (southern yellow pine for joists, SPF for studs/columns).
-Any "engineered" lumber is kept to a minimum, again for cost (this is at the Archy's direction)
-We wanted steel beams/steel columns, but the Archy pushed the steel/wood combo, citing cost due to fireproofing.
-I only have 24" to work with, this includes conc. slab,mtl deck (5 1/2"combined), HVAC ducts (9" with insulation) and the support structure (?).
-Average beam spans are 13' with L/360 deflection limits (based on the deck/slab).
I'd like to thank everybody for your input. It is truely appreciated.