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Design aluminum pipe as support beam

Design aluminum pipe as support beam

Design aluminum pipe as support beam

(OP)
I have designed a steel pipe to be used as a support beam to support roll goods for material handling.  The pipe spans 6 feet between support brackets, and therefore is over the allowable 50 lb weight limit for one employee to lift.  I would like to look at designing an aluminum pipe to replace the steel pipe due to its light weight.  I have not done any design with Aluminum and need help with the properties, any different design codes, allowable deflection, etc.  
If needed, following are the requirements for the design:
- maximum pipe diameter to be 6".
- span is 6'
- distributed load is 28" wide, weighing 3500 lbs (centered on the beam).

RE: Design aluminum pipe as support beam

"Aluminum Design Manual", www.aluminum.com.

RE: Design aluminum pipe as support beam

(OP)
When I go to www.aluminum.com, it sends to me to Alcoa.com, but I do not see an "Aluminum Design Manual."  Am I overlooking it?  Thanks.

RE: Design aluminum pipe as support beam

..or go to The Aluminum Association.

http://www.aluminum.org/

You will likely use 6061-T6 or 6063-T6 pipe.  Yield will be in the 26ksi to 32ksi range.

Pay attention to the temper...it makes a big difference in mechanical properties.  Keep in mind that within 1 inch of a weld, the allowable mechanical properties go way down...example: 6063-T6 allowable bending stress = 15,150 psi.  Same material within 1 inch of a weld, allowable bending stress=6,667 psi.

Most comparable sizes to steel available in aluminum.  Allowable deflections are the same as for steel, but application dependent.

RE: Design aluminum pipe as support beam

(OP)
Thanks!

RE: Design aluminum pipe as support beam

Aluminum deflects more, all other things being equal because it's E is 1/3 that of steel

RE: Design aluminum pipe as support beam

Sorry, typed it with the com instead of the org, but that's where I was at.

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