Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
(OP)
We have a very large hillside shoring project where we are utilizing permanent shoring consisting of W30x173 steel piles placed inside caissons drilled at 10ft O.C. and a shotcrete wall placed in between the steel wide flanges and a shotcrete wall running between the caissons & wide flanges. On the tension face of the wall the horizontals are #5 @ 10" o.c. & will be ran through the web of the wide flange columns.
The contractor asked if he could cut the holes through the web with a torch instead of drilling. I realize that this could be weakening the surrounding steel web due to the torches heat around the holes, but I am just not sure about this.
Does anyone have any experience with this for shoring.
The contractor asked if he could cut the holes through the web with a torch instead of drilling. I realize that this could be weakening the surrounding steel web due to the torches heat around the holes, but I am just not sure about this.
Does anyone have any experience with this for shoring.






RE: Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
I am not a fan of steel erectors and torches. In most cases the quality or the cuts could be achieved by a 4 year old. If cuts are clean and corners are rounded. And notches and edges are sufficiently ground to avoid stress risers, then it can be done. If bolt holes are provided. I suggest burning a smaller hole and reaming to the appropriate diameter. If openings or holes are provided in any manner the design should consider the effects on the net section. Burning holes for structural bolting is an approved method. Unless prolonged high heat is applied the impact the HAZ should be minimal.
http://www.FerrellEngineering.com
RE: Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
The holes would allow the #5 ties to pass through the web of the wide flange to tie the horizontal tension reinforcement of the wall together. Maybe it would be easier to weld the #5's to the web of the steel pile instead of passing them through. Although I do like your idea about punching a smaller hole through the web then reaming it out with a drill.
RE: Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
While the welding idea is good - it may just take too long!!
RE: Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
RE: Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
1) Weld the rebar to the web of the wide flange.
2) Drill the holes.
It seems like a lot of the time that I spend on field conditions have to do with making the contractors life easier.
RE: Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
RE: Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
RE: Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
`
Since you're allowing the drilling, why not make it more accurate and faster? Even the heat from drilling will have more affect on the surrounding metal than the 'fast cutting' plasma torch....and the Whole Jig can likely make you penetrations more accurately than drilling can...due to typical accuracy we see when a man gets tired of holding a large drill all day.
`
This would help vouchsafe that the wholes were consistant within your comfort zone, and the plasma torch would provide almost no distortion to the surrounding metal...even compared to the drill bit method. Also, the poor fellow that is cutting these holes would find that the plasma / jig method was easier than the torch or the drill... more accurate than the drill.... and faster than either.
`
Plasma Cutter - Quick / Easy / Fun / Accurate
`
RE: Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
Beats setting up hundreds of parts in a milling machine!
RE: Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
The torch is going to leave notches that will allow for crack initation and stress concentrations in the web. Depending on the loads this may be bad.
RE: Torch cutting holes in Web of Shoring wide flange
Have any of you seen plasma cutters being used in the field?
I've suggested it a dozen times to a dozen contractors, but nobody has ever followed up on it. I haven't been able to figure out why they would be so reluctant when it seems to me that it would be quicker and easier than mag drilling/burning/etc