Shipping Containers
Shipping Containers
(OP)
I have an Arch. who wants to design a structure using shipping containers. I have found information on the vertical load capacity of the roof and the horizontal load capacity of the sides, but nothing on the actual lateral capacity of the unit. It would seem that the solid end wall would provide stability for one end, but at the door end, what provides the stability? Is the framework surrounding the door acting as a moment frame or is it designed as an open ended structure?
Thanks
Thanks






RE: Shipping Containers
Clause 4.1.1 Structural design
Containers shall be designed as structural frames (primary structure), with non-load bearing cladding where necessary (secondary structure). Only the primary structure shall be considered in the design calculations.
Which suggests they are designed as a frame.
I am sure there are other standards for containers as well.
RE: Shipping Containers
I wonder if this is ever explicitly addressed in the design?
RE: Shipping Containers
http://www.lr.org/sectors/marine/documents/175167-...
They state that the racking resistance of the container is provided by the panels. They also state that the racking resistance of the door end is about 4.5 times less than the opposite end.
To me, the container frame must function as a moment frame at the door end, as I don't see how the doors can provide much in the way of resistance.
This might also be a useful link as it seems to suggest that lateral loads the container will be subjected to as part of its testing regime.
http://www.containerhandbuch.de/chb_e/stra/index.h...
When stacked on vessels the containers are usually secured to the deck using diagonal tie rods, connected into the iso pockets on the corners. So there will be a horizontal load applied to container.
Not sure if this is much help though.
RE: Shipping Containers
RE: Shipping Containers
RE: Shipping Containers
RE: Shipping Containers
RE: Shipping Containers
Here we haven't had much luck with getting the building department to look favorably at using containers for anything substantial. They have a lot of questions/concerns, things like: fire rating - what UL assembly are you referencing, one developer had testing done to get a UL rating but was unable to pass the test, inspections/testing - who is going to sign off that a container meets your specs, containers are governed by a performance spec - i.e. Xkips at each corner, Ypsf pressure on side walls - but they may meet that with different geometry/materials, how will you relate that to building code requirements and reference standards. Connections are also an issue. For anything substantial we have redundancy requirements that require tension connections as a percent of gravity etc. - you need to start coming up with funky custom connections that take tension, shear etc. across the container joints.
I know that they have been used in some locations - might just depend how open your building department is to new/different systems.
RE: Shipping Containers
Interesting...
"Containers that have one or both doors removed for the transport of special cargoes shall be assumed to have reduced racking strength and shall similarly be stowed within cell guides or in the uppermost tiers on deck"
so, clearly, the doors are acting as shearwalls.
RE: Shipping Containers
That echos my concerns. I decided to pass on this job.