×
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

Pedestrian Bridge / Existing Building Connection

Pedestrian Bridge / Existing Building Connection

Pedestrian Bridge / Existing Building Connection

(OP)
I have a pedestrian bridge that leads to an existing masonry building. I have a 25mm gap between the end of the bridge and the existing masonry building. The pedestrian bridge is self-supporting for gravity loads but relies on the existing masonry building for lateral support at that end of the bridge. Please see attached sketch. I am wondering how I can detail this connection to transfer lateral loads only. I can always butt the angle to the masonry wall and slot the holes vertically, but I also need to prevent the bridge from pushing into the masonry wall during storm/seismic event. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.

RE: Pedestrian Bridge / Existing Building Connection

I would look at placing some lateral restraints at each side of the bridge, connected to the wall, perhaps with slide bearings.

RE: Pedestrian Bridge / Existing Building Connection

(OP)
Hi Hokie66,

Thanks for the response. Can you provide a brief description of what these lateral restraints would look like? Thanks.

RE: Pedestrian Bridge / Existing Building Connection

I saw one where two members were connected to the wall, midway between the bridge beams, they were on a spacer plate so they had a clearance from the wall. They went in opposite directions to connect to the bridge beams. They could flex easily for bridge expansion but they prevented lateral movement.

Michael.
"Science adjusts its views based on what's observed. Faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved." ~ Tim Minchin

RE: Pedestrian Bridge / Existing Building Connection

GalileoG,
In simplest terms, you need a bumper on each side to restrain the lateral movement. That could be just an angle bolted to the wall...you need to determine how the wall is built first. If the restraint is offensive to the architect, you could move it inside the perimeter bridge beam, shifting the end cross member away from the wall to provide space for the bumper. Lots of ways to do it, depending on the actual dimensions of your structure and the existing conditions. Another thing...has differential vertical movement due to deflection and/or settlement been considered?

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