Flag Pole
Flag Pole
(OP)
I have been asked to design a flag pole, 250' tall for a flag pole for a flag 50 feet long. heres the kicker, he wants to use old W shapes to make the pole, and have them cut to be tapered to make this thing. I am at a loss how to design this. Anyone ever done this before?






RE: Flag Pole
Valmont used to make tapered square and rectangular tubes.
Perhaps you could use a rectangular HSS as the core and weld tapered plates to the short sides to give the impression of a wide flange.
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: Flag Pole
RE: Flag Pole
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The definition of a structural engineer: overdesign by a factor of 1.999, instead of the usual 2.
RE: Flag Pole
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Fo...
http://www.arup.com/Projects/United_States_Air_For...
RE: Flag Pole
If this is true, well done!
RE: Flag Pole
My motto: Learn something new every day
Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way
RE: Flag Pole
RE: Flag Pole
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RE: Flag Pole
The definition of a structural engineer: overdesign by a factor of 1.999, instead of the usual 2.
RE: Flag Pole
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banderas_monumentales
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RE: Flag Pole
RE: Flag Pole
Some time back, we got in an inquiry for fabrication of a flagpole, it may have been one of those Wisconsin poles, see the Wikipedia article about that.
Once you get above the height of a powered manlift, you pretty much HAVE to have some type of ladder in or on something like this. At some point, the rope will break, the pulley will snarl or something, and somebody's got to go up that thing and straighten it out. So in the case of the Wisconsin flagpole, I think it said it was 6' diameter at the bottom.
And yes, you COULD build it out of tapered wide-flange beams. Why you'd want to is a different question, as it would be a booger to repaint it or anything, and welding costs would probably offset material savings. See the attached sketch for how I'm visualizing the cross section.
RE: Flag Pole
Just wait until he gets a job and debates with his boss. He won't last long.
The definition of a structural engineer: overdesign by a factor of 1.999, instead of the usual 2.
RE: Flag Pole
"Poe's law, named after its author Nathan Poe, is an Internet adage reflecting the idea that without a clear indication of the author's intent, it is difficult or impossible to tell the difference between an expression of sincere extremism and a parody of extremism" -Wikipedia
RE: Flag Pole
Archis ask us to do crazier things all the time.
The definition of a structural engineer: overdesign by a factor of 1.999, instead of the usual 2.
RE: Flag Pole
You had me going until then!
RE: Flag Pole
The drawing, to scale, looks out of proportion - comparing wood post to ftg.
The definition of a structural engineer: overdesign by a factor of 1.999, instead of the usual 2.
RE: Flag Pole