Aluminum I beams
Aluminum I beams
(OP)
I have a beach front project that requires I beams to support the first floor above and open basement. The floor is residential space over a 4" concrete floor so I'm using 50psf dl and 40psf ll. I've sized it for a w8x15 A36 steel beam. Due to the corrosive atmosphere, steel is not a preferred material. I'm having a hard time finding an adequate resource to determine an equivalent Aluminum I beam. Any suggestions?






RE: Aluminum I beams
http://www.aluminum.org/resources/electrical-faqs-...
RE: Aluminum I beams
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RE: Aluminum I beams
RE: Aluminum I beams
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Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
RE: Aluminum I beams
Many engineers do not realize that specifying a beam size up can (though not always) provide sacrificial protection.
Simplest solution: Specify one size up, two coats shop paint, and then intercoat and top coat. Put on the plans that the beam shall be inspected every five years, and painted as necessary and not less than once every ten years as a maintenance item. Job done.
RE: Aluminum I beams
RE: Aluminum I beams
RE: Aluminum I beams
I'm not sure how the corrosion compares- I've seen aluminum boats with holes corroded in them, so it's not just completely inert.
Also, I've always heard you're not supposed to have aluminum in contact with concrete for corrosion reasons- typically handled with coatings on the contact surface.
RE: Aluminum I beams
I've done some all aluminum designs for large drive-in kilns and they can be a pain in the butt to design by hand. Also, welding to aluminum will take out the hardening and makes welded connections an even bigger pain in the butt. Overall, structural aluminum is great and I would love to see people use it more often but it really is just not as efficient as steel, both from an engineering perspective and a cost perspective.
Also, I agree with Tom, hot-dip galvanized would probably be the best bet.
Final note, why did you plan on using a A36 beam in your initial post? A992 is 50 ksi and more readily available these days.
Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.
RE: Aluminum I beams
Found it:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&a...
RE: Aluminum I beams
RE: Aluminum I beams
RE: Aluminum I beams
But, yes, aluminum does rock and it's a fun little niche to be able to design and use it in your projects. We used it successfully for a moveable safety barrier in an industrial facility. Steel was strong enough but was too heavy for the motor to be used, aluminum was the perfect solution.
Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.
RE: Aluminum I beams
RE: Aluminum I beams
RE: Aluminum I beams
RE: Aluminum I beams
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