How to find thickness of steel plate
How to find thickness of steel plate
(OP)
I have a 300 mm diameter hole in the ground surrounded by concrete. This hole will have a steel plate placed on top of it, to allow vehicle transport over it. I need to get a machine of weight 2.5 tonnes across this hole safely without any bending of the steel plate.
How would i calculate the required thickness of the plate?
Thank you
Ron.
How would i calculate the required thickness of the plate?
Thank you
Ron.






RE: How to find thickness of steel plate
Thank you
RE: How to find thickness of steel plate
To do this you need to avoid the plate all together. If you load the plate over the hole, it will bend...thats how these things work. Just being picky here I guess.
You have to take a look at Roark's for your answer...this loading case will most definitely be listed in a table there. I don't think you'll have a hard time getting a plate to work. They use steel plats during road work that cover larger hole with larger loads. Not sure how thick they are, but around here they don't seem to be more than 1/2".
RE: How to find thickness of steel plate
If you want to go through an analysis, you can try CANPDRO's suggestion using Roark; however, you will have difficulty determining the actual load on the unsupported part of the plate.
RE: How to find thickness of steel plate
RE: How to find thickness of steel plate
Ron180
RE: How to find thickness of steel plate
The plate MUST overlap the concrete on all sides of the 300 mm hole (which is not really very large) enough so the plate will not damage the concrete lip and the concrete support area for the plate (and tracks). Further, over time, an unprotected exposed edge of concrete will break off and degrade. You need a angle iron 50 mm x 50 or 40 x 40 to wrap around the exposed edge if this is going to be use for a long time. If a temporary fix, you only have to worry about the plate skidding or moving - so add a welded small bracket at each 90 degree point underneath to prevent movement.
RE: How to find thickness of steel plate
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: How to find thickness of steel plate
On another note, I've never seen a brokk, but the pictures look pretty fun.