Chain Link Fence Engineering
Chain Link Fence Engineering
(OP)
This is something new for me, most of time is spent dealing with wood structures but today I'm faced with a 10' high chain link fence (tennis court) in a high wind locale (155 mph ult., 120 mph ASD).
I just downloaded a copy of the Wind Load Guide for Selection of Line Post and Line Post Spacing from the Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute. This seems like a good starting point. It's a 38 page document so it may take a while to wrap my head around all of it.
Right out of the gate I can see it references the ASCE 7-10 and the 2009 IBC as well as ASTM F567 for footings.
I'm not particularly fond of tables if I can derive the values directly through equations. My goal with this project is to create a spreadsheet that will generate the correct line post spacing, footing depth and size given typical inputs for fence height, privacy slats, basic wind speed, exposure, icing conditions, post diameter and group type etc...
Are there any other references or engineering resources that deal specifically with chain link fences that I have missed? Existing software/tools?
I just downloaded a copy of the Wind Load Guide for Selection of Line Post and Line Post Spacing from the Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute. This seems like a good starting point. It's a 38 page document so it may take a while to wrap my head around all of it.
Right out of the gate I can see it references the ASCE 7-10 and the 2009 IBC as well as ASTM F567 for footings.
I'm not particularly fond of tables if I can derive the values directly through equations. My goal with this project is to create a spreadsheet that will generate the correct line post spacing, footing depth and size given typical inputs for fence height, privacy slats, basic wind speed, exposure, icing conditions, post diameter and group type etc...
Are there any other references or engineering resources that deal specifically with chain link fences that I have missed? Existing software/tools?
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com






RE: Chain Link Fence Engineering
RE: Chain Link Fence Engineering
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Chain Link Fence Engineering
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Chain Link Fence Engineering
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Chain Link Fence Engineering
RE: Chain Link Fence Engineering
Based on Table 9 from the Chain Link Fence Guide a 2" mesh with #9 gage wire has a Cf1 = 7.26. The reciprocal of this coeff. is the porosity of the fence = 0.138 or 13.8% of the wind load of a solid fence.
Similarly a fence with vertical privacy slats might have a porosity of 70% and hence a Cf1 = 1.42 based on my searches on the internet and various vertical slat descriptions and specifications.
The bottom line is a vertically slatted fence is going to have a much higher wind load than a standard fence without slats. My problem is that using the guide as a template I am getting some ridiculously close line post spacing numbers when I use a Cf1 = 1.42. Perhaps I am missing something here.
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Chain Link Fence Engineering
Comparing my footing depths with what was done previously by another engineer I seem to be getting depths that are quite a bit deeper for the same footing diameter (ie. 36" -> 54"). Is there some additional reduction in loading due to wind or something else I am possibly missing?
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Chain Link Fence Engineering
RE: Chain Link Fence Engineering
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Chain Link Fence Engineering
RE: Chain Link Fence Engineering
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com