Steel Tube Cracking
Steel Tube Cracking
(OP)
I'm just curious how others repair a cracked hollow section? I have a hollow section that was not capped and water was able to enter and freeze. This resulted in a vertical crack just above the base plate. Due to the expansion of the steel the concrete was also damaged. In a case like this, I'm just curios if others prefer to replace the entire section or cut away the damaged area and weld a new section in its place? I included a pic to give you a better idea.
Thanks
Thanks






RE: Steel Tube Cracking
Might want to put some expansion joint around the column prior to the concrete repair as water getting between the two can also cause corrosion expansion.
RE: Steel Tube Cracking
RE: Steel Tube Cracking
Thanks Guys
RE: Steel Tube Cracking
RE: Steel Tube Cracking
RE: Steel Tube Cracking
Depending on the condition of the steel inside the tube (can you get in there with a boroscope?) you can drill the ends of the crack and re-weld as suggested above, or drill the ends of the crack and weld a new angle along the corner.
Given that this looks like it supports a small canopy at an exterior door, I can't imagine that replacing the whole thing would be necessary.
Definitely add a means to get the water out - maybe fill the tube with concrete to match the adjacent concrete elevation and add a drain hole.
For the concrete - I'd epoxy some dowels into the existing concrete on each side of the tube - it's surprising to me that there's no reinforcing visible in the pic.
I agree that having a reputation for costly work isn't good, but a reputation for refusing work may not be any better.
RE: Steel Tube Cracking
Thaidavid