Steel joist economics when no two are identical
Steel joist economics when no two are identical
(OP)
I've got a building that I need to roof that looks like this:
1) 80' in length
2) 40' in width at one end and 25' in width at the other (trapezoid).
Because of the spans, and conventional economic wisdom, we're wanting to use open webbed steel joists. There is some concern, however, that the joists might be unduly expensive because no two will be the same length. I'm interested to hear comments speaking to that. Some things that I've considered:
1) I could get the job done with some large W-beams with the overall steel weight being much greater than the OWSJ.
2) With modern fabrication and jigging procedures, perhaps it's not such a big deal. In my wood truss days, we'd make a common jig and make 80% of the webbing identical from truss to truss to allow for continuous chases. Not so bad.
3) I've got a 60' x 60' gymnasium on the same property that will have some nice, repeating OWSJ. So it's not as though the oddballs would make up the only steel joists in the contract.
I'm leaning pretty strongly towards OWSJ. I'll be contacting local OWSJ suppliers for their advice as well. I find suppliers to often be overly optimistic about the range of applicability of their products however.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
1) 80' in length
2) 40' in width at one end and 25' in width at the other (trapezoid).
Because of the spans, and conventional economic wisdom, we're wanting to use open webbed steel joists. There is some concern, however, that the joists might be unduly expensive because no two will be the same length. I'm interested to hear comments speaking to that. Some things that I've considered:
1) I could get the job done with some large W-beams with the overall steel weight being much greater than the OWSJ.
2) With modern fabrication and jigging procedures, perhaps it's not such a big deal. In my wood truss days, we'd make a common jig and make 80% of the webbing identical from truss to truss to allow for continuous chases. Not so bad.
3) I've got a 60' x 60' gymnasium on the same property that will have some nice, repeating OWSJ. So it's not as though the oddballs would make up the only steel joists in the contract.
I'm leaning pretty strongly towards OWSJ. I'll be contacting local OWSJ suppliers for their advice as well. I find suppliers to often be overly optimistic about the range of applicability of their products however.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.






RE: Steel joist economics when no two are identical
The SS option will be far more expensive due to the pounds of steel.
RE: Steel joist economics when no two are identical
RE: Steel joist economics when no two are identical
I hadn't. It's a clever idea though that I'll consider.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Steel joist economics when no two are identical