Guardrail Post Concrete Breakout Strength
Guardrail Post Concrete Breakout Strength
(OP)
I design a lot of steel guardrails, more than a few of which are core-drilled and epoxied into either precast or cast-in-place concrete stairs and landings. In terms of the strength of the concrete embedment, the only procedure I am familiar with to calculate the capacity comes out of the PCI Design Handbook, 5th Edition. Section 6.9 provides a procedure for embedding structural steel shapes in concrete. The problem is that the post is in close proximity to the edge of concrete, and in all likelihood, breakout probably controls.
I normally embed 4" with 4" edge distance to the center of the post. I'm now confronted with a situation where they want to use 3" edge distance to keep a post out of a doorway. I don't think that's enough. Is anybody familiar with a procedure to calculate breakout strength of the concrete?
I'm thinking of telling them "tough luck", it has to be at least 4", but I would like to be able to back it up with calculations, and for future reference.
I normally embed 4" with 4" edge distance to the center of the post. I'm now confronted with a situation where they want to use 3" edge distance to keep a post out of a doorway. I don't think that's enough. Is anybody familiar with a procedure to calculate breakout strength of the concrete?
I'm thinking of telling them "tough luck", it has to be at least 4", but I would like to be able to back it up with calculations, and for future reference.






RE: Guardrail Post Concrete Breakout Strength
RE: Guardrail Post Concrete Breakout Strength
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: Guardrail Post Concrete Breakout Strength