Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
(OP)
I am finding some publications that believe sleeve nuts are easier to install and less expensive than turnbuckles. Also, Portland Bolt indicates turnbuckles are not a stocked item. Obviously if the aesthetics of the turnbuckle are desired, it doesn't matter.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
-Mac






RE: Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
RE: Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
RE: Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
Thanks, ajh1
-Mac
RE: Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
RE: Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
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RE: Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
RE: Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
I can't speak to bridges but, in buildings, this has certainly been a trend that I've noticed and wondered about. Many braces that would have been rod & cleveis when I first started out seem to be chevron etc now. I have a few theories:
1) Seismic. Rod bracing doesn't play so great with seismic in many situations.
2) Base anchorage details. We pay much more rigorous attention to this stuff than we used to. Consequently, it's harder to make the numbers work and there is often a benefit to sharing your shear load between two column bases instead of one.
3) Braces in walls. I see a lot of braces buried inside of cold formed stud walls rather that positioned behind those walls. As such, the braces need to be able to take wind and that tends to steer one away from rods.
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: Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
These sleeve nuts, often custom fabricated from bar stock, are used in many architecturally exposed applications. Airport terminal buildings come to mind.
RE: Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
That is a good point.
Agreed, though I would think you could make up the difference at clevises. I wonder what the maximum brace length would be practical for a given sleeve nut length and rod diameter. My braces are at most 12 ft long. I haven't sized my rods yet, but I imagine they will be in the 1" dia. range.
hokie - I didn't realize they would be stronger.
-Mac
RE: Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
The other advantage of the turnbuckle is you can clearly see how far the rod has been threaded into the part. It would seem there would be a risk on the sleeve nut that after adjustment you would not necessarily have enough length of thread in the part. This might be particularly true if you start out with it a little loose and intend to tighten to snug up the rod. If you fully thread it in before you start to insure enough depth of thread then you don't have any adjustment left.
Cables seem to be phasing out and I would say good riddance, too much stretch under load without return to original length.
Rods are good for lighter loads. I wouldn't recommend them for extremely heavy loads nor for conditions like crane bracing where you would see a lot of cycling loads, or at least 0 to something back to 0.
As seismic forces are getting higher there is a desire to move up to more ductile systems, i.e. eccentric braces, buckling restrained braces, etc. which generally require tension and compression braces which drops rods out of the picture.
RE: Sleeve Nuts Vs. Turnbuckles
-Mac