Hi all, How can I calculate how much weight can a 10"x10" x.5" 30'high carbon steel tube support? Is there a online calculator I can download? Thanks....
Look in the AISC Design Manual. Be sure to keep track of whether your answer is factored or unfactored, it makes a big difference in the magnitude of your answer. Why do you ask this by the way? This is a basic question for an engineer to be asking on a forum. If you are going to use this for design please get someone qualified to do it.
Ironmaster..ditto on UcfSE's warning. You have given no parameters for the load (direction, source, exposure,etc.) and lack of consideration for such could be dangerous. It isn't as simple as you imply in your question.
It is apparent that you are not an engineer. This forum is for engineers. I suggest you get one involved before something gets damaged or someone gets hurt.
Ironmaster
You can get quick reference tables from various sources for axial resistance. Strictly speaking, based on your problem, the axial capacity of your ‘post/column/tube’ can pretty much range from about 1,600,000 pounds, pretty well down to zero depending on various factors like steel type, connection details, end connections, axial load eccentricities.... and the list goes on.
It is likely to be in the range of 100,000-300,000lbf, but like the others have said, get someone qualified to look at it if it is a real design. That is a pretty large tube which can potentially hold a lot of weight, and equally able to drop a lot of weight.
