Assessment of existing steel structure

[MonsieurR]

Hello everyone,

A client wants me to assess an existing structure which is lightly corroded (see attachment). This structure is supporting condensers for a cold storage warehouse building. The structure was built on 2002 and I need to evaluate if it needs an overhaul since one of the old condensers will be replaced by a new one which is around 10% heavier. According to my analyses, little thickness has been lost, and the design is satisfactory (although design factors are near 0.95-1.05), hence I think only a repaint is necessary. Nevertheless, since the design verification is tight, I would like to study further the matter.

So far I have taken a look at ASCE 11 and ASTM G46 only. Is there any other reference you have found useful for this type of work?

Kind regards.

Photos are:

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...b-b10a-4163-bbe5-f07e37bb88ff&file=PHOTOS.rar

 

[LeonhardEuler]

I think with something so simple you can get away with a visual inspection only. ASCE has a visual inspection guide for steel structures. You may want to look closest at the welds. If there is some excess corrosion or pitting at the welds I would atleast do some dye penetrant testing to assess the extent of the damage

 

[racookpe1978]

What are you calling "design factors" - Certainly not safety factor (ratio of design load divided by calculated capacity) if the current design factors are 0.95 to 1.05?

Did you list "margins" = (expected maximum load + margin) = maximum design load

 

[LeonhardEuler]

Racoopke1978 I assume he means actual load/allowable load is about 1.05