UtilityStructure
Structural
- Aug 21, 2008
- 8
I do a lot of work with existing structures and a number of retro fitting projects. This particular project I need to remove x-bracing and a horizontal beam in a particular bay of a braced frame to make room for a monorail and clearance for its cargo. Essentially I will be increasing the effective length(KL) by x2 in the Y-axis for one column, and x2 in the X-axis for the other.
Being that the structure is existing, loads are not easily determined and would take quite a bit of time to collect necessary info to come up with accuate loads.
My plan is to add cover plates to each column to match their "old" capacity corresponding to their "old" effective length. Without being able to add vertical bracing, how can I make sure the added cover plates will provide enough strength to resist lateral forces? (Turning a braced frame into a moment frame) The frames above and below are both braced, and will somehow need to transfer the lateral forces to one another. I will be able to estimate the wind loads acting on the structure to get a rough idea of how much load will need to be transferred.
EIT
Being that the structure is existing, loads are not easily determined and would take quite a bit of time to collect necessary info to come up with accuate loads.
My plan is to add cover plates to each column to match their "old" capacity corresponding to their "old" effective length. Without being able to add vertical bracing, how can I make sure the added cover plates will provide enough strength to resist lateral forces? (Turning a braced frame into a moment frame) The frames above and below are both braced, and will somehow need to transfer the lateral forces to one another. I will be able to estimate the wind loads acting on the structure to get a rough idea of how much load will need to be transferred.
EIT