ISO Container Structure

[cblounas]

Hello Everyone,

I am in the process of designing a structure for a client using 4 modified ISO containers (2 joined containers stacked perpendicularly on top of 2 joined containers – Similar to a “ + “ when viewed from above).

I do not have any structural software at my disposal to model the steel containers as shells and do an FEM model. From the ISO 1496 standard I can find the performance specifications for an unaltered ISO container. But once you do any kind of modification you compromise the structural integrity of it.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Any structural information on ISO containers? Are there any sample structural calculations for modified containers? I just haven’t worked with such a structure before.

Thanks for any information that you can provide me with.

 

[BAretired]

ISO containers are not identical. I suspect you will need the specifications for the model you are using. See attached for some ideas:

http://www.hapag-lloyd.com/download...tions/Brochure_Container_Specification_en.pdf

BA

 

[MikeHalloran]

Well, you can load them at the lifting points, but the remainder, all of it, is rather thin.

Can you sneak in some skinny columns, so that the containers only _appear_ to be resting on one another?



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[cblounas]

BAretired, the ISO Containers will be inspected prior from purchasing to verify all the specifications are correct. But yes you are right, they not identical.

MikeHalloran, I can load them at their lifting points along with skinny columns. But I was trying to see how the corrugated walls behave after you cut holes into them. Since I don't have an FEM program right now, was wondering if there were any hand calculations on it, to view as a sample

 

[wannabeSE]

There was a presentation at the last Steel Conference. For the proceedings (recording), scroll down to item N21a "Analysis and Design of Repurposed Steel Shipping Containers in Low-Rise Building Construction" at

https://www.aisc.org/content.aspx?id=38120

I don't know if they suggest FEM or other methods.

 

[racookpe1978]

This will seem like a trite, simplistic answer, but please take it the way it is intended.

Will it really matter?

How big are the holes in the corrugated walls? Doorways? Forklift passageways? People? true windows? Air conditioning ducts and wireways? How many holes inhow many walls and where on the walls? Are the holes reinforced at each opening with angle iron or channel or light tubesteel? Welded all around to the window "frames" or not at all or are the window frames fully water and air tight so the end result is stronger than the original corrugated walls?

What is the loading on the walls themselves? Is the loading on the container floor, and the walls only for structural weatherproofing and racking resistance when stacked?

End doors locked shut? Welded closed? Open for use?

Do you need to worry about "unstacking" the containers, moving them with gear and "stuff" inside. then re-stacking them someplace else?

The "idea" of these containers was floor-loaded loose cargo being man-handled and mis-treated while moving "stuff" worldwide with the doors closed and locked, and all loads restrained by the corner locking posts to other frames. There is a LOT of "reserve" strength in these things, else they would be collapsing like light cardboard boxes every where.

 

[BAretired]

You may want to look at stacking tests for various models. See this link for loads applied at corners of units:

https://law.resource.org/pub/us/cfr/ibr/004/iso.1496-1.1990.pdf

BA

 

[dhengr]

Cblounas:
ISO? What do ‘Industrial Sophomoric Organizations’ have to do with anything, except that they consume too much of industries valuable time?
I think there have been a few other threads on this subject, you might try searching the structural and mechanical forums here. Obviously, the job becomes much more complicated when the quality and condition of the units is not top notch. They work really well for storage containers when they can be stacked exactly the way they were intended, or arranged only one unit high. When you start stacking then in strange ways and getting all architecty and cutesy about this stacking and cutting openings in any of the solid walls or t&b, them they become more trouble than they are worth. Just too much to work around, reinforce and resolve to make them work economically and practically. If you keep it very clean and simple, there might be some hope, but usually the work-arounds cost more than the savings in some rain-wind-snow exterior cladding. Some of these have been done, but whether they really met local bldg. codes or the IBC might be another matter. Their structuring offers some considerable resistance to code compliance, they just aren’t originally designed for this type application of concentrated loads and wall openings. I suspect that the most successful applications have involved a new skeletal structure intended to support the containers just as they were intended. Then all you have to worry about is one unit at a time as regards holes cut into it, and how they affect the structural adequacy of that unit as it is supported on its four corners, and carries its own weight and loadings. And, you should most certainly try to get the manufacturing specs. for the units you buy, as well as the basic industry standards and specs. I believe the various sized units are pretty much identical in terms of their support points and hardware, loads required to be supported and carried, basic dimensions, etc. Then some of the exact details are left to the builder. You will have to know the materials they are made of, so you can design around their mech. props. and so that you can determine the welding requirements.