Load capacity of a steel grid 1

[ecrmorri]

the grid has to be 1 square meter and 4cm deep. It is for a drainage sump. The grid spacing is therefore not critical. Could a grid this size ever support a 5 tonne Uniformly distributed load. The load it will bear will actually come from a forklift sitting on it ( worst case scenario is probably then a point load from one of the wheels acting at the centre). What kind of calculations would I need to perform. I have seen one manufacturer with a similar grid which states it will only be able to support a 0.5 tonne UDL. The grid is to sit over a hole with a 50mm wide recess.

Thx

ecrmorri

 

[arto]

A quick way to size a support grid or ribbed plate is to calculate it an equivalent plate made of the same volume of material. [i.e., how thick would it be if you melted it down?] Don't forget to include "thick plate" shear correction if req'd.

We've used this several times and it usually comes out "dead nuts" [i.e. within 10% of FEA or actual measurement]

It came from an old article: R.K.Livesley, "Structural Problems in Reactor Engineering," Chemical & Process Engineering, August 1960, pp.353-6,373.

"The test showed that both the strength and stiffness of the model grillage agreed closely with what one would expect from a grillage which had a top plate consisting of a uniform sheet containing the same volume of material."

 

[dvd]

A good source for information on this area is:

http://www.iperf.org/perfhand.htm

 

[ecrmorri]

Thx for your help!