Plate Supported on Three Sides 2

[tclat]

Dear All,

I've searched the forum but have not been able to get an appropriate answer.

I'm designing a swimming pool which has an acrylic window. The top of the acrylic will also serve as an infinity edge so the window is not framed at the top. The window is 25 feet long and 3 feet high and is also 6 feet away from both corners of the pool. The pool depth at the window is 5'-0". The acrylic is 4" thick. The acrylic is being designed/sized by the pool specialist and his engineer. I need to design the concrete structure supporting it.

I've looked through a the PCA tank design and cannot find a table which gives me a plate which has pin supports on three sides and free on the top. Theoretically, if the acrylic is stiff enough then it will span the 25' length and will be stable. Since it is likely going to be keyed into the concrete wall below, there will be some load transfer, but how much? It's too conservative, in my mind, to design the key as if it were a fixed connection.

Any help, references or suggestions?

Thanks

 

[rb1957]

roark has this. to get to roark's data google "moody rectangular plates".

Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

 

[JStephen]

It seems to me that on a plate of those dimensions, it would make sense to design it as fixed on the bottom, and most of the load would then be carried by the bottom. IE, very similar to an infinitely long window. That being the case, it would be critical to know what assumptions and details the window designer was using and design accordingly.

 

[msquared48]

You need to call Scotty and use Transparent Aluminum.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering