Steel+plywood column stiffness calc. 1

[amorrison]

I want to epoxy bond a thin (maybe 1/8 inch ?) layer of steel to a piece of 3/4 inch plywood
to increase the stiffness of a "column" in compression.
The plywood is 3/4 x 1 inch in cross section.
I have not found any applicable equations with Google searches.
Any ideas?
Thanks.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Plywood? Really?
3/4" x 1" HR steel bar is cheap.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[EngineerErrant]

Depends on the # of plies, etc.

If you want to do due diligence: BENDING STRENGTH AND STIFFNESS OF PLYWOOD by Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and check out this thread.

"Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily available, they will create their own problems." -Scott Adams

 

[MikeHalloran]

Yeah, but a 3/4 x 1` "column" of common plywood could have voids extending completely through it in the 1" direction, and patches completely across either or both faces. Plus, if it's long enough to get a grip on, you could break it with your bare hands.

If it were aircraft plywood, you might reinforce it by wrapping it with "tinplate", i.e. steel of approx .007" thickness, with a folded and/or soldered seam, just to increase its buckling strength over the so far unstated length.

Bonding the plywood to a 1/8" x 1" steel bar is a waste of time because they won't share the unstated compressive load nicely.

Simpler to just use a steel column.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA