Tiger Enclosure 1

[jpartch]

I read the discussion in thread thread507-86811 about design forces on a cage for a tiger, since I'm also designing a tiger enclosure. In my case, the preliminary design is for a 12 foot tall fenced area, about 60 feet by 60 feet using chain link fencing and fencing over the top. The fencing over the top will be supported by cables in both directions attached to steel posts. My questions for you to consider are:
Snow Load? Does the chain link roof need to carry the full snow load or somewhat less. This is in a maritime climate with wet snow. In my experience wet snow sticks to a small grid like that and builds up almost like on a flat roof. Is there any documented code or research on this?
Allowable spans of chain link fencing based on impact loading of a tiger or snow loading? Do I need to somehow figure out the load in each wire of the chain link fencing? or are there any published testing results?

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can offer.

 

[BAretired]

Article 45 of Commentary G of User's Guide - NBC 2005 "Sunshades" states in part:

Where the horizontal projections of the gaps between the slats is 100mm or less, the snow can bridge the gaps and the sunshade should be considered as solid from the standpoint of snow loading."

As for the strength of the chain link fence, you should check with manufacturers for the strength of the wire they are using. If you know the tensile capacity of a single wire and you know the spacing of an orthogonal grid of wires, you should be able to calculate the tensile capacity per unit width. You will have to anchor all wires at the ends and at all splices. Getting double curvature on the chain link fence could be a bit of a problem.

So far as tiger impact is concerned, you're on your own.

BA

 

[LowLax]

Tiger Impact: F=ma
You might want a factor of safety in there I don't think anyone will argue with a little conservatism on that one.

 

[SkiisAndBikes]

jpartch,

Following the escape of a tiger from a large, well known zoo in Canada, I understood from the newspaper articles that there are published guidelines within the zoo industry for the design of such enclosures. I have no experience with this type of design, however, I would suggest that if you contacted a large, local, reputable zoo in your area, you may be able to speak with their facilities manager and be directed to the proper source of the the guidelines.

 

[bridgebuster]

Also, take a trip to the zoo or nature preserve and look at tiger enclosures. Nothing wrong with using some one eles's work as a starting point.

 

[jpartch]

Thanks for the suggestions. I definitely don't want to reinvent the wheel.

 

[paddingtongreen]

Since you are concerned with snow load, you are probably also subject to freezing rain or ice storms. If you had a storm that added say a quarter of an inch of ice, that would decrease the size of the spaces between and pretty well guarantee that the snow would bridge. I used to get ice loads from the NESC but I think that ASCE now covers it too.

Michael.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.