2x6 Tongue and Groove decking for garage floors

[DanMcGrew]

I need guidance on the spans between floor beams when using 2x6 Tongue & Groove (T&G) decking. The vehicles are contractor pickup trucks, 4000 lb maximum axle load. Are there any publications for these concentrated loads? I have found lots of information on uniform snow loads but I am concerned about the shear force.

 

[oldestguy]

Any building code applicable? What about resistance to fire? Then along comes a crawler tractor on tracks weighing twice that of a pick-up.

 

[msquared48]

Is this to have a topping slab too?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[MikeHalloran]

What about maintenance?
Like lifting an entire end of the vehicle with a jack under the front crossmember or the differential housing?



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[BridgeSmith]

I suggest taking a close look at a trailer set up for hauling vehicles that has a 2X6 deck, and check the spacing of the cross beams on those. Those don't share load, and they don't fail in shear under the wheel load of a normal pickup. If you need convincing, there are shear capacity values in the NDS you can check.

 

[XR250]

Then along comes a crawler tractor on tracks weighing twice that of a pick-up.

The load would be distributed by the tracks so likely not an issue. i think your biggest issue is a jack load as MH stated.
2x6 T&G is pretty tough stuff, however.

 

[PittEng88]

Is this for a bridge? If so, I would recommend checking out Section 3.25 Distribution of Wheel Loads on Timber Flooring from the 1992 AASHTO Standard Specifications.

 

[PittEng88]

Sorry, I completely missed "Garage" in the Title. Either way, you could use AASHTO, which is a great resource for concentrated wheel loads and their distribution. In the past, as a conservative approach, I have assumed the floor planks to be single span for moment and 2-span for shear to produce the worst case for each using the maximum axial load. If you need to refine your calcs a bit more you could then divide the axial load into 2 wheel loads spaced at the minimum axial spacing of the design vehicle.