Beam Pocket Strength Check

[kxa]

I need to support the ends of a steel beam using the existing 10? foundation walls of a basement. I am looking at about 8 kips of total load ( DL+LL). If I propose a cutout for a beam pockets for, let?s say, 4? bearing, would there still be other things to consider. The house is about 80+ years old and there are no cracks visible in the walls. Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[spats]

Cutting a beam pocket would be relatively difficult. Why not face connect? I would use beam web angles and epoxy bolt them to the wall. It's also best if the clip angles are also bolted at the beam, with horizontal slots in the beam web. That way you have a tolerance for fit-up, while also allowing some rotation in the connection so it's not so rigid.

 

[JKW05]

What is the material? If it is hollow block, you may want to grout the first few courses beneath the bearing. Check the bearing pressure on the wall material and provide a bearing plate if additional area is needed.

 

[msquared48]

I would definitely face connect with an end plate welded to the steel beam and after-set bolts if it is a poured concrete wall. If it is CMU, I would do the same but with anchor bolts, grouting solid the cells below the plate, and the cells containing the anchor bolts.

If the beam is to span across the width of the house, you will probably have to erect the beam in two pieces in order to install it, with either a column at the splice, or fielding the two pieces together in the field for a moment splice.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering