Beam requirement for a 10 ft bridge 1

[dgs1958]

I'm looking into manufacturing a steel I-beam bridge over a 10 ft span. The structure will need to support a 20-ton load of traffic. What size and quantity of beams should safely handle this load? I was thinking that five x 10” x 35lb beams would be enough to support this.

 

[brdgbldr]

I'm just curious, but why are you looking into using steel I-beams. 10 feet is by no means a very large span and, at least in the southwest, we would normally just use a standard reinforced concrete box culvert for a span like this. That may be because steel is so expensive here...

 

[dgs1958]

The reason for steel is because I have access to steel at my shop at a good price and my friend would like a kit style design delivered to his work site so all he has to do it bolt it together.
The load rating comes from a fuel oil delivery truck. How do you feel about the size and frequency of the beams I concidered?

 

[boo1]

I assume you want to provide safe, economical and reliable structure on a private road. The span rating of the steel appear to be strong enough to handle the maximum flexural, shear, and any beam overhang responses . Consider spacing to place two of the beams at each of the trucks tread path to distribute the wheel loads. Most states in the US have design guides for bridges, see below.

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/FASC/EngineeringPublications/Manuals/BDM.pdf

http://www.dot.state.ny.us/cmb/consult/hdmfiles/chapt_04.pdf

 

[dgs1958]

Boo1,
Thanks for the links they were very helpfull. Your assumption is correct. I'll take your advise on beam placement into concideration, it seems logical.

Thanks again, Don

 

[boo1]

Don check this site:

http://store.southernpine.com/images/ref318.pdf