Box Truss Column

[dkrpink]

Easier questions than my previous one; I think.

I design a lot of canopies and one thing I have been considering is going to a box truss for the beam and the column. This would be similar to that of the box truss members used for stage lighting and trade show displays. The issue with this is both the beam and the columns are cantilevered and will need to carry high moments.

With that said I am looking for a manufacture of the members that has some technical data and allowable loading data for my initial review to determine if it is a feasible solution on the cost side. Then if it is I would want to proceed with engineering to justify the manufacture supplied data.

Anyone have a recommended source or manufacture for the box trusses for this type of structural use?

 

[BAretired]

What I would do is meet with one of the local steel fabricators, show him a rough sketch and get his views. If you're feeling generous, you could even buy his lunch.

BA

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Where are you located and what kind fo sizes are we talking about. There are a number of mfgs that can do this...

 

[MikeHalloran]

I saw a really nice trade show display recently, comprising ~3" square box trusses (at least I think that's what you structural guys would call them), up to 8 feet long, loaded in compression and in bending.

Closer examination revealed that they weren't fabricated; they were square extruded aluminum tubes, with triangles milled out of the faces, and large round holes at the ends that were engaged for assembly with plugs screwed into blocks that linked the pieces together. All that was needed to set it up and knock it down was a ~5/16" Allen key.

The guy manning the booth said it was entirely shop-made, not a commercial product. I told him they should consider making them commercially, because it really got my attention.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[hokie66]

My initial reaction would be that fabrication costs for the box trusses would override any material savings.