Can Wood Brace a Steel Beam?

[BSVBD]

Is it acceptable to consider a steel beam to be laterally braced by wood trusses, purlins, joists or other repetitive wood members at 24" o/c or less?

Top / compression flange bearing?

Bottom flange bearing?

Thank you.

 

[mike20793]

What steel code are you under? If it's AISC, the only issue I see could be getting the required stiffness to brace the beam off a wood truss. It could probably handle the strength requirement, but the stiffness requirement could be an issue. If you find it will work, then you will want to provide the required strength and stiffness to the truss supplier so they can be designed accordingly.

 

[KootK]

It can be done but your bracing members and connections would need to satisfy the strength and stiffness requirements specified in the AISC spec. Top bearing works pretty well. Bottom bearing is probably a bit more dubious.

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.

 

[bowlingdanish]

You can brace a steel beam with any material so long as it can resist the buckling forces, and have adequate stiffness and durability. 'Wood' can, and cannot, depending on its material, geometric and durability properties.

 

[BAretired]

Wood joists bearing on a wood nailer on the top flange of a steel beam have been considered as adequate lateral bracing for many years without doing any special check. The attachment of the joists to the nailer and the nailer to the beam must meet code requirements to qualify as an adequate brace.

BA

 

[XR250]

Yup, I have never checked that

 

[Jerehmy]

Just had a job with trusses bearing on an interior steel beam in the basement. Out of curiosity I ran the numbers from AISC Appendix 6. Pbr was 1500# for Lb = 2ft (truss spacing). There's floor sheathing so the load eventually makes its way there. 750plf on the sheathing? I mean even if the load decreases in correspondence with the shape of the moment diagram, is it concerning to have that much load POTENTIALLY resisted by the diaphragm?

 

[XR250]

Seems like your bracing numbers are high.