Column Bracing Help

[asalisbury]

I have a single column that has a very small radius of 0.13". It is supported laterally through a 0.30" thick plate with a 0.30" diameter hole through it. The plate moves up and down over the column. I am considering making the plate structural and in the realm of 2.5" thick. The column moves freely inside of the hole, but at times it can fetch on the plate edges if the column angle becomes too steep due to buckling/bowing. The column goes through a series of these plates that are in static condition above the moving plate. The moving plate will be loaded with about 10,000lbs in compression. The column is fixed at its base. See diagram below.

What should I consider when changing this plate over to be thicker? I am considering the critical angle of the column that will cause a fetch (see second image). I think that having a thicker plate would hold the column straighter. Any thoughts?

 

[Doug Hunter]

My first thought is to decrease the clearance between the column and the plates. The thicker plate will help. You'll want smooth surface finish and rounded corners on everything. I've got to ask: what is the function of the column?

 

[asalisbury]

My first thought is to decrease the clearance between the column and the plates. The thicker plate will help. You'll want smooth surface finish and rounded corners on everything. I've got to ask: what is the function of the column?

I would really like to tell the function of everything here, unfortunately it's confidential

By decreasing clearance, you mean reducing the diameter of the holes that the column is going through?

 

[Doug Hunter]

Yes, or increasing the column diameter. I don't know your variations, so I don't know what the clearance tolerance stack-up looks like. If the control of the position tolerance of all the plate holes to each other is poor, then a tighter clearance could conceivably increase the risk of binding. I can only spitball ideas without understanding the functions, of course. High L/D for the hole helps, but the most important factor is high L/clearance.