Demolition Loads from demo equipment.

[struc80]

We are demo'ing a facility that has a portion that has to remain intact and safe. We are using an excavator with shears to make cuts to the floor beams. What kind of lateral load could be expected with this method?

 

[MiketheEngineer]

How big - how strong. Need a lot more info for even a wild guess!!

 

[msquared48]

I sense an EWAG coming forth to this forum string.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[struc80]

I guess thats the issue. I could get detailed info on the shears and other things but I was wanting to see from someone who does it everyday to give a ballpark figure. I have seen arbitrary values around 10 kips used but nothing to back it up. Also for those that have seen shears used on steel beams, does it shear all the way through clean or is there tourqing and twisting involved? If thats the case there would be alot more lateral load involved. Thanks for any input.

 

[Ron]

The shearing capacity is not what will give the lateral load. It is the boom capacity that tries to pull on that section as it shears it. The operator will control most of that, but count on the fact that the entire boom capacity (rated capacity) will be routinely exceeded.