Design aluminum pipe as support beam 1

[1437n6]

I have designed a steel pipe to be used as a support beam to support roll goods for material handling. The pipe spans 6 feet between support brackets, and therefore is over the allowable 50 lb weight limit for one employee to lift. I would like to look at designing an aluminum pipe to replace the steel pipe due to its light weight. I have not done any design with Aluminum and need help with the properties, any different design codes, allowable deflection, etc.
If needed, following are the requirements for the design:
- maximum pipe diameter to be 6".
- span is 6'
- distributed load is 28" wide, weighing 3500 lbs (centered on the beam).

 

[JStephen]

"Aluminum Design Manual",

http://www.aluminum.com.

 

[1437n6]

When I go to

http://www.aluminum.com,

it sends to me to Alcoa.com, but I do not see an "Aluminum Design Manual." Am I overlooking it? Thanks.

 

[desertfox]

hi 1437n6

Try this;-

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1ZmzSdgxWhMC&dq=Aluminium+structural+design

&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=ovdJnsTLDM&sig=
UcKQ1IHxjdi7vqRUsYqtbdbKTYo&hl=en&ei=4GNUS5LbM9Ky4Qa3zt
WeCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=
0CBwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=&f=false

desertfox

 

[Ron]

..or go to The Aluminum Association.

http://www.aluminum.org/

You will likely use 6061-T6 or 6063-T6 pipe. Yield will be in the 26ksi to 32ksi range.

Pay attention to the temper...it makes a big difference in mechanical properties. Keep in mind that within 1 inch of a weld, the allowable mechanical properties go way down...example: 6063-T6 allowable bending stress = 15,150 psi. Same material within 1 inch of a weld, allowable bending stress=6,667 psi.

Most comparable sizes to steel available in aluminum. Allowable deflections are the same as for steel, but application dependent.

 

[1437n6]

Thanks!

 

[IFRs]

Aluminum deflects more, all other things being equal because it's E is 1/3 that of steel

 

[JStephen]

Sorry, typed it with the com instead of the org, but that's where I was at.