help on starting a simple steel bracket design

[nitz11]

Im working in construction and needed to get a rough design done for a steel overhanging bracket. I took steel design but have not worked on it for about 5 years, so was lost as to where to start. NOT looking for a design, just to help me understand where to start and what I am looking for. It should be simple, but not sure if Im overthinking it.. any help is appreciated!!

 

[jayrod12]

The first thing every designer should be looking at is constructability. my first thought is how is someone supposed to fasten the connector near the corner? Even if the bolt was already installed in the back-up material, there's no way to get a nut on the end, and then getting a wrench to tighten it will be nothing short of an amazing feat.

So start with what's a constructable detail, and then start putting numbers to the sizing.

 

[SWComposites]

start by drawing by hand a free body diagram of the 3 elements (or however many you have once you sort out the fastener issue pointed out by jayrod). actually start by writing down all of the requirements for this bracket; loads, interfaces, envelope, deflection, etc.

once you have a fbd for each element, figure out the shear and moment distribution in each; see your Static text.