How is it safe to cut and offset a section of beam?

[Soulconspiracy]

I'm not an engineer, though I appreciate the principals involved and I can imagine how a structure transfers load. I've been asked to draw a structural modification and something tells me it doesn't function like the guy thinks it does.

I'll do a sketch if my explanation isn't clear...

Basically you have a beam simply supported at both ends that's carrying a number of point loads along it's length. The guy wants to cut out a section of the beam, move it horizontally by some distance and connect it to the rest of the beam using more steelwork welded between the ends. There is also a web plate between the original beam and the additional steelwork. He says he's just moved the strength from one place to another.

Is this possible? Maybe it just depends on the strength of all the new connections? The end connections are unchanged. As far as I know, no structural calculations have been made, it's just a case of over-specify everything beyond doubt, I'm just worried the principal of the whole thing is flawed. I am subordinate and cannot question such matters openly unless I know I'm not being ridiculous.

Fortunately no one is going to get hurt if this fails but it would be expensive.

I'd be grateful for any insight on this. I don't need any detailed examination or anything, just wondering if anyone had seen this done.

 

[Soulconspiracy]

Thanks all for confirming that my suspicions are justified. I'm going to get all the details and let you know what happens.

 

[Agent666]

Even if it worked for strength, floor spanning onto it would be like a trampoline or bouncy castle as you get that 'crankshaft' action going. .

 

[kingnero]

In addition to my previous comments, this entire thing has a lot more chance of working if a console was added to the existing beam to accomodate an offset load, instead of cutting away a piece of it and reusing (?) it off center.
But in the meantime we're beating a poor, poor, dead horse, I believe the general message has been well transferred to the OP.

And for f*cks sake, let us not mention the crankshaft analogy anymore