Monorail beam : Maximum length 1

[boobathims]

I am designing a monorail beam W18x50 for a span of 33 ft (1-ton lifting load). Is there any restriction for the span.It is very rarely used for maintenance.

thanks in advance

 

[HTURKAK]

vertical deflection of the crane beam under crane wheel loads (without impact) is L/600

for Light and Medium Cranes—CMAA 70 Classes A, B, and C.

 

[strucbells]

I think for a monorail you can use L/450 instead of L/600. L/600 is more for bridge cranes.

In terms of maximum length of the span..like all structural design, it depends on a few things:

1. Strength, check your max moment and shear. Also check your lateral load requirements (torsion & weak axis bending).
2. Serviceability, check your max deflections for all of the required loading.
3. Constructability, verify your beam can be actually lifted into place and/or transported to the site. 33ft shouldn't be a problem for transport. Installation clearances depend on what is existing and what is being built new and what your details look like.

CMAA has some design guides on lateral loads and deflections, can't remember them all off hand.