Notching HSS Column

[cfox142]

I have been asked to design reinforcement for a HSS column that needs the face notched out.

This is a freestanding platform in an industrial building. The platform is 14 ft tall and has angle kickers for lateral stability. The column to be notched is a HSS 6X6X1/4 and the notch will be on one face and 1-1/2" deep and 8" tall. The thought is to cut the notch then weld a C8 in to create the void. The axial load on the column is only 5,000 lbs. Any thoughts on checks to perform?

Since this is a freestanding platform and the loads are small I plan on looking at the column with a reduced section modulus and moment of inertia and call it good or look at bending in the toe of the channel and how the load in the face of the column transfers through the toe, into the channel web, through the other toe, and back into the column face. The only outstanding item is to verify none of the equipment creates any lateral loads.

Thanks,

 

[msquared48]

Hard to picture. Can you post a sketch?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[KootK]

Some questions for you:

1) How wide is the notch?
2) Is the notch on the face of the column in the same plane as the angle bracing?
3) Is it safe to assume that you're dealing with a pinned connection at the bottom of the column?
4) Your channel flanges will run horizontally, right?
5) How high up on the column is the notch?

Preliminary comments:

1) I suspect that the channel will be ineffective. It well tend to cross web bend due to the eccentric loading and load will shift to the remaining HSS walls.

2) If the notch will be near the bottom of the column, I'm fairly confident that you could arrive at a "do nothing" solution.

3) You might want to research "hand holes in utility poles". It's a very similar problem for which there are pretty standard solutions available.

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.