tally25
Structural
- Sep 11, 2017
- 9
Hi guys,
I'd thought I'd do a little survey here to see how others in the industry go about their purlin/girt design. Over the years I've seen many different 'approaches' to purlin design when reviewing other peoples comps. In general, I tend to think designers don't put much energy into designing these elements, which are quite important (especially when used for lateral support of precast/tilt-up panels). I myself am guilty of questioning my approach to the design of purlins in the past, especially when AS1170.2 was updated a few years ago.
Personally I have traditionally performed purlin/girt design using hand calcs, but then eventually I made a spreadsheet that would (mostly) take care of the wind local pressure calcs for you - which to me is the tedious bit if you want to do it properly. The spreadsheet would ultimately require the user to input the capacity read from the manufacturers span tables, and would have certain limitations in terms of different span arrangements, point loads and axial loads etc. As is always the case in the engineering world, there is a level of engineering judgement and rationalization that must be exercised when using the spreadsheet outside of these limitations.
I've had a look for purlin design software packages available in Australia and found a few packages; COLDSTEEL (University of Sydney), SUPAPURLIN (Lysaght/Univeristy of Sydney) and EX-FACTA (Stramit).
I'm interested to learn how my fellow engineers out in the industry go about their routine purlin/girt design. Specifically,
[ol 1]
[li]How do you currently design your purlins? Hand-calcs, spreadsheet, design software package, other?[/li]
[li]Is this your preferred approach, or are you looking for a better solution?[/li]
[li]If you use a design program, which one do you use and why?[/li]
[li]What are your thoughts on the package you use i.e. what are the pros/cons?[/li]
[li]What features would your ideal purlin software design package have?[/li]
[li]Do you think there would be sufficient value added to the business to warrant paying for a software package over your current purlin design approach, provided it met all your purlin design needs? [/li]
[/ol]
Cheers
I'd thought I'd do a little survey here to see how others in the industry go about their purlin/girt design. Over the years I've seen many different 'approaches' to purlin design when reviewing other peoples comps. In general, I tend to think designers don't put much energy into designing these elements, which are quite important (especially when used for lateral support of precast/tilt-up panels). I myself am guilty of questioning my approach to the design of purlins in the past, especially when AS1170.2 was updated a few years ago.
Personally I have traditionally performed purlin/girt design using hand calcs, but then eventually I made a spreadsheet that would (mostly) take care of the wind local pressure calcs for you - which to me is the tedious bit if you want to do it properly. The spreadsheet would ultimately require the user to input the capacity read from the manufacturers span tables, and would have certain limitations in terms of different span arrangements, point loads and axial loads etc. As is always the case in the engineering world, there is a level of engineering judgement and rationalization that must be exercised when using the spreadsheet outside of these limitations.
I've had a look for purlin design software packages available in Australia and found a few packages; COLDSTEEL (University of Sydney), SUPAPURLIN (Lysaght/Univeristy of Sydney) and EX-FACTA (Stramit).
I'm interested to learn how my fellow engineers out in the industry go about their routine purlin/girt design. Specifically,
[ol 1]
[li]How do you currently design your purlins? Hand-calcs, spreadsheet, design software package, other?[/li]
[li]Is this your preferred approach, or are you looking for a better solution?[/li]
[li]If you use a design program, which one do you use and why?[/li]
[li]What are your thoughts on the package you use i.e. what are the pros/cons?[/li]
[li]What features would your ideal purlin software design package have?[/li]
[li]Do you think there would be sufficient value added to the business to warrant paying for a software package over your current purlin design approach, provided it met all your purlin design needs? [/li]
[/ol]
Cheers