Splcie joint in ALuminum member!

[pranayvarma]

Hi everybody !

I have to design an aluminum mullion (rectangular tube) to span continuous between atleast 2 floors (4.2m span each atleast). The mullion has to be spliced at every floor level (point of support on to the floor). The splicing proposed, is to insert a sleeve inside the lower mullion and to bolt it. The upper mullion is to just slide over the sleeve and have a 10mm gap between the lower mullion. No welding is permitted. My question is that how can i consider this assembly of mullions as continuous. Is bolting of upper mullion to the sleeve a must? What length of the sleeve should i propose? Should i rather put the sleeve at the point of inflexion?


thanks

 

[Structr]

Sleeve is located at point of inflection. It is necessary to have the sliding capability since the floor deflect at differnet magnitude, and aluminum has large coefficient of thermal expansion.