JP20:
Why not eliminate all of the bolts btwn. the channels and the center pl.? Instead, turn the channel toes in and weld them to the center pl. Now, you actually have closed sections which have some lateral stiffness and improve the pl. buckling picture as it acts as an axial member. The 1.25” center pl. is really overkill except at the pin holes where the shackle opening width at the pin is probably about 1.5” +/-, that’s a 6.5 or 8.5 ton shackle, or approx. your 20k sling force or shear force, on about a 20’ long beam/col. Alternatively, I agree with Agent666, and would pick a WF shape which worked for its combined loads, bending and axial and buckling and then weld attachment pls. to the top and bot. flgs. The top pad eyes would actually look much like the pin pl. (FIG. C3-3) in your earlier thread, and would be welded over and parallel to the WF web. They might be a thinner pl. with doubler plates (doughnuts) to match the shackle opening width, and with sloped sides to distribute the sling loads (tension and moment) to the top of the WF. The bot. pl. would be continuous and I would wonder if you really need that many bot. pin holes. Maybe 8” or 12” spacing gives plenty of adjustability. Right now, you are trying to make swiss cheese out of a piece of heavy pl. with your original sketch. Again, I caution that the pl. edges and pin holes need some special attention to assure no notches, slightly rounded/chamfered corners, etc. This helps assure that rough handling does not cause any sharp edge nicks or cracks. Also, the exact formulas (three formulas) from your earlier thread don’t really apply to this bot. pin pl.