Estimated cost of intermediate web stiffeners?

kckriete · Jun 13, 2003

A client of mine has recently asked that our firm check into reducing the web thickness on a 1/2"x60" web to 7/16" in order to save weight and thus save costs. The change results is a savings of approximately 4800 lbs of steel per girdert line. The reduced thickness also results in the addition of 8 additional web stiffners. Does anyone have a good etimate on the additional fabrication cost of adding web stiffners. It doesn't appear to me that there is as much savings as my client thinks but I do not have a good reference for the increased fabrication cost.

Thanks

Qshake · Jun 13, 2003

Don't be shy, call a fabricator. DeLong's is available as is Stupp Bros. Another location is the National Steel Bridge Alliance, which is extremely helpful. This is exactly what they do for a living and will be able to tell you what kind of premium to add for stiffeners. If your not aware, the stiffeners have to hand welded and are labor intensive. Which is why most DOTs will use a web thickness equal to 1/8"larger than that web thickness which requires the use of stiffeners.

Also, you might wish to inquire about thinner webs and transportation problems. There needs to be some attention paid to the details involved in blocking up a long thin web on a trailer bed.

Your company has you listed in Structural Engineer magazine as a special structures man...you'd better get that firm turned around with some new reference material! Good Luck!

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Estimated cost of intermediate web stiffeners?

kckriete

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Qshake

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