ENGINEERING.com has updated it's forum.  To post a question please visit the new Ask@ Forum.   

With a database of over 10000 questions the library will remain available for an extended period.
Q&A


dsouthern		 I want to remove a support beam in my basement, it is 16 feet with a support at both ends and in the middle. View All
It supports 2x10 wood joist that extend out 13.5' on one side and 14.5' on the other. There are no walls above. The current beam consists of 3 2x10 nailed together. I would like to replace it with steel and remove the center support. I was hoping to keep the height the same or increase it. I was thinking about using a 8x4 retangular steel tube...3/8" thick. Would this be enough?
12 years ago - 2 months left to answer. - 2 responses - Report Abuse
Respond to question
    0      [lnkReport]        0       0       
Share |
  Responses

Niel
 DO NOT IT until and unless the design is approved be a licensed Structural Engineering who is fully familiar with the building codes and regulations of your locality. Failure to do so risks you, your family and your home.

Niel Leon
Engineering.com

12 years ago

Source:


  0     0         

nilo
 Neil is right!
DON'T!!!!
What it can look like an easy solution,quite often in building structures, is far from it!
in a mechanical environment the calculation for the dimensions of beams is straight forward as in most cases the structures most likely have been restrained only once in each direction (X,Y,Z).
In civil Eng you are dealing with multi restrained ones! the forces are behaving and controlled in a completely different way, the calculations are much more complicated, just think about what huge difference it makes the introduction of a strut in a roof, it eliminates the flession load on the rafter by loading the king post with a load along it axle!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:King-post-truss.png
This could be you case! and if remove the central column not only you need to account for the weight of the ceiling, you also have the compression load from the roof!
Have your property surveyed by a professional structural engineer, or you could end up with a pile of rubble instead of a house.


12 years ago

Source:


  0     0         

ENGINEERING.com does not provide engineering advice. The Ask@ service is a forum for members to exchange ideas relating to the world of engineering. We caution users not to accept any responses that they receive without further validation, and not to rely on any engineering advice that they may get from other members of the Ask@ forum. ENGINEERING.com specifically disclaims any obligation to validate or verify any information posted within the Ask@ service. ENGINEERING.com encourages users to seek the services of a professional engineer for any engineering advice they may require.