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Substituting 8.625 OD pipe for x IBeam, possible?
Last Post 27 Apr 2012 12:07 PM by Niel. 3 Replies.
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PhilWebb
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Posts:2

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24 Apr 2012 10:36 AM

    Building a Batting cage for my sons and one system calls for 4 corners of 8.625 x 1/4(?) structural steel pipe with 3/16th cables strung between these corners to hang the netting. Foot print is 72'x14' rectangle.

    I was curious if IBeams could be used instead of the pipe and if so, how would I determine the size?

    The pipe will be vertical and is planted 4.5 ft into concrete and sticks out of the ground 11.5 ft

    I'm looking to save money on purchasing these pipes if possible by using Ibeam.
    Is there info on "deflection" for this pipe to see what would be adequate with Ibeam to see if it even would be possible to save money?
    If this is not the correct place to ask this question please let me know.
    Thanks
    Niel
    Basic Member
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    Posts:193

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    24 Apr 2012 02:36 PM
    Phil:

    This would take some structural calculation and would formally be the responsibility of a Professional Engineer. The advantages of the pipes is that there moment of inertia is radially symmetric. The I beam have to be carefully sized on both directions. I suspect that the governing loads will be across the beam instead of what would be consider top to bottom as a beam instead of as a column.

    You would be well served by contacting a PE in your local area. Also, you may have issues with the local building codes. Have you contacted your localities building inspectors office?

    Niel Leon
    Engineering.com
    PhilWebb
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    Posts:2

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    24 Apr 2012 06:00 PM
    Niel,.

    Thanks for the info,.
    I have not contacted the building code office as I assumed that in the County that there would not be Code requirements on a batting cage, I could be wrong.

    Not being an engineer myself I did not know the best way to approach this issue.
    I do have a person working on this for me, after I placed the initial post here.
    Here is the site that shows the setup I am trying to emulate, save the piping.

    http://www.battingcagesinc.com/inde...attingCage


    I do think that the long side, 72 ft vs the shorter 14 ft would require that I rotate the majority of the most rigid angle of the Ibeam toward the 72ft run to offset the uneven load being put on the cable for the longer run.

    I may even just turn the ibeam direct toward the long side and place a pipe across the shorter sides instead of running a cable across the 14 ft side.
    Thanks again for the info,,,,
    Phil
    Niel
    Basic Member
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    Posts:193

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    27 Apr 2012 12:07 PM
    Phil:

    Remember this is not engineering advice, this is only for informational purposes so you can better understand what is happening.

    The first Detail shows the cable attached to the pipe. This location allow one mounting point for all the sides. I can only assume that the cable is then stretched in one large loop to the four sides. As a result the tension in the cable going to the short side and the cable on the long sided will be the same. The flange of the I beam will be perpendicular center line of the 90 degree corner angle. This will make the I beam post be at a 45 degree angle to each of the two sides.

    I hope this verbal description makes sense.

    Good luck on your project.

    As for checking on code requirements it is better to ask first and be told it is not an issue, then to be told after the fact to tear it down because you did not have the correct permits or be fined to avoid having to tear it down. Many counties have very explicit building requirements. Counties in Kansas do. This would be consider to be a pole build since it is meant to be a permanent installation.

    Niel
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