How to figure angle iron strength?

Kent_In_KC · Oct 27, 2009

Good morning, fellas. I am working with some angle
iron, making supports for working on tractors,
cars, etc. and need to be able to figure the
correct type of steel to use.

My choices range from angle legs of 1.5" to 2.0"
wide and from 1/8" to 3/16" thick, assuming both
legs are the same width (no 2" x 3") and most
lengths will be between 1ft and 3 ft.

I"m not so concerned with compression or
stretching or even torsion forces, mostly lateral
bending. I don"t want to get a load up and have a
piece of angle fold and collapse.

For example, one of my questions is: is a 3/16"
thick piece of 1.5" x 1.5" angle stronger than a
1/8" thick piece of 2" x 2"?

I realize I may not be framing my question
properly, but any information of links you could
provide to give some non-engineer"s basic rules
would be appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

Flurette Farm · Oct 27, 2009

I think if you check Machinery Handbook it give you the correct numbers and formulas that you are looking for. Don't go on someones guess and get yourself or someone else hurt or killed.
Reme,ber there are numerous types of steel. The type you normally find around is "merchant quality" which is the lowest. If you don't know what it is consider it "merchant". Good luck.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 27, 2009

There should be a chart somewhere or a steel supplier should have some info. That said, I wouldn't be using any 1/8" for a tractor stand. For stuff like that it's better to over build it than to under build it. I'd try googling steel strength or something along those lines. Dave

Puddles · Oct 27, 2009

Kent this may be of some use to you for your project.

bc · Oct 27, 2009

The steel suppliers won't help you. They don't want to get into liability issues over providing you with engineering help. They worry it may fall on you and hurt or kill you. Same problem with the hydraulic suppliers. Since you aren't building the Eiffel tower, overkill is cheap. If it looks kinda rickety, then it probably is. Can't go wrong if you upgrade to some 4" square tubing with tubing or channel iron gussets/braces, all heavy wall stuff of course. Some supports going in all 4 directions is needed in case the car/tractor rolls on ya. Find some tubing that will slide in the other to make it telescoping.

There have been some people posting pics of their tractor stands in the archives around here.

JMS/.MN · Oct 28, 2009

Google Cofer mfg in KS for ideas.

Puddles · Oct 28, 2009

Here is a “Deflection Calculator for Square Tubing”. May help some of you when designing projects.
You’ll have to copy and paste this link, because I still haven’t figured out how to post links here.

http://metalgeek.com/static/deflection.php

Moonlite37 · Oct 28, 2009

Did you ever hear of the S W A G system? It works quite well if you consider the sectional modulus of each part. S illy Wild A## Guess

Kent_In_KC · Oct 29, 2009

Thanks fellas for all the feedback. I appreciate your help. When in doubt, beef it out.

T_Bone · Oct 29, 2009

Hi Kent,

When I built my custom hitch, GN/5th, I set up a test to prove my design. Tests were preformed with a new 1-ton and 2-ton hydraulic jacks as I wanted a rated capacity of 4000/lbs on the pin. My test plate length was 34" or the spread of the frame rail center line on a 02 F350 DRW.

Using a 3/4"x8"x34" plate with center 3/4"x8"x12" bolted plate located in the center of the 34"span. With less than 2000# I could easy deflect the 1-1/2" plate thickness.

Using two, 4"x34" channels with a center 3/4"x8"x12" plate, I could hold 4000# of center pin weight with a 3/8" deflection.

My final design was two 5"x34" channels with a 3/4"x8"x"12" center plate with zero deflection at 4000/lbs pin weight.

In general terms, from the above, the depth of beam is more important than material thickness from a top deflection force.

From a side deflection force, then one would increase material thickness and width.

T_Bone

KF · Oct 30, 2009

An angle is good for structural framing, but is not good for any lifting type applications if that is what you have in mind. It is prone to twisting failure. What is used for lifting type applications are channels, I-beams, wide flanges and rectangular tubing. These too need support from twisting if the span is large, but they are much less prone to it than an angle. Angle is used as a component in some structural trusses, but it is only a part of a complete load bearing or support assembly. I would recommend tubing or I-beams for overhead lifting applications.

How to figure angle iron strength?

Kent_In_KC

New User

Flurette Farm

Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Puddles

Well-known Member

bc

Well-known Member

JMS/.MN

Well-known Member

Puddles

Well-known Member

Moonlite37

Well-known Member

Kent_In_KC

New User

T_Bone

Well-known Member

KF

Member

Similar threads