- #1
OldHouseGuy
- 1
- 0
I am trying to repair my 1920s pier and beam house and have a situation where I need to slide under two butted beams on top of a post the thinnest steel I can that will support the two beams. What would help me determine this would be a general idea of how to compare the strength of a flat piece of steel with a force acting perpendicular to the flat width surface (that is, supporting a beam) to one of channel (or C shaped) steel.
I had strength of materials coursework thirty years ago, but do not remember how to calculate the relative strength for these two types of cross sections of steel and have looked everywhere for reference materials or a quick comparison with no success.
Assume the vertical sides of the channel steel are each about 25% of the width of the steel plate high, and that the flat and channel steel are the same thickness (relatively thin as compared to the overall dimensions) and the same width (say 4 inches wide and 1/8 inch thick with 1 inch high sides).
I am looking for an answer such as "with sides 25% as high as the steel is wide, channel steel is X times stronger than a flat piece of steel of equivalent thickness and width".
Thanks!
I had strength of materials coursework thirty years ago, but do not remember how to calculate the relative strength for these two types of cross sections of steel and have looked everywhere for reference materials or a quick comparison with no success.
Assume the vertical sides of the channel steel are each about 25% of the width of the steel plate high, and that the flat and channel steel are the same thickness (relatively thin as compared to the overall dimensions) and the same width (say 4 inches wide and 1/8 inch thick with 1 inch high sides).
I am looking for an answer such as "with sides 25% as high as the steel is wide, channel steel is X times stronger than a flat piece of steel of equivalent thickness and width".
Thanks!