- #1
Flint1234
- 1
- 0
reddit link
A gas cutting-torch was used to split an I-beam lengthwise. When the last inch was cut, the two halves flew apart, with a great energy release. The halves are then seen to be curved where they were straight. The workman was unsurprised but the cameraman was thankful for a warning given seconds in advance.
Is this just a result of thermal expansion caused by the cutting torch? I thought most of the torch heat went with the molten iron blown away.
It was apparently cut by hand, slowly, I expect. The heat would have had time to conduct through the steel, diminishing the expansion.
Is there some technology that lets one build an iron I-beam with the flanges (flat sides) in tension? Something akin to automotive-window safety glass? I'm thinking one could cold-roll the center web lengthwise which would normally make it longer. Since it's locked to the flanges, that would put the web under compression and the flanges in tension.
You could put a LOT of energy into a spring that way and you wouldn't have to strike while the iron is hot.
Is that right? What's the roller machine called? Is there videos or literature?
Thanks.
My searches were all poisoned by steel cables used to pre-stress concrete or steel sheet cold-rolled into lightweight studs (or worst, steel cables used to pre-stress lightweight studs made by cold-rolling sheet steel)
A gas cutting-torch was used to split an I-beam lengthwise. When the last inch was cut, the two halves flew apart, with a great energy release. The halves are then seen to be curved where they were straight. The workman was unsurprised but the cameraman was thankful for a warning given seconds in advance.
Is this just a result of thermal expansion caused by the cutting torch? I thought most of the torch heat went with the molten iron blown away.
It was apparently cut by hand, slowly, I expect. The heat would have had time to conduct through the steel, diminishing the expansion.
Is there some technology that lets one build an iron I-beam with the flanges (flat sides) in tension? Something akin to automotive-window safety glass? I'm thinking one could cold-roll the center web lengthwise which would normally make it longer. Since it's locked to the flanges, that would put the web under compression and the flanges in tension.
You could put a LOT of energy into a spring that way and you wouldn't have to strike while the iron is hot.
Is that right? What's the roller machine called? Is there videos or literature?
Thanks.
My searches were all poisoned by steel cables used to pre-stress concrete or steel sheet cold-rolled into lightweight studs (or worst, steel cables used to pre-stress lightweight studs made by cold-rolling sheet steel)