Design Example 1

Cantilevered Overhead Sign Support - Truss with Post

Problem statement:
Location: I-85 Atlanta, GA
Design a structure to support a sign 22 ft. long and 11 ft. high. The distance from the
center of the upright to the center of the sign is 24 ft. The distance from the base of the
post to the center of the sign is 23 ft. and no walkway is included.

Use API-5L-X52 round steel pipe (Fy=52 ksi) for the main structure members and ASTM
A-53 Grade B pipe for the secondary members. Use AASHTO M314-90 Grade 55
anchor bolts. The structure would cross a lifeline travelway should it collapse.
 Reference:E:\BT\Projects\NCHRP 10-80\Examples\Release\[Link](R)

Several commonly-used functions are stored in a separate include file that is used in multiple example
problems. These include functions to determine C d and resistance values for flexure, shear, and torsion
for common steel shapes. You may need to reset the path to this file for your computer by right-clicking
on the reference.
Contents

Definitions and Assumptions

Dead Loads
Wind Loads
Wind Load Combinations
Factored Actions
Truss Chord Resistance
Vertical Web Member Resistance
Horizontal Web Member Resistance
Second Order Effects

Design Checks at the Post Base

Anchor Bolt Design
Base Plate Design
Base Plate Weld Design
Contents
Definitions And Assumptions

Definitions and Assumptions: Back to Contents

Materials:
lbf lbf
γsteel := 490 γice := 56.8
3 3
ft ft

Fy_main := 52ksi Fy_sec := 35ksi Es := 29000ksi Fy_bp := 36ksi

Resistance Factors:

ϕflexure := 0.90 ϕshear := 0.90 ϕweld := 0.75 ϕtorsion := 0.95 ϕaxial := 0.90

ϕbolt_tension := 0.75 ϕbolt_shear := 0.33

Sign:

bsign := 22ft hsign := 11ft wsign := 7psf Psign := bsign⋅ hsign⋅ wsign = 1.694⋅ kip

Wind Loads:

V E1 := 120mph Figure 3.8-2a

V S2 := 76mph Figure 3.8-4a

Post:
Assume the main post is 24" diameter, t = 5/16"
5
dpost := 24in tpost := in
16
Lpost := 25ft
dpost_out := dpost + tpost = 24.3⋅ in

dpost_in := dpost − tpost = 23.7⋅ in

d 2 2
 post_out − dpost_in  2
A post := π⋅ = 23.6⋅ in
4
d 4 4
 post_out − dpost_in  4
Ipost := π⋅ = 1697⋅ in
64
d 4
− dpost_in 
4
Spost := π⋅   = 140⋅ in3
post_out
32⋅ d post_out
2 2
dpost_out + dpost_in
rpost := = 8.49⋅ in
4
3
Zpost := 1.27Spost = 177.3⋅ in

From Table 5.7.2-1

Es Es
dpost
λp_post := 0.07⋅ = 39 λr_post_comp := 0.11⋅ = 61.3
λpost := = 76.8 Fy_main Fy_main
tpost

Es
λr_post_flex := 0.31⋅ = 172.9
Fy_main

0.038  Es 
Q post := 0.67 + ⋅  = 0.946 Equation [Link]-1
 dpost  Fy_main
 
 
 tpost 
Truss:

htruss := 23ft Height at which the truss frames into the post
(centroid).
ltruss := 35ft Length of the truss.

lpanel := 4ft Length and height of a truss panel.

dtruss := 3ft Depth of the truss along the z-axis.

The following section properties are from the AISC Steel Design Manual.

Assume that the truss chords are HSS 3.5 X 0.188

2
dchord := 3.5in tchord := 0.174in A chord := 1.82in
4 3
Ichord := 2.52in Schord := 1.44in rchord := 1.18in
4 3 3
Jchord := 5.04in Zchord := 1.93in Cchord := 2.88in
wchord := 6.66plf
Es
dchord
λp_chord := 0.07⋅ = 39.0 Q chord := 1.0 Table 5.7.2-1
λchord := = 20.1 Fy_main
tchord
 Assume the vertical struts and diagonals are 1" Standard Pipe:

dvdiag := 1.32in tvdiag := 0.124in 2

A vdiag := 0.460in
4 3
Ivdiag := 0.0830in Svdiag := 0.126in
4 3
rvdiag := 0.423in
Jvdiag := 0.166in Zvdiag := 0.177in

wvdiag := 1.68plf
Es
dvdiag
λp_vdiag := 0.07⋅ = 58.0 Q vdiag := 1.0 Table 5.7.2-1
λvdiag := = 10.6 Fy_sec
tvdiag

Assume the horizontal diagonals are 1.5" Extra Strong Pipe:

2
dhdiag := 1.90in thdiag := 0.186in A hdiag := 1.00in
4 3
Ihdiag := 0.372in Shdiag := 0.392in rhdiag := 0.610in
4 3
Jhdiag := 0.744in Zhdiag := 0.549in

whdiag := 3.63plf

dhdiag Es
λp_hdiag := 0.07⋅ = 58.0 Q hdiag := 1.0 Table 5.7.2-1
λhdiag := = 10.2 Fy_sec
thdiag
Definitions And Assumptions
Dead Loads

Dead Loads Back to Contents

Psign = 1.69⋅ kip

dx_sign := 24ft Distance from post to sign centroid, lever arm

Post weight:

Ppost := Apost⋅ γsteel⋅ Lpost = 2.00⋅ kip

Truss Weights:

Chords for truss:

nchords := 4 ltruss = 35 ft

wchord = 6.66⋅ plf

Pchords := nchords⋅ ltruss⋅ w chord = 0.932⋅ kip

Vertical Diagonals (for truss):

2 2
nverticals := 18 ndiagonals := 16 ldiagonal := lpanel + lpanel = 5.66 ft

lvertical := lpanel = 4.0 ft

Pvert := nverticals⋅ lvertical⋅ w vdiag + ndiagonals⋅ ldiagonal⋅ w vdiag = 0.273⋅ kip

Horizontal Diagonals (top and bottom):

nhorizontals := 18
Phorz := nhorizontals⋅ dtruss⋅ w hdiag = 0.196⋅ kip
 Totals:
PtoPost := Pchords + Pvert + Phorz + Psign = 3.10⋅ kip

 Pchords Pvert Phorz 

PFrontTruss :=  + + + Psign = 2.39⋅ kip
 2 2 2 
Pchords + Pvert + Phorz
wtruss := = 40.0⋅ plf
ltruss

PPostBase := PtoPost + Ppost = 5.10⋅ kip

Moments:

Mz_sign := Psign⋅ dx_sign = 41⋅ kip⋅ ft

dtruss
Mx_sign := Psign⋅ = 2.54⋅ kip⋅ ft dtruss/2 is the eccentricity of the sign.
2
ltruss
Mz_truss := Pchords + Pvert + Phorz ⋅ = 24.5⋅ kip⋅ ft
2

Chord Forces:

Dead load moment:

Mz_truss
MinFrontTruss := + Mz_sign = 52.9⋅ kip⋅ ft Assume that the sign load is carried entirely by the
2 front truss.
MinFrontTruss
Pchord := = 13.23⋅ kip Maximum chord force in the front truss.
lpanel
 Vertical Strut Forces:

PDC_VStrut := PFrontTruss = 2.39⋅ kip

PDC_VDiag := 2⋅ PDC_VStrut = 3.39⋅ kip

Dead Loads

Wind Loads

Wind Loads Back to Contents

Areas:

Conservatively consider wind acting simultaneously on both panels of the truss.

Post:
2
Apost_E1 := Lpost⋅ dpost_out = 50.7⋅ ft

Truss Chords:
2
Achords_E1 := dchord + tchord ⋅ ltruss⋅ 4 = 42.9 ft

Truss Diagonals:
2
Adiag_E1 := dvdiag + tvdiag ⋅ ldiagonal⋅ ndiagonals = 10.89 ft

Truss Verticals:
2
Avert_E1 := dvdiag + tvdiag ⋅ lvertical⋅ nverticals = 8.66 ft

Truss Horizontals:
2
Ahorz_E1 := dhdiag + thdiag ⋅ dtruss⋅ 2 = 1.043 ft
Pressures:
2
hr ⋅ lbf This units factor is needed for consistent units in the wind pressure
Factor :=
4 equations.
27878400⋅ ft
ztruss := htruss = 23 ft
Lpost
zpost := = 12.5 ft
2
zg := 900ft
α := 9.5 Article C3.8.4
2
α
 ztruss 
K z_truss := 2.00   = 0.924 Equation 3.8.4-1
zg
 
2
α
 zpost 
K z_post := 2.00   = 0.813
zg
 
G := 1.14 Gust effect factor, minimum value.

Use MRI = 1700 as failure

V E1 = 120⋅ mph Extreme I Wind Speed - Figure 3.8-2b, 1700 year mean recurrence
interval.
K d_post := 0.95 Directionality factor, see 3.8.5 for a round support.

K d_truss := 0.85 Directionality factor, see 3.8.5 for an overheard truss.

K d_sign := 0.85 Directionality factor, see 3.8.5.

Post:
Cd_post_E1 := Cd_cylindrical VE1 , dpost_out = 0.45
2
Pz_post_E1 := 0.00256⋅ K z_post⋅ K d_post⋅ G ⋅ V E1 ⋅ Cd_post_E1⋅ Factor = 14.6⋅ psf

Ppost_E1 := Pz_post_E1⋅ Apost_E1 = 0.74⋅ kip

Sign:
 bsign 
CdSign := Cd_sign   = 1.19
hsign
 
2
Pz_sign_E1 := 0.00256⋅ K z_truss⋅ K d_sign⋅ G ⋅ VE1 ⋅ CdSign⋅ Factor = 39.3⋅ psf

Psign_E1 := Pz_post_E1⋅ bsign⋅ hsign = 3.53⋅ kip

Truss Diagonals:
Cd_diag_E1 := Cd_cylindrical VE1 , dvdiag + tvdiag  = 1.1
 
2
Pz_diag_E1 := 0.00256⋅ K z_truss⋅ K d_truss⋅ G ⋅ VE1 ⋅ Cd_diag_E1⋅ Factor = 36.3⋅ psf

Pdiag_E1 := Pz_post_E1⋅ Adiag_E1 = 0.16⋅ kip

Truss Verticals (same size as diagonals):

Cd_vert_E1 := Cd_cylindrical V E1 , dvdiag + tvdiag  = 1.1
 
2
Pz_vert_E1 := 0.00256⋅ K z_truss⋅ K d_truss⋅ G ⋅ VE1 ⋅ Cd_diag_E1⋅ Factor = 36.3⋅ psf

Pvert_E1 := Pz_vert_E1⋅ Avert_E1 = 0.31⋅ kip

Truss Horizontals:

Cd_horz_E1 := Cd_cylindrical V E1 , dhdiag + thdiag  = 1.1

 
2
Pz_horz_E1 := 0.00256⋅ K z_truss⋅ K d_truss⋅ G ⋅ V E1 ⋅ Cd_horz_E1⋅ Factor = 36.3⋅ psf

Phorz_E1 := Pz_horz_E1⋅ A vert_E1 = 0.31⋅ kip

 Truss Chords:

Cd_chord_E1 := Cd_cylindrical V E1 , dchord + tchord  = 1.1

 
2
Pz_chord_E1 := 0.00256⋅ Factor⋅ K z_truss⋅ K d_truss⋅ G ⋅ VE1 ⋅ Cd_chord_E1 = 36.3⋅ psf

Pwchord_E1 := Pz_horz_E1⋅ Avert_E1 = 0.31⋅ kip

Totals:

PE1 := Phorz_E1 + Pvert_E1 + Pdiag_E1 + Pwchord_E1 + Psign_E1 = 4.64⋅ kip

PE1
wE1 := = 132.5⋅ plf
ltruss

Moments:

ltruss
ME1 := PE1⋅ + Psign_E1⋅ dx_sign = 166⋅ kip⋅ ft
2

Chord Forces:

ME1
Pchord_E1 := = 41.5⋅ kip
lpanel

Reactions to Post:

Rpost_E1 := PE1 = 4.64⋅ kip Parallel to the z axis

Torsion (My):
My_E1 := ME1 = 165.964⋅ kip⋅ ft
 Moment (Mz):

Mz_DC := Mz_sign + Mz_truss = 65.2⋅ kip⋅ ft

Horizontal Strut Forces:

Rpost_E1
PE1_HStrut := = 2.32⋅ kip
2

5
PE1_HDiag := ⋅ PE1_HStrut = 3.86⋅ kip
3
Wind Loads

Wind Load Combinations

Wind Load Combinations Back to Contents

From Article 3.9.3-1
By engineering judgement, Load Case 1 will control.

Wind Load Combinations

Factored Actions

Factored Actions Back to Contents

γDC_E1 := 1.10 γW_E1 := 1.0

Dead Load Actions:

Pchord = 13.23⋅ kip PDC_VStrut = 2.39⋅ kip PDC_VDiag = 3.387⋅ kip

PPostBase = 5.1⋅ kip

Mz_DC = 65.2⋅ kip⋅ ft
Mz_sign = 40.7⋅ kip⋅ ft Mx_sign = 2.54⋅ kip⋅ ft
 Wind Load Actions:

Pchord_E1 = 41.49⋅ kip PE1_HStrut = 2.32⋅ kip PE1_HDiag = 3.86⋅ kip

V PostBase_E1 := Rpost_E1 = 4.64⋅ kip

Factored Truss Chord Force:

Pu_chord := γDC_E1⋅ Pchord + γ W_E1⋅ Pchord_E1 = 56⋅ kip

Factored Web Element Forces:

Pu_VStrut := γDC_E1⋅ PDC_VStrut = 2.63⋅ kip

Pu_VDiag := γDC_E1⋅ PDC_VDiag = 3.73⋅ kip

Pu_HStrut := γW_E1⋅ PE1_HStrut = 2.32⋅ kip

Pu_HDiag := γW_E1⋅ PE1_HDiag = 3.86⋅ kip

Factored Actions at the Post Base:

Pu_PostBase := γDC_E1⋅ PPostBase = 5.61⋅ kip

V u_PostBase := γ W_E1⋅ V PostBase_E1 = 4.64⋅ kip

Mu_yPostBase := γW_E1⋅ My_E1 = 166⋅ kip⋅ ft Torsion

Mu_zPostBase := γDC_E1⋅ Mz_DC = 71.7⋅ kip⋅ ft

Mu_xPostBase := γDC_E1⋅ Mx_sign = 2.8⋅ kip⋅ ft

2 2
Mu_Total := Mu_zPostBase + Mu_xPostBase = 71.8⋅ kip⋅ ft
Factored Actions
Truss Chord Resistance

Truss Chord Resistance Back to Contents

ϕflexure = 0.9 ϕshear = 0.9 ϕweld = 0.75 ϕtorsion = 0.95 ϕaxial = 0.9

ϕbolt_tension = 0.75 ϕbolt_shear = 0.33

Lchord := lpanel = 4 ft

kchord := 1.0
rchord = 1.18⋅ in
kchord⋅ Lchord
kl_over_rchord := = 40.7
rchord

Qchord = 1.00

Fcr := Fcr_roundTube_compr Fy_main , Es , kl_over_rchord , Qchord = 45.9⋅ ksi

ϕPn_chord := ϕaxial⋅ Fcr⋅ Achord = 75.1⋅ kip

Pu_chord = 56⋅ kip

Pu_chord
DesignRatio := = 0.746
ϕPn_chord

ChordResistanceCheck := if Pu_chord ≤ ϕPn_chord , "OK" , "No Good" = "OK"

Truss Chord Resistance

Vertical Web Member Resistance

Vertical Web Member Resistance Back to Contents

LVDiag := 2 lpanel = 5.66 ft kVDiag := 1.0 rvdiag = 0.423⋅ in

kVDiag⋅ LVDiag
kl_over_rVDiag := = 160.5
rvdiag

Qvdiag = 1.00

Fcr := Fcr_roundTube_compr Fy_sec , Es , kl_over_rVDiag , Q vdiag = 9.75⋅ ksi

ϕPn_vert := ϕaxial⋅ Fcr⋅ A vdiag = 4.04⋅ kip

Pu_VDiag = 3.73⋅ kip

Pu_VDiag
DesignRatio := = 0.923
ϕPn_vert

VWebResistanceCheck := if Pu_VDiag ≤ ϕPn_vert , "OK" , "No Good" = "OK"

Vertical Web Member Resistance

Horizontal Web Member Resistance Back to Contents

2 2
LHDiag := dtruss + lpanel = 5 ft kHDiag := 1.0 rhdiag = 0.61⋅ in

kHDiag⋅ LHDiag
kl_over_rHDiag := = 98.4
rhdiag
 Qhdiag = 1.00
Fcr := Fcr_roundTube_compr Fy_sec , Es , kl_over_rHDiag , Q hdiag = 21.3⋅ ksi

ϕPn_horz := ϕaxial⋅ Fcr⋅ Ahdiag = 19.2⋅ kip

Pu_HDiag = 3.86⋅ kip

Pu_HDiag
DesignRatio := = 0.201
ϕPn_horz

HWebResistanceCheck := if Pu_HDiag ≤ ϕPn_vert , "OK" , "No Good" = "OK"

Second Order Effects

Second Order Effects Back to contents

Approximate second order effects (4.8.1):
dpost
rgybot := ⋅ 0.707 = 8.484⋅ in Radius of Gyration
2
rgytop := rgybot

rgymid := rgybot = 8.48⋅ in

D p := Ppost = 2.00⋅ kip

 3
 dpost 
IB := 3.14⋅   ⋅ tpost = 1696⋅ in4 Moment of inertia, pole base
 2 
3
 dpost 
IT := 3.14⋅   ⋅ tpost = 1696⋅ in4 Moment of inertia, pole top
 2 
Lpost = 25 ft

k := 2.1 Slenderness Factor, 2.1 for a cantilever pole

k⋅ Lpost
SlendernessRatio := = 74
rgymid
 2
2⋅ π ⋅ Es
SlendernessLimit := = 104.9
Fy_main

EquationApplies := if ( SlendernessLimit ≤ SlendernessRatio , "Yes" , "No" ) = "No"

Pequivalent := 0.38⋅ Dp = 0.76⋅ kip

2
π ⋅ Es⋅ Ipost
PEuler_bottom := = 1224⋅ kip
2
k⋅ Lpost

1
B2 := = 1.00 Equation 4.8.1-1
 Pequivalent 
1− 
 PEuler_bottom 
B2 := max 1.0 , B 2 = 1.00

Second Order Effects

Post Base Resistance

Resistance at the Base of the Post Back to Contents

kpost := 2.1 rpost = 8.5⋅ in Lv := htruss = 23 ft

kpost⋅ htruss
kl_over_rpost := = 68.3
rpost

Qpost = 0.946
 Fcr := Fcr_roundTube_compr Fy_main , Es , kl_over_rpost , Q post = 35.2⋅ ksi

ϕPn_post := ϕaxial⋅ Fcr⋅ Apost = 746⋅ kip

Mn := Mn_roundTube dpost , tpost , Es , Fy_main , Zpost , Spost = 681⋅ kip⋅ ft

Vn := V n_roundTube A post , dpost , tpost , Es , Fy_main , Lv = 636⋅ kip

Fnt := Fnt_roundTube Fy_main , Es , dpost , tpost , htruss = 31.2⋅ ksi

dpost
Tn := Apost⋅ Fnt⋅ = 735.1 ft⋅ kip
2
B2 = 1.001

Check Extreme Event I:

Pu_PostBase = 5.61⋅ kip

Vu_PostBase = 4.64⋅ kip
Mu_yPostBase = 166⋅ kip⋅ ft Torsion
Mu_zPostBase = 71.7⋅ kip⋅ ft
Mu_xPostBase = 2.8⋅ kip⋅ ft
Mu_Total = 71.8⋅ kip⋅ ft
2
Pu_PostBase Mu_Total⋅ B2  V u_PostBase Mu_yPostBase 
InteractionValueE_I := + + +  = 0.185
ϕPn_post ϕflexure⋅ Mn ϕshear⋅ Vn ϕtorsion⋅ Tn
 
PostResistanceCheck := if InteractionValueE_I ≤ 1.00 , "OK" , "No Good" = "OK"

Post Base Resistance

Anchor Bolt Design

Anchor Bolt Design Back to Contents

dpost = 2 ft dbolt_pattern := 27in dbolt := 1.25in

ϕbolt_tension = 0.75 ϕbolt_shear = 0.33

nbolts := 6 Fy_bolts := 55ksi Fu_bolts := 70ksi

 π 2 2
A bolt := ⋅ dbolt = 1.23⋅ in
4
D bolt_pat := 30in
D bolt_pat
Cbolts := = 15⋅ in
2

2 4
Ibolts := Abolt⋅ Cbolts⋅ sin (60deg) ⋅ 4 = 828⋅ in

Tension in bolts, Extreme Event I:

 Mu_Total⋅ Cbolts 
Pu_bolt :=   ⋅ Abolt = 19.1⋅ kip
Ibolts
 
Shear in bolts from torsion, Extreme Event I:

Mu_yPostBase
Tu_bolt := = 11.06⋅ kip
D bolt_pat⋅ nbolts

Total Shear in bolts, Extreme Event I:

 Vu_PostBase 
V u_bolt :=   + Tu_bolt = 11.84⋅ kip
nbolts
 
Bolt Resistances:

Pn_bolt := ϕbolt_tension⋅ Fu_bolts⋅ A bolt = 64.4⋅ kip

V n_bolt := ϕbolt_shear⋅ Fu_bolts⋅ Abolt = 28.3⋅ kip

 Combined Bolt Resistance:
2 2
 Pu_bolt   Vu_bolt 
InteractionValuebolts :=   +  = 0.263
Pn_bolt V n_bolt
   

InteractionCheckbolts := if InteractionValuebolts ≤ 1.0 , "OK" , "No Good" = "OK"

Anchor Bolt Design

Base Plate Design

Base Plate Design Back to Contents

Calculate an eccentricity equal to half the distance from the center of the bolt to the toe of the weld. Assume a weld
size.
tweld := 0.625in

 Dbolt_pat − dpost 
distbolt :=   = 3.00⋅ in Distance from the face of the tube to the center of a bolt.
 2 
dweld_bolt := distbolt − tweld = 2.38⋅ in
dweld_bolt
ebp := = 1.19⋅ in
2 Pbolt
Mbp := Pu_bolt⋅ ebp = 1.89⋅ kip⋅ ft
ebp
360deg
θbolt := = 60⋅ deg Moment Diagram in Base Plate
nbolts

distbolt + tweld + ebp

Each bolt covers an arc of 60 degrees
de := = 2.41⋅ in
2
 2
 θbolt   dpost 
bbp_section := 2⋅ tan   ⋅  = 13.86⋅ in The width of a 60 degree arc at
 2  2  the location of eccentricty
tmin := 2.0in Table 5.6.3.-1
2
bbp_section⋅ tmin
3
Zbp := = 13.86⋅ in
4
Mn_bp := Fy_bp⋅ Zbp = 41.6⋅ kip⋅ ft

Mbp
ratiobp := = 0.051
ϕflexure⋅ Mn_bp

InteractionCheckbp := if ratiobp ≤ 1.0 , "OK" , "No Good" = "OK"

Base Plate Design