[0001] This invention relates to an improved steel soldier for supporting concrete formwork
and represents an improvement or modification of the steel soldiers which have been
disclosed in British Patent Specifications 1551154 and 2145145.
[0002] Those soldiers are of a kind which comprise a pair of elongated steel elements, which
may be of channel section, connected back to back and parallel with one another. Each
element has a web which, in order to minimise weight, has openings spaced at regular
intervals along its length. To increase the stability of these webs the openings have
peripheral lips otherwise known, and hereinafter referred to, as flanges. Further
the flanges of the respective web may be flared as appropriate in opposite directions.
[0003] The present invention has been devised with the general object of providing a soldier
which has an increased shear and bearing load carrying capacity. above that of a flange
which is turned through 90°.
[0004] In accordance with the invention therefore a soldier of the kind referred to above
is characterised in that the flanges which are formed peripherally around the openings
in the webs are of channel-shaped radial
[0005] profile. Further and preferably the flanges of the respective webs face in opposite
directions preferably with the channels facing one other.
[0006] These modifications have the effect of redistributing the more highly strained fibres
of the flange to an area which is less harmful under the normal loading condition.
[0007] The invention is hereafter described in more detail by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved soldier;
Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line X-X of Fig. 1:
Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line Y-Y of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the soldier shown in Figs. 1 to 3;
Fig. 5(a) and (b) are enlarged scale detail views of new and old peripheral flange
profiles; and
Fig. 6 is a diagram to illustrate the effect of the newly proposed flange profile.
[0008] Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 4 the soldier therein shown comprises a pair of beam
elements each comprising a folded steel plate having a flat web 1 formed with elliptical
openings la along its length. Three such openings are shown although there may be
more depending upon the overall length of the soldier. In each instance however dimension
D
h may be less than dimension D
v (as illustrated) or greater than or equal thereto. The web 1 is laterally extended
so as to enter and give support to a pair of hollow profile chord plates 2 of somewhat
channel-shaped configuration which are attached to the web by welding at locations
a and b along the web edge and one web face. The complete soldier is comprised of
two beam elements as above described mounted in parallel opposite facing spaced relation
and connected at their ends by rectangular tie plates 3. Also depending upon their
length they may be connected intermediate their ends by one or more diaphragms (not
shown).
[0009] Hitherto, as shown in Fig. 5b the openings la in the webs have been formed at their
peripheries with lips or flanges lb which have a simple arcuate profile but in accordance
with the invention the peripheral portions of the openings are formed with lips or
flanges lc of U-shaped profile as shown in Figs. 3 and 5(a).
[0010] In each of Figs. 5(a) and 5(b) the dashed lines indicate the mode of elastic settlement
of the newly devised flanges lc and the previous flanges lb under the same applied
load P
2. In Fig. 5(a) e
1 represents the lateral distance between the planes of the points of application of
the load P
2 whilst in Fi
g. 5(b) e
2 represents the equivalent distance for the previously used arcuate flange configuration.
[0011] From Figs. 5a and 5b it should readily be understandable that under resilient settlement
the value of e
2 increases to a greater extent that that of e
1 with the same loading. This causes lack of dispersal of load around the flange opening
resulting in an increase in the rate of settlement with respect to load. Otherwise
expressed, because fibre stresses are proportional to e and e
2 it is therefore desirable to utilise a configuration which results in e
1 having a minimum value.
[0012] Fig. 6 diagramatically represents the distribution of loads in the region of a web
opening la of the improved soldier when a bearing tube is supported therein and sheds
a load in the direction indicated by arrows P. Due to the lesser value of e
1 compared to e
2 the channel shaped flange profile acts more as a hoop. This enables components R
c of reaction R, R, to be carried within the circumference of the flange section, thus
reducing the stress intensity.
[0013] It is to be understood that whilst there has been described a soldier having web
openings of elliptical shape, these openings may be of circular, substantially rectangular
or any other appropriate shape as may be desired provided that the peripheral flanges
have the required channel-section profile.
1. A steel soldier of the kind referred to, characterised in that flanges (lC) which
are formed peripherally around openings (la) in the webs (1) are of channel-shaped
radial profile.
2. A steel soldier as claimed in Claim 1 in which the flanges (lc) of the respective
webs (1) face in opposite directions.
3. A steel soldier as claimed in Claim 2 in which the channels formed by the flanges
(lc) face towards each other.