steel tubing specifications help?

[slddnmatt]

im trying to find a source for load bearing capabilities for some 3"x5"x3/16" rectangle tubing. im going to build a mezzanine soon and would like to figure out the size of the tubing i should use for the vertical posts. ive googled my brain to mush and cant seem to find what im looking for.... any help would be appreciated

thanks
matt

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

AISC manual of steel construction, 13th edition. You can use either LRFD or ASD design tables to figure out your details and you will also need the seismic manual after looking at your location. If you are not familar with them, you need an engineer.

California's seismic design requirements are not for the fainthearted or untrained.

 

[WNYflyer]

Assuming you are talking about what is called an HSS 5 x 3 x 3/16" these days then you can use the attached tables to get you in the ball park. A typical square/rectangular HSS section is ASTM A500 Grade B Fy=46 ksi spec material. Again if that applies to your case then the tables can be used. The tables are based on an older edition of the code refered to by Georgia. Probably only a difference of +- 10 % at most I would suspect. The edition of the code Georgia refers to is the latest and correct one these day.

http://www.steeltubeinstitute.org/pdf/brochures/column_load_brochure.pdf

Go into the tables with:
FY=46
ERW
your HSS size of 5x3x3/16
KL = your height
Look up concentric axial load capacity in kips (1 kip = 1000 #)

Table is simplistic and you could have some variables that make this table un-useable. These tables are basically for sizing columns that only have axial (vertical) load and have their top locked in from moving sideways by a structural system similar to a basement column.

Hope it helps some.