[Poll] - engineer this table

[jeff hammond]

@futurepast said:

I assume you are using a mold...

right.. that's what the drawings are of.. i have to pour it in place since it's so heavy and no machinery access.. if i could just pour it then lift it into place, it'd be a lot easier to form.. but being up in the air, i have to make the forms in a way that they're used for post alignment, hold wet mud, then easily removable afterwards (which is a bit tricky with those posts.. but yeah, the form work is the bulk of the work.. the actual pour won't take more than a couple of hours.

@unknownuser said:

We made some benches similar to this. We used white cement (And acid colored them after). We used fiber reinforced concrete. First we laid in a layer of mud about an inch and a half thick then laid in a layer of stucco expanded mesh which we tamped just into the mud. Then we ran 1/4" rebar longitudinally on 4 " centers. Covered it with a little more mud. Dropped in one more layer expanded mesh, and capped it with mud. We were at 3" total, and it was HEAVY. But, after the acid stain, looked like a granite slab

yeah, i've wet set rebar before but i'd rather not.. if the steel is pre-placed etc, one less thing to worry about while pouring
i've seen some of the decorative stuff with acid/dyes/exposed aggregates.. i'm still not sure which direction I'm going to go with that part.. but probably just hand troweled finish with maybe a semi-glossy epoxy sealer.

[Futurepast]

One more thing....if you are going to do it in place, DON'T strip the forms to soon!!!! The concrete at that thickness will dry out too fast as it is. Keep it damp (burlap bags etc.)

[Charlie__V]

@unknownuser said:

Also, you may want to consider core drilling @ the table and seat bases.(& don't assume clear drilling) ..........otherwise...... ... ...... ......

@unknownuser said:

hmm. i'm not sure i quite follow what you're saying? what do you mean?

Jeff,
I used to do a fair bit of commercial work (restaurant/bar/etc.).
Often the tables and chairs (similar to your design) were installed using a core drill and grout.

You simply drill the appropriate size hole in the conc. slab, and set the round base in the hole and grout.(brace plumb/level)

Obviously you have to be cautious of what is "in" the slab, and or, the type of slab. (post tension?)

So rather than rely on bolts (expoxy set?/wedge anchors?) as in your design, core drilling would potentially be a stronger/tamper proof option.

Just My 2¢

Charlie
Edit:
PS.......you may want to explore buying the bases instead of custom fab. (Outwater Plastics?)

[jeff hammond]

@charlie

oh, I see what you're saying now. but the way I plan on building it, I won't be drilling into the slab. the flanges/legs are already placed during the pour.. the bolts coming through the top flanges are already there when the mud is wet (and welded to the rebar)... those bolts are what will allow me to suspend the rebar without any seats or hangers etc messing up any of the surfaces

as in- if this thing ever moves to a new location, you're only unbolting the floor flanges as the top flanges are not coming off.. moves as one (though I suppose you could unscrew 3" pipe leg from the top flange)

but in the drawing, the blue represents melamine.. holes are cut in it for the flanges etc.. or- that (partial) drawing is the form work and it's how it will look prior to pouring

[pbacot]

Curious in your drawing, I don't understand what is the gold versus blue component? I would think there needs to be some steel tie from each post cross wise in the table top, either in the rebar welded to the post or a plate, for torsion in the long axis. Some of this is resisted by the curved placement of posts. If someone sits on the corner is there a lot of tension in concrete at the top of the post?

[jeff hammond]

@pbacot said:

Curious in your drawing, I don't understand what is the gold versus blue component?

the actual color is just 'color by layer' and isn't meant as a material/texture representation.

but the blue is 3/4" melamine sheets.. the gold is the form boards for the sides..
basically, everything in the drawing aside from the steel will be removed once dried.. or- when finished, you won't see any of the stuff in the drawing.. you'll only see stuff that isn't in the drawing (concrete)

@unknownuser said:

I would think there needs to be some steel tie from each post cross wise in the table top, either in the rebar welded to the post or a plate, for torsion in the long axis. Some of this is resisted by the curved placement of posts. If someone sits on the corner is there a lot of tension in concrete at the top of the post?

that's my main concern as well.. structurally, i'd like to place vertical supports at the corners but people's legs need to be able to freely move in/out of the there so that's why the posts are in the middle..

but yeah, concrete can handle the torsion/twisting forces which will be happening in those areas.. problem is, i don't know exactly how much nor do i know how to calculate those forces..

i did consider something like so but it's generally not good practice to triple+ stack rebar which would happen if i used the same layout.. (especially when considering the top is 2.5" thick and each layer of rebar is 3/8")

i'm also looking into GFRC (glass fiber reinforced) which, as i understand, has great flexural strength and in many instances, eliminates the need for steel. (though i'd still use steel in combination with the fiber)

[Charlie__V]

Jeff,
Just spitballing here........what if you router out your bottom form for a ¼" steel plate.(finishes flush to bottom of conc.) Also weld the plate to the sched. 40 steel pipe.
(see my crude image below)

And I'm curious...were you going to fill the sched. 40 with conc. as well?

C

---

[jeff hammond]

hmm. that would work as a means to get more support in those area.. you wouldn't have to rout a recess in the form.. just place it on top of the form then it will be flush with the bottom of the concrete.. it would also double as a cap for the pipe (as in- those pipe holes will be covered and I'm not pouring inside of them.. so it would just be drilling the four flange holes into the steel plate..

thing is, I'd rather not if it's not necessary. or-- it still doesn't make me 100% confident.
meh, maybe I'll just talk($) to an engineer about it.

[mitcorb]

Hmmm. You need a friendgineer. Can't believe it would be that expensive.

[jeff hammond]

@mitcorb said:

Hmmm. You need a friendgineer. Can't believe it would be that expensive.

heh.. i have one of them and he'd probably have a look for no charge.. thing is, he's not in the 'immediate' circle of friends so i don't want to waste a possible favor with this table..
but yeah, i'll just show it to a local engr.. surely won't be more than a couple hundred.

[Box]

I haven't looked at it carefully, but have you considered other materials. Good ply and nice edge trim, light and easily replaced.
Or fibreglass, simple fabrication, durable, light etc etc
Epoxy casting, bloody expensive but wonderful finish.

I think my point could be that it depends what the full end use is. Are you making one or 300? Is tooling up cost effective etcetc

[jeff hammond]

@box said:

I haven't looked at it carefully, but have you considered other materials. Good ply and nice edge trim, light and easily replaced.
Or fibreglass, simple fabrication, durable, light etc etc
Epoxy casting, bloody expensive but wonderful finish.

I think my point could be that it depends what the full end use is. Are you making one or 300? Is tooling up cost effective etcetc

first thought was wood since i'm a woodworker.. (and this is still, basically, a wood project.. the form work is what will require the most skill).. i already have the necessary tools to build this.. concrete or rebar isn't that expensive..
the most expensive thing in the design are the flanges/threaded uprights and i'd have those subbed out. (~ $50 per flange / $50 per upright)..

but that stuff aside, i'd still be up against the same sort of issues if i just took the same shape and made it of a different material.

i'm making a total of 4 different pieces.. a bar and 3 tables.. none are the same shape and the forms will be trashed (about $500 in form material)

[Box]

Yeah all of that fits, I know you are a wood man which is why I don't understand the concrete. Why make a negative wood former to caste when you could make a fantastic laminated wood positive.

[jeff hammond]

boredom ?

(oh, and I mentioned concrete at one of the meetings and they loved it.. basically, at this point, they're buying concrete tables/bar top)

[dale]

http://youtu.be/LfjHrWOVkgE

I love and use concrete a lot, and have built a lot of countertops over the years, and I wouldn't hesitate to build it as you have it designed.
Attached is a test done on Glass Fiber Reinforced concrete with no rebar, and it resists 1100 lbs befor breaking, so with rebar as per your design..... no problem

But if you really want to have some fun you should get into Fabric Cast Concrete.

---

[Box]

Boredom in my book is written on the door to god's waiting room. If you want to make it make well for everything else there is IKEA

[AirWindSolar]

@jeff hammond said:

• high volume cafe/coffee house..
• one of those "i don't know - what do you want to build?" setups
• i want to build this

From an ergonomic (and potentially ADA) standpoint, long benches suck for folks with knee and/or hip injuries, since being anywhere other than the end basically means they're trapped in there until everybody else moves.

Then again, cramped and uncomfortable is the in thing for coffee shops these days.

[Futurepast]

@airwindsolar said:

@jeff hammond said:

• high volume cafe/coffee house..
• one of those "i don't know - what do you want to build?" setups
• i want to build this

From an ergonomic (and potentially ADA) standpoint, long benches suck for folks with knee and/or hip injuries, since being anywhere other than the end basically means they're trapped in there until everybody else moves.

Then again, cramped and uncomfortable is the in thing for coffee shops these days.

That's so people don't stay too long!!! NEXT CUSTOMER PLEASE!!!!!!!!

[jeff hammond]

@airwindsolar said:

From an ergonomic (and potentially ADA) standpoint, long benches suck for folks with knee and/or hip injuries, since being anywhere other than the end basically means they're trapped in there until everybody else moves.

Then again, cramped and uncomfortable is the in thing for coffee shops these days.

comfort? this is brooklyn-- we only care about how many people we can cram into one spot (i kid, i kid)

but yeah, some of what you're saying was discussed already and if you saw the whole design, i think this actual table would make more sense.. as per a client request, this table is communal seating.. there are also some tables which are easier in/out and more 'private' (as well as a few standup/chair_less tables).. then one wall table with stools.

as i imagine it happening at least-- the two ends of this table will be occupied first and will be the most used areas.. when it's busy though, people will be able to sit in the middle without asking the people on the ends to move..

@dale said:

I love and use concrete a lot, and have built a lot of countertops over the years, and I wouldn't hesitate to build it as you have it designed.
Attached is a test done on Glass Fiber Reinforced concrete with no rebar, and it resists 1100 lbs befor breaking, so with rebar as per your design..... no problem

But if you really want to have some fun you should get into Fabric Cast Concrete.

thanks for your thoughts Dale.
i remember you posted something about the fabric casting a couple of years ago.. i'm hyped on the stuff and hope to find a use for it one day..

i saw that video last night and found it impressive.. the spans/overhangs i have are less than the spans in the video so this table should be able to resist more weight than they've done.. not to mention this design has rebar in it as well.. to be honest, i'm now confident these spans won't break under normal condidtion- not even close.. my main concern now is the balancing or wether or not it will topple.. i'm just going to do a mock up and test it like that-- if it topples, i'll be able to make a tighter radius which should provide more stability..

here's a bench design i came across last night and to me, that's a lot more stress than what my design is calling for.. this bench is using the same #3 rebar and the cantilever is the same thickness (2.5").. if this thing holds up, my design definitely will.

i found quite a few objects which were similar in size/material with sections of it being under greater stresses than what i'm planning.. i think the one i've drawn will be o.k.

[jeff hammond]

@futurepast said:

That's so people don't stay too long!!! NEXT CUSTOMER PLEASE!!!!!!!!

haha.. right.
the client didn't want booths.. she wants benches

@box said:

Boredom in my book is written on the door to god's waiting room. If you want to make it make well for everything else there is IKEA

boredom is the wrong word.. (well, it's the right word in my head but i'm not using the right definition for it)..

more along the lines of-- for whatever reason, this concrete/steel idea is exciting to me and i look forward to building it..
as long as i have that aspect going for me in a project, the project becomes fun and more easy..

if i'm not excited to do it and i'm strictly working for the money, it becomes such a drag and the days feel twice as long..

something like that.