RAIL LOADING/ DEFLECTION TEST

General :

Client: ITD Cementation India Ltd

Project: Package Reach 3: Construction of 10 (ten) elevated stations excluding viaduct from
Jhansi Rani Square to Lokmanya Nagar on the East-West Corridor of Nagpur Metro
Rail Project

Object: To evaluate the performance of permanent Metal Railing Systems and Rails of
building including components, comply with requirements as per IBC or IRC code.

Material Specification:

 SS 304 grade Circular tube - 50mm dia , 1.6mm thick

 Post - SS 304 grade – 38mm dia, 3.15mm thick
 4 no’s of SS fasteners for each post
 SS holder – 304 grade – 100 mm long
 Dimension details – h = 1100mm (43.30in) distance between the surface of the post
anchorage and top of the rail, l = 1050mm (41.30 in) distance between vertical post.

Test Procedure

The railing system was tested according to ASTM E- 985, sec 7.1.1 to confirm with IBC and IRC code
load requirement of 200 lbf concentrated load and 50 plf uniformly distributed load. The load
configurations are detailed in following tabular columns.

The load was applied with a hydraulic cylinder and text fixture apparatus. The test load was
measured with an electronic load cell positioned between the test specimen and hydraulic
cylinder. The loading sequence consisted of applying the load gradually to preload 50% of the
target load and hold for 2 mins, then released 25 % (ie 50% of pre load) and hold for 1 mins and
then gradually to the target load. The 50 plf uniform load test was applied with equivalent
concentrated loads at Quarter point using Quarter point rule : bending moment, P = wl/2.
Concentrated Load test - Test load is 200lbf (890N)

Loading Loading Applied load Deflection Maximum Deflection criteria as

position Point (in) deflection per Section 7.2 of
(in) ASTM E 985
25% - 50 lbf 0.00 Maximum Allowable
At top rail 50% - 100 lbf 0.00 deflection at test load
mid span 100% - 200 1.0 1.0 (in) = (h/24) +(l/96)
lbf
50% - 100 lbf 0.15 = 2.23 > 1.0, Hence
safe.
25% - 50lbf 0.00

25% - 50 lbf 0.00 Maximum Allowable

Horizontally At top rail deflection at test load
50% - 100 lbf 0.15
near post 1.5 (in) = (h/12)
100% - 200 1.5
connection
lbf
= 3.6 > 1.5, Hence safe.
50% - 100 lbf 0.15
25% - 50lbf 0.0
25% - 50 lbf 0.00 Maximum Allowable
At top of 50% - 100 lbf 0.0 deflection at test load
end post 100% - 200 1.2 1.2 (in) = (h/12)
lbf
50% - 100 lbf 0.2 = 3.6 > 1.2, Hence safe.
25% - 50lbf 0.00

25% - 50 lbf 0.00 Maximum Allowable

At top rail 50% - 100 lbf 0.00 deflection at test load
Vertically mid span 100% - 200 0.25 0.25 (in) = (l/96)
lbf
50% - 100 lbf 0.0 = 0.43 > 0.25, Hence
safe.
25% - 50 lbf 0.0

Maximum Allowable Residual deflection as per clause no. 7.2.5 shall not exceed 20% of deflection
at 50% load

Horizontally

Hence , @ top rail mid span : 20% x ((h/24) +(l/96)) = 0.44 >0.15 @ 50 % load, thus ok.

@ top rail near post : 20% x (h/12) = 0.72 >0.15 @ 50 % load, thus ok.

@ top rail post : 20% x (h/12) = 0.72 >0.20 @ 50 % load, thus ok.

Vertically

@ top rail mid span : 20% x (l/96) = 0.086 >0.0 @ 50 % load, thus ok.
Uniform Load test - Test load 50plf/ft (730N/m)

Test Load: 50plf = 50 (41.3 in/12 in) = 172 lbf both horizontally and vertically

Loading Loading Applied load Deflection Maximum Deflection criteria as

position Point (in) deflection per Section 7.2 of ASTM
(in) E 985
25% - 43 lbf 0.00 Maximum Allowable
At 50% - 86 lbf 0.00 deflection at test load
Horizontally Quarter 100% -172 1.7 1.7 (in) = (h/24) +(l/96)
Point lbf
50% - 86 lbf 0.10 = 2.23 > 1.7, Hence
safe.
25% - 43 lbf 0.0
25% - 43 lbf 0.00 Maximum Allowable
Vertically At 50% - 86 lbf 0.00 deflection at test load
Quarter 0.15 (in) = (l/96)
100% - 172 0.15
Point = 0.43 > 0.15, Hence
lbf
safe.
50% - 86 lbf 0.0

25% - 43 lbf 0.0

Maximum Allowable Residual deflection as per clause no. 7.2.5 shall not exceed 20% of deflection
at 50% load

Horizontally

Hence , @ Quarter point : 20% x ((h/24) +(l/96)) = 0.44 >0.10 @ 50 % load, thus ok.

Vertically

@ Quarter Point : 20% x (l/96) = 0.086 >0.0 @ 50 % load, thus ok.

Summary and Conclusion

The railing assembly system was able to sustain an uniform load of 50plf (730N/m) and a
concentrated load of 200lbf (890N) when tested as per ASTM – E 985 and met the deflection
criteria as per the specification.