Steel columns are usually mounted on a reinforced concrete foundation, the type of which is determined depending on the weight of the metal structure.
The column can be fastened to the foundation in the following ways:
On embedded anchor bolts built into the foundation. Installation is carried out through mounting holes made in the column base. After careful alignment of the column along the axes, the connection unit is filled with concrete.
Directly by the foundation surface, erected to a certain level of the base of the supporting element.
Using supporting steel sheets. The surface of the upper side of such sheets is processed by planing. If necessary, concrete is poured.
The need for preliminary fixation depends on the height of the column and the design of its base. If the height does not exceed 10 meters, and with a sufficient width of the base, fixation is not required – anchor bolts are sufficient.
Columns higher than 10 meters or with narrow bases require additional fixation using braces, which are installed in the plane of the structure with minimum rigidity.
The guy rope is attached with one end to the upper part of the support element before it is lifted on slings and placed. The other end of the guy rope is attached to parts of the foundation or to a special anchor. The slings are removed from the column only after the guy rope is installed. The guy rope is removed only after the column is finally fixed with permanent elements of the metal structure – horizontal ties, crane beams. If, when fastening the column with anchor bolts, it is necessary to install metal gaskets under the base, they must be welded. In the upper part, the column is fastened with welding and bolted connections. This mating unit takes a significant load. Therefore, the strength of the fastening when drawing up a project requires the most careful calculation.
Alignment of columns during installation takes a significant amount of time and requires a lot of effort. In this regard, today, installation technologies without alignment are used. This method not only improves the quality of the metal structure, but also reduces the installation time.