"Jim Wilkins" wrote in message ...

"Jim Wilkins" wrote in message ...

I've returned to the gantry track splice, after fixing the car to pass
inspection and largely completing my taxes.

Have you ever seen a bolted I beam splice with the flanges thickened with
welded plates or such to compensate for the reduction in area at the bolt
holes?

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If welding plates on the outside of the channel flanges to thicken and
strengthen them at the central splice is technically (if not economically)
sound, they provide much more thread engagement for splice plate bolts in
tapped holes, that don't interfere with the trolley wheels rolling on the
lower flange.

All the examples I've found of bolted beam splices accept the loss of net
flange area at the bolt holes and instead suggest locating the splices away
from the most heavily stressed parts of the beam.