SECTION A

ENGINEERING SALES MANUAL

PAGE 7.0
REVISION 5
SUGGESTED BRIDGE DESIGN DATE 11/17/05

The following method can be used for design of support structures for MixPro agitators. This method
goes into detail for bridge supports. Similar methods can be used for flange mounts.

The support structure for an agitator must meet two criteria:

1. The support must be capable of withstanding the design loads without failure.

2. The support must be sufficiently rigid. This is necessary to limit deflections of the agitator
assembly. This takes two primary forms, twist and vertical deflection. This twist must not
exceed 1/3°, the total vertical deflection in either beam must not exceed 1/16" per 10 feet of
beam length.

The following shows how to apply the rigidity criteria and then the deflection criteria to determine the
bridge structure necessary. This example assumes the following:

- the bridge consists of two main beams running across the top of the tank and supported on
rigid supports.

- The agitator is centered between the beams and between the supports.

1. Determine the loads the bridge must support. The loads for the agitator are shown in the upper
left corner of the Certified Unit Drawing.

2. Determine the beam separation that will be used. This is typically achieved by matching up of
appropriate bolt locations on the beam with mounting bolt positions for the agitator. For initial
determinations the mounting bolt spacing can be used.

3. Determine the allowable deflection, from twist, in the main beams. Under worst case loading
one beam will deflect upwards and the other downwards in a twisting action. In this case only
half the beam spacing is used to calculate allowable deflection:

d = w/2 * sin(1/3°), where d = beam deflection (inches)

w = beam spacing (inches)

4. Determine the overall length of the beams between supports. The support structure for the
bridge must also be sufficiently rigid such that the deflection limits for the agitator are not
exceeded when it is included. In this example it is assumed that the supports are rigid and the
only deflections are in the bridge.

5. Determine the force applied to each beam by the bending moment supplied in the design loads.
In this case each beam will carry half the load:

F = M/w, where F = force on beam (lbs)

M = bending moment (lbs)
w = beam spacing (inches)

Professional Mixing Equipment Inc.

22 Melanie Dr., Unit 10 Brampton, ON Canada L6T 4K9
Phone: (905) 790-5444 Fax: (905) 790-5420 E-mail: Info@mixproagitators.com
 SECTION A
ENGINEERING SALES MANUAL
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REVISION 5
SUGGESTED BRIDGE DESIGN DATE 11/17/05

6. Determine the moment of inertia required for the beams to resist twist. This can be
accomplished by treating the beam as a “simple support structure”. The maximum deflection of
such a structure is:

d = F*L³/(48*E*I), where d = maximum deflection (in.)

F = force (lbs)
L = beam length (in.)
E = modulus of elasticity (psi)
I = moment of inertia (in4)

For steel beams, E = 29,000,000 (psi)

I = F* L³/(1.392 x 109*d)

This is the minimum required to resist twisting.

7. Determine the moment of inertia required to resist total vertical deflection. This can be
accomplished by treating the beam as a “simple support structure” and applying all vertical
loads. The maximum deflection of such a structure is:

d total = d weight + d bending + d beam

d weight = W/2*L3/(48*E*I), where d = deflection (inches)

W = mixer weight (lbs)
L = beam length (inches)
E = modulus of elasticity (psi)
I = moment of inertia (in4)

d bending = F*L3/(48*E*I), See section 6.

d beam = 5*b*L4/(384*E*I), where d = deflection (in.)

b = beam weight (lbs/in)
L = beam length (in.)
E = modulus of elasticity (psi)
I = moment of inertia (in4)

Professional Mixing Equipment Inc.

22 Melanie Dr., Unit 10 Brampton, ON Canada L6T 4K9
Phone: (905) 790-5444 Fax: (905) 790-5420 E-mail: Info@mixproagitators.com
 SECTION A
ENGINEERING SALES MANUAL
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REVISION 5
SUGGESTED BRIDGE DESIGN DATE 11/17/05

For the initial calculation, beam weight is ignored. The calculation will need to be redone once a beam
has been selected to ensure that deflection criteria is still met. This reduces the deflection equation to:

d total = d weight + d bending

d total = W/2*L3/(48*E*I) + F*L3/(48*E*I)

For steel beams, E = 29,000,000 psi

Also, d = 0.0005208*L (1/16" per 10 feet)

I = (W/2 + F) * L2/(7.25 x 105)

This is the minimum required to resist total deflection.

8. Consult a beam catalog and determine which ones satisfy both moment of inertia criteria.

9. Calculate the total deflection including the beam weight to verify that the selected beam meets
this criteria.

10. Check the beams selected to ensure that they satisfy stress level requirements for both the
combined bending and downward loads, and the torque.

11. Beams will still require cross bracing and support.

Configurations that differ from the one shown here will require different approaches. The end result
remains the same. The bridge must be sufficiently strong to support the loads without deflecting more
than 1/16" per 10 feet of span and sufficiently rigid such that the agitator does not deflect through an
angle greater than 1/3°. This also applies to flanges.

Professional Mixing Equipment Inc.

22 Melanie Dr., Unit 10 Brampton, ON Canada L6T 4K9
Phone: (905) 790-5444 Fax: (905) 790-5420 E-mail: Info@mixproagitators.com