CivilWeb Sign Post Foundation Design Calculator Spreadsheet

Sign post design and sign post foundation design in the UK is often neglected as minimum planting depth values or typical details are used in place of more detailed analysis. The apparent complexity of the Eurocodes can in some cases put designers off from completing a full analysis. In many cases installing standard size signs on standard sign posts in typical ground this will lead to a satisfactory design. However more complex or unusual designs cannot be accommodated in this way and the standard designs are necessarily conservative. For this reason it quickly becomes economical to conduct a detailed design, particularly where large or multiple signs are planned. This spreadsheet makes the sign post and sign post foundation design process simple and intuitive.

Sign Post Wind Loading Design

Firstly the spreadsheet calculates the wind loading acting on the sign. This is done either using the simplified procedure contained within BS EN 12899-1 or through a full analysis using BS EN 1991-1-4. The simplified analysis is useful where the site information available to the designer is very limited and for quick feasibility or preliminary designs. The more detailed procedure in BS EN 1991-1-4 provides a much less conservative loading and requires only slightly more detailed site knowledge. Generally it is recommended that a full analysis is undertaken except where the required information is unknown.

Sign Post Design

The spreadsheet takes this wind loading information and uses this to model the forces produced in the posts and foundations. The spreadsheet completes the sign post design by calculating the maximum bending moments, shear forces and torsion produced in the sign post from the wind loading of the sign. The spreadsheet then recommends the 10 lightest steel circular hollow sections (CHS) which would be sufficient for the user to choose from. Alternatively the designer can choose any standard CHS for analysis. The spreadsheet checks that the proposed sign post is sufficiently strong and checks that the sign post will not deflect to an unacceptable degree during high winds.

Sign Post Foundation Design

The wind loadings calculated previously are now used to calculate the required foundations. Two foundation types are common, planted posts where the sign post is installed into a hole in the ground and encased in concrete, or concrete pad foundations which the posts are bolted onto the pad which resists the forces by bearing onto the ground.

The CivilWeb Sign Post Foundation Design Calculator completes the embedded sign post foundation design procedure in accordance with BS EN 12889-1 and HD94/17. Embedded sign posts are very common for small single road signs. There are minimum depth requirements given in HA HD94/17 which are often used as design values. In many cases the minimum depth is not sufficient and the depth and diameter of the planted sign post foundation must be calculated. The CivilWeb Sign Post Foundation Design Calculator does this by modelling the moment resistance of the ground based on three simple ground types as defined in HA HD94/17. It then returns a graph showing the minimum depth required to resist the moments.

Sign post pad foundations are often used for larger signs where planted foundations would not be suitable or where multiple posts are required. The CivilWeb Sign Post Foundation Design Calculator spreadsheet calculates the required size and depth of the pad foundation using a detailed design procedure in accordance with BS EN 1990, 1991 and 1997. In some cases this level of detail would be considered excessive, particularly if the calculations are being done by hand. However the CivilWeb Sign Post Foundation Design Calculator spreadsheet makes this process very quick and simple as the inputs required are generally the same for all the design checks. The designer simply inputs the proposed foundation dimensions and the soil shear strength and unit weight and the spreadsheet instantly completes 11 separate design checks and returns graphs showing the dimensions required for the foundation to pass each design check. The CivilWeb Sign Post Foundation Design Calculator spreadsheet also includes a unique feature returning suggested foundations sizes which meet all the requirements. This is done for the chosen foundation depth and for 3 other commonly used depths allowing the designer to quickly ascertain whether a more economical design is possible.

To produce an economical design the designer can simply input the minimum length of pad foundation to suit the number and spacing of sign posts required, input a suitable depth which will generally be as deep as is practical for the installation methods expected. The spreadsheet will then return a suggested width dimension which will meet all design check criteria in accordance with the Eurocode standards. The most economical design will typically be a shallow wide foundation, as the width has the greatest effect resisting the moments produced by wind actions on the sign.

Spreadsheet Main Features

The CivilWeb Sign Post Foundation Design Calculator provides a quick and easy solution for sign post foundation design. It completes all the required calculations for embedded sign post and pad foundation design and even a complete detailed analysis in accordance with all applicable standards can be completed in minutes.

Our Sign Post Foundation Design Calculator suite includes;

• Sign Post Design - The spreadsheet calculates the required sign post size and recommends standard sign post sections which meet the criteria.
• Simple and Complete Wind Loading Calculations - The spreadsheet can complete  detailed sign post wind loading analysis in accordance with BS EN 1991-1-4. Alternatively where some design parameters are unknown, the spreadsheet can also estimate wind loadings in accordance with the simplified procedure in BS EN 12889-1.
•  Embedded Sign Post Design - The spreadsheet completes all the required calculations for an embedded sign post foundation design in accordance with BS EN 12889-1 and minimum planting depths in accordance with HD94/17.
• Sign Post Pad Foundation Design - Alternatively the spreadsheet also completes all the required calculations for a sign post pad foundation in accordance with the Eurocode design standards. Unique design features include graphs showing the optimum foundation dimensions for each of 11 design checks and suggested foundation sizes which meet all the criteria. This allows the designer to complete a fully optimised design in seconds without any iterative steps.

Get the full license version now for only £20. This includes;

• CivilWeb Sign Post Foundation Design Calculator Spreadsheet with all inputs available. Both detailed and simplified wind loading analysis included.
• Free comprehensive 28 page Ultimate User Guide.  This includes detailed information and typical values for all the required inputs and an explanation of the design standards and principles used in the spreadsheet.

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