Trash Rack Design NWPC Rectangular Conduit No.

01
Design Data

Flow Rate
Clear Width
Clear Height
Space between trash bars
Approach velocity
Factor of Safety

12
3.25
2.25
150
1
1.5

m3/sec
m
m
mm
m/s

Basic parameters decided according to design standards,

Minimum thickness of trash bar (t min ) = 8mm

Depth of trash bar (d) = 50mm <d< (12xt)
This is a trash rack which is operated by manual trash cleaning method. Then angle to the
horizontal axis () should be 63 deg. < < 71.5 deg.

Force Calculation on a Trash Bar

According to the minimum requirements specified in the standards following parameters are
assumed as per practical scenario and then checked the stability under actual load conditions.
Design parameters of the trash bar

Trash bar thickness

Bar Space
Laterally unsupported Length
Bar width

10 mm
150 mm
620 mm
65 mm

Laterally unsupported length should be less than 700mm.

Bar width should be set between 50mm to 120mm.

Corrosion allowance
Then ,Effective thickness of the trash bar

1 mm
9 mm

Since the material of the trash rack structure ASTM A36, Yield Strength = 250 Mpa

As per above selected parameters, allowable stress on trash bar should be less than 44 MPa.

Clear Height
Angle of trash rack to horizontal
Sin
Then, Trash Bar length

2.25
65
0.906
2.48

m
deg.
m

Design Head for the trash bar taken as 3.375m with a 1.5 of safety margin.
As per that hydraulic load, force acting on a trash bar = 4.97 N/mm

This trash bar is considered as a continuous beam which is supported in equally spaced 5 points
and then,
Maximum bending moment in intermediate support = 204,268.4 N mm

According to the selected trash bar sectional properties, maximum bending stress undergone is 32.23
MPa. (less than to allowable stress)
Deflection under above load conditions = 0.11 mm (maximum)
That deflection value is less than to the recommended value. (Recommended value is 1.24mm =
620/500)
This trash bar will be intermediately supported by 620mm equally spaced 05 Nos. of Horizontal girders.
Force Calculation on Horizontal Girders

For Horizontal girder design, following limitations were considered.

Yield Stress
Allowable bending stress
Allowable shear stress

250
170
97.5

Mpa
Mpa
Mpa

Design Head with 1.5 safety margin = 3.375 m

Beams are equally spaced in 620mm intervals along the vertical trash bars.
Load acting on a beam = 20.53 N/mm

This beam is end supported and then, maximum bending moment = 27,102,616 N mm

For this beam selected following I- beam and then checked its stability under actual load conditions.

Size 175mm x175mm

Flange thickness = 11 mm
Web thickness = 7.5 mm
Mass of unit weight = 40kg/m

Second moment of area (along interested axis) = 2895 cm 4

Elastic modulus = (along interested axis) = 331cm 3

The maximum bending stress = 125 Mpa (less than allowable stress)

Maximum shear stress = 25.42 MPa (less than allowable shear stress)

Deflection = 5mm (less than allowable deflection = 5.42mm, 3250/600 )

Head Loss Calculation

Using above Kirschmer's Formula,

Head loss through the trash rack without any obstruction,

Head loss = 0.03 cm

With 15% clogged state the head loss will be 0.04cm.

Frequency Analysis

For the trash rack design it has to be check the natural frequency and the forced frequency of trash
bars to prevent any failure can be occurred due to resonance effect.
For above trash bar spaces and fixing methodology, natural frequency calculated.

F n = 95Hz
And the forced frequency of the trash bar is, Ff = 35.6 Hz

It is recommended to maintain more than 2, between Fn/Ff ratio for unobstructed trash rack.
That ratio for this trash rack is 2.68 and can be mentioned as safe operated.
Design Sketches