Understanding the Expected Deformation of Rectangular Ductwork Available to Purchase

A study was performed to investigate the effects of aspect ratio, material gauge, material properties, joint spacing, loading type and magnitude on the mechanical performance of rectangular ductwork. The SMACNA Industrial Duct Construction Standard (1^st and 2^nd Editions) rectangular ductwork design standards were reviewed, and theoretical equations contained in the existing literature were identified and evaluated. Allowing for round-off error, the calculations performed in this investigation agreed closely with the SMACNA approach. Finite element predictions of duct deformation were intermediate to the DMI experimental data and those obtained using the SMACNA design procedures, for both 10 gauge and 16 gauge wall thicknesses and twelve load cases.