Tank Bracing Question

[AquaticJim]

In the drawing below, are the two glass braces marked in red doing anything structurally for my 4x2x2 (they don't go all the way from front to back , but miss by about 1/2 inch at each end) they're side braces and I think they are there just to hold glass lids.

They wouldn't be stopping the end from bowing out would they on just two feet wide?

I'd like to remove it possible.


Thanks,

Jim

 

[Biollante]

Maybe... Let's Take A Closer Look First

Hi Jim,

Even though the strips of glass do not go all the way across it may be structural.

Such bracing is sometimes used to prevent flexing and give, or increase the safety factor.

Do you have a brand name on the aquarium?

Can you tell us the thicknesses of the glass used?

Biollante

 

[AquaticJim]

Hi Biollante,

The tank isn't a branded tank as such. The glass of the tank is 10mm thick and the the two strips of glass that are in question are 5mm thick.

I'm not sure if there just there for a place for the glass lids to sit (I don't use lids, the tank is open top) or they're doing double duty as places for the lids to sit and strengthing the two side glass panels from having any flex to them.

 

[Tom Barr]

Those are non structural.
They can be removed.

 

[Biollante]

A Second Opinion

Tom Barr rendered his definitive opinion while I was calculating.

Hi Jim,

Based on my calculations that bracing is structural. With the bracing I would regard it as safe.:gw

Safety factor is 2, maybe 2.5. (Assuming the center brace is reasonably to scale.)

A smart person has done the figuring, so disregard.
Perhaps a smart person could double check my figuring I know there are some good calculators out there, I lost my bookmarks and a good part of what passes for my brain.

Without bracing it appears to me you would need 10 mm of glass on the ends as well yields a safety factor of nearly 4, with center bracing, no need for end stiffening braces...

Biollante
PS
I still come up with too great a deflection angle on 5mm of glass over the 2 feet without stiffening braces.
The safety factor declines to under 1; it should hold the water, but no room for anything to go wrong.
Note on safety factors, I regard a safety factor of 2 as a minimum requirement, 4 being very safe for household use.

 

[nipat]

If ALL the glass walls are 10 mm thick.
And the ones colored in red (which you want to remove) are 5 mm.
Then I think you can remove it.

But if the left-right end walls are 5 mm thick.
Then I'm with Bio, don't remove it.