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MikeAqua

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#155958 14-Nov-2014 13:39
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We got a brand new fence.  Looks  fantastic.  Only problem is when the wind is strong the gate vibrates and really hums.  It's outside our bedroom wall and close to our neighbours house.  Strong winds are a regular occurrence in Nelson.

The fencing company had no ideas at all.

I would really appreciate some suggestions on dampening the vibration in a way that still allows the gate to open.

The construction of the gate is powder coated vertical steel tubes in a box section frame.  It's bolted onto concrete (not attached to the house)

I've isolated the vibration to a couple of the vertical tubes. I tried clamping rubber clamps onto a tube, but that didn't work.  Leaning a big lump of wood against the gate does, but makes it a pain to open/close the gate.

I thought about filling the tubes with expanding foam, but that requires holes so risks rust.






Mike


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kiwitrc
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  #1175817 14-Nov-2014 13:41
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You dont happen to live next door to Richms per chance?

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=48&topicid=155947

C
an you remove it fill it from the bottom?



Dynamic
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  #1175820 14-Nov-2014 13:51
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Can you put some sort of tension on them to stop the vibration?  For example jamming some polystyrene between two bars?  If that works you might be able to come up with a more attractive solution.

You might need to ask the fencing place nicely to weld some horizontal bars between the verticals. Unfortunately that would involve probably blasting and re-powder coating.  If it is a standard size, they might make you a new one with the horizontal bits and keep this one for the next job.

Perhaps take a video so you can show them you are not completely bananas.




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RunningMan
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  #1175822 14-Nov-2014 13:53
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As a temporary measure, jam some blocks of rubber or similar between adjacent bars to damp the resonance

Could you disrupt the airflow past with a tree or something?



Disrespective
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  #1175827 14-Nov-2014 13:58
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Mass, add more mass. Can you fill the tubes with lead shot? It'll add stresses to the hinges so be careful here. 

Another option would be to weld, screw, fix a cross member which spans between all/some uprights and effectively reduces the span of each upright. It would need to be fixed to each vertical member or you would risk the horizontal member vibrating against the others. This would add rigidity to the vibrational length and halve the span so any further vibrations would be minimised. 

wellygary
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  #1175843 14-Nov-2014 14:30
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Try tying a couple of zip lock cable ties between the main offending tubes, this should help to dampen the vibration, by putting  tension on the tubes.

MikeAqua

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  #1175882 14-Nov-2014 14:59
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I have planted some shelter trees, but they will need five or so years.  I've got some of those soft, reusable cable ties.  Might try them to start with and also try some blocks of closed cell foam.

Long term maybe another horizontal is the solution but that will cost lots.  They are custom sized/shaped gates to suit our sloped driveway




Mike


 
 
 
 

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ubergeeknz
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  #1175884 14-Nov-2014 15:01
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Chunky plastic cable ties between the pipes may help. Doubt the velcro ones will be much cop.

SepticSceptic
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  #1176034 14-Nov-2014 18:24
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Need to disrupt the air flow. Perhaps some kind of mesh or grating over the entire fence ? Try a close mesh or square mesh chicken wire first. The square mesh looks nice enough. Or perhaps some brushwood that is seen on one of the daily sales sites, or at the warehouse.

Ramboss
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  #1176056 14-Nov-2014 18:53
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Seeing as you have paid for the gate and the problem is isolated to a couple of bars and other bars are not vibrating it would seem to be a manufacture defect, I would consult the fencing company for a long term solution as it seems they have given you a sub par gate. 

Niel
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  #1176162 15-Nov-2014 04:00
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(Deleted my previous post, completely misread the question.)

If you can feel movement in the weld, then you can claim that water will enter and it will rust.  Sure it is steel and not aluminium?




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eracode
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  #1176289 15-Nov-2014 13:45
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Put it to good use - sit astride for a while.




Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.


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mattwnz
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  #1176292 15-Nov-2014 13:54
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Maybe it is due to it resonating at the natural frequency. So shorting the length may fix it, which you can do be adding more supports. 

eracode
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  #1176311 15-Nov-2014 14:07
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Put it to good use - sit astride it for a while.




Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.


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