[kadamsflk]

I am going to use 1/4" thick angle iron to support 2" thick stone on a building. Can anyone tell me if there is a chart or calculation to figure if bent 1/4" steel is as strong as regular 1/4" angle iron of the same dimensions?

[yoopertool]

you would have to let us know what type of steel it is, what corner radius it has, and how it is loaded. Let us know that and we can help you out.

[brunog]

Angle iron is stronger as the shape is extruded and there is more material in the corner, the bend of a bent steel angle has been weakened by the bending process itself.

Best regards

Bruno

[yoopertool]

This is not neccesarily true. You have to keep in mind that A-36 structural steel does not have a very high yeild strength (~36kpsi) where a stronger steel such as 4140 has a yeild strength of ~58kpsi. This along with the stress concentrations created by having inclusions in the A-36 and the loading of the member could cause this to swing in favor of the bent plate. I agree, you will see some "weakening" of the metal when it is bent, but that is something that would need to be calculated before any assumptions could be made.