LECTURE 1

INTRODUCTION TO STEEL CONSTRUCTION

The design of structural steel members has developed from a simple approach involving a few
basic properties of steel and elementary mathematics to a sophisticated treatment demanding a
thorough knowledge of structural behaviour. Present design utilizes knowledge of mechanics of
materials, structural analysis, and particularly structural stability, in combination with the use of
design specifications to select standard steel sections or components from a list of those available.

The process of designing a structure is often thought of as arranging elements or forms in such a
way that the expected loads are carried safely. Whereas the ability to support load is perhaps the
most important requirement in design, there are three overall objectives to be met if a structural
design is to be satisfactory. These objectives are:

1. To provide a structure to meet functional requirements.

2. To select structural elements and frames to support loads.
3. To satisfy economical requirements.

RELEVANT CODES

BS 449: Part 2: 1969 – “Specification for the use of structural steel in Buildings” Part 2

BS 5950: Structural use of steel in Buildings:

Part 1, 1985 – Code of Practice for Design in Simple and Continuous Construction: Hot
Rolled Sections.

Part 2, 1985 – Specification for Materials fabrication and Erection.

AISC 1969 – American Institute of Steel Construction. “Specification for Design, Fabrication and
Erection of Structural Steel for Buildings”.

In the process of meeting these design objectives, there are three principal technological aids to
assist in arriving at a satisfactory solution namely:

a) Knowledge of Material Properties: The yield point and modulus of elasticity are probably the
most important of the material properties. Others are tensile strength, ductility, fire protection,
fatigue and fracture (pulsating load), corrosion, etc.
b) Analysis of Structural Strength: The two basic design techniques available are allowable stress
design (BS 449) and Plastic design (BS 5950).
 Allowable Stress Design: A method of proportioning structures which is based on “allowable”
or working loads such that stresses do not exceed prescribed values. The allowable stresses
incorporate a factor of safety against one of the limits of structural usefulness.

Plastic Design: A design method for continuous steel beams and frames which defines the limit
of structural usefulness as the “ultimate load” associated with the formation of a mechanism.
The term “plastic“ comes from the fact that the ultimate load is computed from a knowledge
of the strength of steel in the plastic range.

From the above, it is seen that the allowable stress design is a trial-and-error process of
selecting trial member sizes, followed by the analysis of the structure(s) to see if the allowable
stresses are exceeded.

c) Codes, Specifications Standards: These classify building types, provides legal limits of loading
and govern zones. They also assure safety. Specifications often serve as a guide to checking
local details; they facilitate design through tables and charts and are frequently the source of
standard forms and details that are known to the profession, this contributing to economy of
Design and Construction.

LOGICAL STEPS OF DESIGN PROCESS

1. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS: It is essential first to establish the purpose for which

the structure will be used. This is especially true if the size, form, or use if the structure departs
from the usual pattern that has seen service in the past.
Example: Design of a large structure to house launching of rockets where the requirement to
operate doors under all circumstance places unusual deformation limits on the structure.
Another aspect of performance requirement is aesthetics. Civil engineering works, by their very
nature are always in the public view and frequently tend towards monumental; they always
contribute to and sometimes dominate their surroundings. It is thus essential that the
appearance of the structure be carefully considered during design stage. Indeed, there are times
when aesthetics may constitute a major design criterion.

2. STRUCTURE AND LOADING: Hand in hand with functional requirements goes the
development of the structural form to be used. Loading and form of structure are often mutually
dependent. Along with the functional requirement and the development of structural form to
support the loads goes the necessity of considering the cost of the structure. Cost is an essential
part of structural design.

3. LOADING CONDITIONS: The selection of loading conditions follows the determination of

the type and magnitude of loads that act on the structure. It involves the main decision as to
which of the loads act in combination with the dead load. Although some codes specify the
 loading conditions that must be considered, it is basically part of the designer’s responsibilities
to specify the load conditions. Occasionally, the structural form has a very significant influence
on the loading conditions that must be considered. Where the structural form is unusual, more
attention must be given to this feature.

4. PRELIMINARY DESIGN: The initial selection of member sizes is called “preliminary

design”. This is a necessary step in allowable stress design, since the initial estimate of section
size must be checked to see if the allowable stress is exceeded. In plastic design, this step
frequently involves no more than a determination of the ratios of the required plastic moments
of each member.

5. ANALYSIS: With the information obtained in the previous step, an analysis is made to
determine points of critical stress and the required section modulus or plastic moment capacity
of each member.

6. SELECTION OF SECTION: This step consists of the final or revised selection of size and
shape of members to be used in the design. The selection is based on an analysis of the
structural strength which leads to the required section property – which could be the section
area, the section modulus or the plastic modulus.

7. SECONDARY DESIGN ITEMS: Prior to completing a design, a most important final step
is to check on such factors as shear, local buckling, bracing, column buckling; to design
connections and where required to examine deflections.

TYPES OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS AND FRAMES

The various types of steel structures are listed and classified in the table below. In some ways, the
table reflects a consideration of the function of the structure since the form frequently is controlled
or influenced by the intended use.

1) Frames
a) Industrial Buildings
b) Multi-Storey Buildings
c) Bridges
2) Trusses
a) Bridges
i) Through
ii) Deck
iii) Pony
b) Buildings
 i) Roof
ii) Floor
iii) Bracing
3) Plate Girders
a) Bridges
i) Through
ii) Deck
b) Building Girders
4) Plate-Type (Structure) Struct
a) Orthotropic bridge decks
b) Shells
c) Folded plates
d) Deck panels
e) Wall panels
5) Arches, Rings
6) Towers
7) Space Frames
8) Suspension Structures
a) Cable roofs
b) Suspension bridges
c) Cable supported structures
9) Marine and Harbour Structures
10) Structures in space

Steel frames make up the principal load carrying elements of many buildings and bridges; this is
also true of trusses, though fewer of these are used in the main structural form of buildings.
Although some plate girders are used in buildings, this form is found most frequently in bridges.
Marine and Harbour structures can include a number of the other types of structural members and
frames, but their principal characteristics in this regard is the type of loading involved.

A plate-type structure that is being used more frequently internationally is the orthotropic plate, a
form of construction in which floor beams, stringers and traffic deck all form a single structural
load carrying unit. Stiffened and unstiffened plates are often the main load carrying elements in
marine structures, ships, aircrafts, tanks, tunnels and casings. Shells and stiffened rings are
essential features of this same forms at times, but shells are also commonly used in special building
forms. Towers are usually vertical trusses. The term “spaced frame” covers these rigid and trussed
structures whose analysis and design involve a consideration of the form of a three-dimensional
structure. Suspended structures are found both in buildings and bridges.
 ASSIGNMENT

Sketch out structural elements, the type of structure in which they can be found as well as failures
that can occur on the elements.

Advantages and Disadvantages of steel in construction

Advantages

1. High tensile strength [R = 230-750 MPa]

2. High modulus of elasticity [2.1 x 105 MPa]
3. Ability to carry/withstand relatively high stress level
4. Comparatively to timber construction, steel construction is 1.5 – 2 times lighter, 8 – 12 times
lighter than concrete structures, 20 times lighter than brick structures
5. More compact in size to handle. Hence easier to transport and construct (assemble) on site
6. Does not allow percolation, filtration of water and gas
7. High reliability of construction under exploitation as a result of homogenous mechanical
property of the material.
8. High level industrial process of assemble of components which allows for fast construction
processes.

Disadvantages

1. Low corrosion resistance. This calls for special treatment hence additional costs. This also
limits areas of application of steel in structures.

Low fire resistance at +500˚C steel loses its strength considerably.

2. High cost of steel structures.