Structural Steel and Steel Construction

Abstract

Structural steel is an economical construction material for building applications. It offers high ratios of strength to weight and strength to volume. Thus, structural steel has the advantage of permitting long clear spans for horizontal members and requiring less floor space for columns than other common construction materials. It also can be used in combination with reinforced concrete to provide cost-effective building components. For large industrial buildings, where the structural frame can be exposed, it is often the material of choice. The design of a structural building frame involves the following principal steps: 1. Select the general configuration and type of structure (Sec. 1). 2. Determine the service loads as required by the applicable building code (Art. 5.1.2). 3. Compute the internal forces and moments for the individual members (Sec. 5). 4. Proportion the members and connections. 5. Check performance characteristics, such as deflection, under service conditions. 6. Make a general overall review for economy of function. 7. Prepare complete design drawings delineating all structural steel requirements. Designers, in addition to performing these steps, should also have an apprecia-tion of the complete construction cycle to assure a practical and economical design. This includes understanding the needs of other disciplines and trades, types and availability of the materials used in steel of construction, applicable codes and specifications, the role and responsibilities of the fabricator and the erector, and a designer's own responsibilities in the area of quality assurance. The other principal parties involved in structural steel construction are fabricators and erectors. Erectors frequently act as a subcontractor to the fabricator. Fabrication operations convert the mill materials into shipping pieces ready for erection at the jobsite. These operations are generally performed in a shop. The pieces are sized and shaped to the dimensions shown on detailed shop drawings that are prepared