What are the steps of steel structure design?

02 Dec.,2024

 

7 Methods of Steel Construction Design Explained

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Steel is the backbone of the construction industry and a driver of many economies globally. Its versatility makes it a material of choice for most construction projects. Steel is also lighter and less bulky compared to other construction materials. Moreover, steel is a strong and durable construction material that fits almost every construction project. Here, we discuss the various steel construction methods and designs to help you expand your knowledge of steel application in the industry.

Conventional Steel Fabrication

Conventional steel fabrication is the traditional method of constructing steel structures. The process involves designing, measuring, cutting, bending, and welding steel plates and sections to create the desired structure. Conventional steel fabrication can happen at the construction site or in a steel fabrication shop. However, most contractors prefer fabricating the steel at a shop and transporting the finished product to the construction site for a faster and safer installation process.

Fabricating at a shop enhances efficiency by reducing wastage and onsite construction time. The construction cost also goes down when fabrication happens in a shop, due to increased efficiency. A factory set setting allows the application of advanced technology and the use of automated machines, lowering labor costs. Onsite conventional fabrication, on the other hand, is labor-intensive and time-consuming.

Bolted Steel Construction

Bolted steel construction is an advancement of conventional steel fabrication. In bolted steel construction, the bulk of the work is done in a fabrication shop. Steel components are fabricated off-site, and transported to the construction site, where they are bolted together to create a structure. The factory setup enhances fabrication efficiency since the shops have the right working conditions, including lighting, technology and the absence of weather anomalies.

Once the fabrication and painting are finished, the steel components are transported to the construction sites using trucks. The size of the steel members is, therefore, dependent on the transporting truck/trailer. Flatbed trucks and trailers range from 20-40&#; in length with options for oversized loads being available with added cost. The added trucking cost can outweigh the uptick from field fabrication, therefore, the cost for oversized loads may be the best option. 

Many construction firms prefer bolted steel construction due to its quick installation time and lesser field welding requirements. Moreover, bolted steel construction is cost-effective compared to conventional steel fabrication. These advantages make bolted steel construction a preferred method for the construction of industrial buildings, warehouses, and other large structures.

Light Gauge Steel Construction

Light gauge steel construction uses thin steel sections that are cold-formed into shapes in a shop and assembled on-site. This construction method is popular for residential and small buildings, especially in areas with high seismic activity. It&#;s possible to create walls similar to wood framing with this type of construction. Several benefits of light gauge steel make it a preferred construction material for many projects.

The steel sheets are galvanized to prevent rust and corrosion, which enhances its durability. Unlike wood, steel is more resistant to pests, mold, and fire, which enhances its longevity. It is also stronger than wood and can withstand tremors during seismic activities. Moreover, light gauge steel is less bulky and more flexible than wood, which paves way for enhanced designs and modifications.

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Another advantage that makes light gauge steel better than wood in construction is its environmental friendliness. Steel can be recycled or reassembled into a new building. The use of light gauge steel instead of wood also preserves forests, which reduces global warming and climate change.

Modular Steel Construction

In modular steel construction, complete building modules or units are fabricated in a factory and assembled on-site. The modules are constructed in standard sizes and shapes that are easily stacked to create a variety of building designs. These modular units may be fabricated into complete rooms or parts of a room. They can also be fabricated into highly serviced units such as washrooms or elevators shafts.

A notable advantage of modular steel construction is the speed of building erection. Since the prefabs are fabricated in a factory setting, contractors are only required to transport and assemble the units on-site. The rapid installation allows onsite assembly of 6-8 units per day. Modular steel construction is also cost-effective. Repetitive manufacturing, which is typical of factory settings creates economies of scale that reduce the cost of production.

Steel Frame Construction

Steel frame construction is a type of construction that uses steel to construct the structural framework of a building. The skeleton frame made of steel columns and beams supports the building&#;s weight and loads. The steel beams and columns are prefabricated off-site and assembled on-site. Steel frame construction has several benefits over other structural construction methods. Steel is lighter and less bulky than other construction materials, such as concrete. Using lighter materials for the structural framework reduces the foundation cost and the overall construction cost. Steel is also stronger and more durable than other building materials, and can withstand earthquakes or harsh weather conditions.

Composite Steel Construction

In composite steel construction, steel is combined with other materials, such as concrete or wood to create structures with improved strength and stiffness. Several advantages of using composite steel make it a viable construction option for a structural framework. Composite steel is cheaper than non-composite steel components as you&#;re able to lighten the amount of concrete used by adding rebar, adding strength and reduces the overall construction cost. Composite steel frames are also lighter, which lowers foundation costs. Moreover, composite steel enhances environmental sustainability by reducing the amount of material used in the fabrication process. A reduction in the amount of materials used in construction reduces the carbon footprint of a construction project.

Pre-Engineered Steel Construction

Pre-engineered steel construction is a modern building technique that uses pre-designed and pre-fabricated steel components that are assembled on-site. This construction process produces buildings that meet specific project requirements for commercial, industrial, and agricultural applications. The pre-fabrication is done in a shop setting using computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software. Technology application helps manufacture steel components that can be customized to meet specific requirements of a construction project. Moreover, the shop setting used for pre-engineered steel construction makes the process cost-effective and aids the construction of strong and durable buildings.

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What are Methods of Steel Structure Design?

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There are three different methods for design of steel structure, i.e. simple design, continuous design and semi-continuous steel design. Joints in structures have been assumed to behave as either pinned or rigid to render design calculations manageable. In simple design the joints are idealised as perfect pins. Continuous design assumes that joints are rigid and that no relative rotation of connected members occurs whatever the applied moment. The vast majority of designs carried out today make one of these two assumptions, but a more realistic alternative is now possible, which is known as semi-continuous design.

Methods of Steel Structure Design

Following are the methods of structural steel design:

1. Simple Design of Steel Structure

Simple design is the most traditional approach and is still commonly used. It is assumed that no moment is transferred from one connected member to another, except for the nominal moments which arise as a result of eccentricity at joints. The resistance of the structure to lateral loads and sway is usually ensured by the provision of bracing or, in some multi-storey buildings, by concrete cores. It is important that the designer recognises the assumptions regarding joint response and ensures that the detailing of the connections is such that no moments develop that can adversely affect the performance of the structure. Many years of experience have demonstrated the types of details that satisfy this criterion and the designer should refer to the standard connections on joints in simple construction.

2.  Continuous Design of Steel Structure

In continuous design, it is assumed that joints are rigid and transfer moment between members. The stability of the frame against sway is by frame action (i.e. by bending of beams and columns). Continuous design is more complex than simple design therefore software is commonly used to analyse the frame. Realistic combinations of pattern loading must be considered when designing continuous frames. The connections between members must have different characteristics depending on whether the design method for the frame is elastic or plastic. In elastic design, the joints must possess sufficient rotational stiffness to ensure that the distribution of forces and moments around the frame are not significantly different to those calculated. The joint must be able to carry the moments, forces and shears arising from the frame analysis. In plastic design, in determining the ultimate load capacity, the strength (not stiffness) of the joint is of prime importance. The strength of the joint will determine whether plastic hinges occur in the joints or in the members, and will have a significant effect on the collapse mechanism. If hinges are designed to occur in the joints, the joint must be detailed with sufficient ductility to accommodate the resulting rotations. The stiffness  of the joints will be important when calculating beam deflections, sway deflections and sway stability.

3.  Semi-Continuous Design of Steel Structure

True semi-continuous design is more complex than either simple or continuous design as the real joint response is more realistically represented. Analytical routines to follow the true connection behaviour closely are highly involved and unsuitable for routine design, as they require the use of sophisticated computer programs. However, two simplified procedures do exist for both braced and unbraced frames; these are briefly referred to below. Braced frames are those where the resistance to lateral loads is provided by a bracing system or a core; in unbraced frames this resistance is generated by bending moments in the columns and beams. The simplified procedures are: (i)  The wind moment method, for unbraced frames. In this procedure, the beam/column joints are assumed to be pinned when considering gravity loads. However, under wind loading they are assumed to be rigid, which means that lateral loads are carried by frame action. A fuller description of the method can be found in reference. (ii)  Semi-continuous design of braced frames. In this procedure, account of the real joint behaviour is taken to reduce the bending moments applied to the beams and to reduce the deflections. Details of the method can be found in reference. Read More:

There are three different methods for design of steel structure, i.e. simple design, continuous design and semi-continuous steel design. Joints in structures have been assumed to behave as either pinned or rigid to render design calculations manageable. In simple design the joints are idealised as perfect pins. Continuous design assumes that joints are rigid and that no relative rotation of connected members occurs whatever the applied moment. The vast majority of designs carried out today make one of these two assumptions, but a more realistic alternative is now possible, which is known as semi-continuous design.Following are the methods of structural steel design:Simple design is the most traditional approach and is still commonly used. It is assumed that no moment is transferred from one connected member to another, except for the nominal moments which arise as a result of eccentricity at joints. The resistance of the structure to lateral loads and sway is usually ensured by the provision of bracing or, in some multi-storey buildings, by concrete cores. It is important that the designer recognises the assumptions regarding joint response and ensures that the detailing of the connections is such that no moments develop that can adversely affect the performance of the structure. Many years of experience have demonstrated the types of details that satisfy this criterion and the designer should refer to the standard connections on joints in simple construction.In continuous design, it is assumed that joints are rigid and transfer moment between members. The stability of the frame against sway is by frame action (i.e. by bending of beams and columns). Continuous design is more complex than simple design therefore software is commonly used to analyse the frame. Realistic combinations of pattern loading must be considered when designing continuous frames. The connections between members must have different characteristics depending on whether the design method for the frame is elastic or plastic. In, the joints must possess sufficient rotational stiffness to ensure that the distribution of forces and moments around the frame are not significantly different to those calculated. The joint must be able to carry the moments, forces and shears arising from the frame analysis. In, in determining the ultimate load capacity, the strength (not stiffness) of the joint is of prime importance. The strength of the joint will determine whether plastic hinges occur in the joints or in the members, and will have a significant effect on the collapse mechanism. If hinges are designed to occur in the joints, the joint must be detailed with sufficient ductility to accommodate the resulting rotations. The stiffness of the joints will be important when calculating beam deflections, sway deflections and sway stability.True semi-continuous design is more complex than either simple or continuous design as the real joint response is more realistically represented. Analytical routines to follow the true connection behaviour closely are highly involved and unsuitable for routine design, as they require the use of sophisticated computer programs. However, two simplified procedures do exist for both braced and unbraced frames; these are briefly referred to below. Braced frames are those where the resistance to lateral loads is provided by a bracing system or a core; in unbraced frames this resistance is generated by bending moments in the columns and beams.(i) The wind moment method, for unbraced frames. In this procedure, the beam/column joints are assumed to be pinned when considering gravity loads. However, under wind loading they are assumed to be rigid, which means that lateral loads are carried by frame action. A fuller description of the method can be found in reference. (ii) Semi-continuous design of braced frames. In this procedure, account of the real joint behaviour is taken to reduce the bending moments applied to the beams and to reduce the deflections. Details of the method can be found in reference.

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