Introduction to Design of Steel Structures Page 1 of 6

OUTLINE OF TOPICS

A. Introduction to Design of Steel Structures

1. Identification of structures for which steel is practical for use
2. Specifications and building codes
3. Philosophies of design and Factors of safety – ASD and LRFD methods of
design

A. Introduction to Design of Steel Structures

Structural design is the art and science of using knowledge of mechanics of

materials, statics, dynamics, and understanding of the behavior of structures to
select material and geometry of structures to carry intended forces in a safe and
economical way. The basic steps involved in structural design are shown below:

Preparing architectural plans, deciding on

functional requirement
•done by Architects

Determining framing layout, materials, and load

(gravity and lateral) resisting systems
•done by Architects/Structural Engineers

Determining loading of selected structural systems

and preliminary design of members
•done by Engineers

Constructing numerical model of structural

members and system and carrying out structural
analysis
•done by Engineers

Checking demand vs. capacity for strength and

serviceability
•done by Engineers

Redesigning (if necessary)

A.1 Identification of structures for which steel is practical for use

Structural steel became the number one choice of all engineers, designers, and
architects for construction. It is widely used to build high rise and complex
buildings, industrial sheds, residential buildings, bridges, and parking garages (in
Fig. 1 &2). Steel has a unique combination of properties that make it an ideal
construction material. Steel has the following advantages relative to other
building materials:

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• Speed of Construction – most of structural steelwork is prefabricated,

leading to fast construction. Compared with concrete, steel frames are full
strength upon completing the installation.
• Safety – with up to 70% labor reduction possible using a steel solution
compared to alternatives, fewer people equals a safer construction site.
• Value for money - faster construction means earlier handover and tenancy.
• Robustness and ductility – steel being a ductile material, responds to large
amount of load in a controlled fashion with managed load retention. The
size and shape of steel members can be configured to provide a level of
structural robustness not easily achievable with other more brittle
construction materials.
• Prefabrication – reduces waste and minimized errors since structural
elements were fabricated on shop.
• Reduced Weight – steel structure is intrinsically lighter than an equivalent
concrete structure due to the higher strength and stiffness of steel. Lighter
structure means smaller foundation.
• Architectural expression - the versatility of steel gives architects the
freedom to achieve their most ambitious visions. Combining form and
function, steel can span incredible distances and offer slenderness and
refinement to create what can only be described as ‘steel sculpture’. Two of
the most famous steel structures in the world are shown below.

Fig. 1. Walt Disney Concert Hall Fig. 2. Beijing National Stadium

The Walt Disney Concert Hall has a Beijing National Stadium also known
capacity of 2,265 seats. In a cost-saving as the Bird’s Nest is an 80,000 –
move the originally designed stone capacity stadium in Beijing. The
exterior was replaced with a less costly design implemented steel beams to
stainless-steel skin. hide supports for the retractable
roof, giving the stadium the
appearance of a bird’s nest.

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A.2 Specifications and building codes

Codes are legally enforceable documents providing minimum design

requirements to determine the loads for structural design for buildings and
building-like structures as well as the minimum acceptable level of safety. On the
other side, specifications are defined as guidelines providing engineers
requirements that help to design and construct safe and economic structural
members, systems, and connections.

Your task as future structural engineers are to understand the structural behavior
and apply the specification and code accordingly. Listed below are the reference
specifications and codes of the Chapter 5 (Structural Steel) of the National
Structural Code of the Philippines:

Code Provisions
AISC 360 Specification It provides criteria for the design, fabrication, and
for Structural Steel erection of structural steel members, buildings, and
Buildings building-like structures and is published by American
Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).
AISC Steel Construction It provides dimensions and properties of structural
Manual steel shapes as well as design manuals for structural
members such as beams, compression and tension
members, beam-columns, and connections. It is one
of the primary sources in steel design published by
AISC.
AISC 341 Seismic It is used together with AISC 360 for connection
Provisions for detailing and member design for structural steel and
Structural Steel composite systems in seismic regions published by
Buildings AISC. It also outlines the requirements for the
qualification of seismic moment connections.
AISC Seismic Design It provides guidance on the use of AISC 341 with many
Manual design examples and is also published by AISC.
AISC 358 Prequalified It is a companion of AISC 341 providing, in its latest
Connections for version, nine prequalified beam-to-column moment
Special and connections for special and intermediate moment
Intermediate Steel frames published by AISC. It also outlines step-by-step
Moment Frames for design procedure of each connection.
Seismic Applications

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ASCE 7 Minimum It is a code for buildings and other structures to

Design Loads and determine the loads (dead, live, soil, flood, tsunami,
Associated Criteria for snow, rain, atmospheric ice, earthquake, wind) for
Buildings and Other structural design. It is published by American Society
Structures. of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
AASHTO LRFD Bridge It includes the requirements for the design of highway
Design Specification bridges and bridge-related structures by providing
design specification not only for steel but also
reinforced concrete and timber. It is published by
American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) for Bridges.
WS American Welding It provides specific requirements for fabricating and
Society erecting welded steel structures and outlines groove
welds, fillet welds, and plug and slot welds.
STM American Society It provides technical standards for a wide range of
for Testing and materials, products, systems as well as many
Materials industries such as metal, constructions, petroleum,
etc.

Chapter 6 of NSCP 2015 sets forth criteria for the design, fabrication, and erection
of structural steel buildings and other structures. Also, it adopts the current AISC
360 specification which provides two alternative design methods for the design of
structural members such as the Allowable Strength Design (ASD) and Load and
Resistance Factor Design (LRFD).

A.3 3. Philosophies of design and Factors of safety – ASD and LRFD methods of design

The Allowable Stress Design Method (ASD) is the traditional method of designing
steel structures. Its objective was to ensure that a structure could safely support
the applied working loads (nominal or service loads). This design method specifies
that stresses caused by the working loads must not exceed a specified allowable
stress (working stress). The allowable stress is determined by Eq. 1.1.
𝑭𝒚
𝑭= ≥ 𝒇 Eq. 1-1
𝜴

where F – allowable stress, 𝐹𝑦 – yield stress, 𝛺 – factor of safety, f – actual stress

in a member.

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The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) introduced the Load and
Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) method in 1896. In this method, the working
loads are factored (it is called ultimate loads) before being applied to the
structure. The load factors were determined by probabilistic theory and to
account for variability of anticipated loads, errors in design methods and
computations, and lack of understanding of material behavior. The required
strength of the member is the force caused by the ultimate loads that was
determined by elastic, inelastic, or plastic analysis methods. The design strength
is determined by multiplying the nominal strength (ultimate capacity) of the
member by an appropriate resistance factor (Eq.1-2).

𝑹𝒖 = ∅𝑹𝒏 Eq. 1-2

Where 𝑅𝑢 – design strength, 𝑅𝑛 – nominal strength, ∅ – resistance factor

The main difference between LRFD and ASD design philosophies is that ASD treats
all loads equally in terms of uncertainties using a single load factor and safety
factor, where LRFD defines multiple load factors for each load effect
probabilistically and introduces resistance factors to consider uncertainties in
member capacity.

EXERCISES

1. State at least three (3) advantages of steel over other construction

materials.
2. Considering Allowable Stress Design (ASD), make a summary of the factor
of safety used to determine the allowable strength of the following:
a. Members for tension
b. Members for compression
c. Members for flexure
d. Members for shear
3. Considering Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD), make a summary of
the resistance factor used to determine the design strength of the
following:
a. Members for tension
b. Members for compression
c. Members for flexure

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d. Members for shear

FURTHER STUDY

Properties and Uses of Steel. https://sciencing.com/properties-uses-steel-7271721.html

Various Types of Structural Steel Shapes. https://blog.swantonweld.com/the-

various-types-of-structural-steel-shapes

REFERENCES

AASHTO, LRFD Bridge Design Specification, American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials for Bridges, Washington, 2020.

AISC, The Material Steel, American Institute of Steel Construction, A Teaching Primer for
Colleges of Architecture, Chicago, IL, 2007.

AISC, Seismic Design Manual, American Institute of Steel Construction, Chicago, IL, 2018.

AISC 341, Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings, ANSI/AISC Standard 341-16,
American Institute of Steel Construction, Chicago, IL, 2016.

Alan Williams, Ph.D., S.E., F.I.C.E., C.Eng. Steel Structures Design for Lateral and Vertical
Forces, Second Edition (McGraw-Hill Education: New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Athens,
London, Madrid, Mexico City, Milan, New Delhi, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, 2016).
https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9781259588013

Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, National Structural Code of the

Philippines (NSCP C101,Vol. I Builings and Other Vertical Structures), 7th Ed., 2016

Bruneau, Michel, Chia-Ming Uang, and Rafael Sabelli. 2011. Ductile Design of Steel
Structures. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9780071623957

Manville, Michael; Shoup, Donald (October 26, 2014). "People, Parking, and Cities" (PDF).
UC Transportation Center

ISC 360, Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, ANSI/AISC Standard 360-16, American
Institute of Steel Construction, Chicago, IL, 2016.

The National Stadium". Competition Venues. The Official Website of the Beijing 2008
Olympic Games.

CE 105 – Structural Engineering 3 (Design of Steel Structures) Engr. Ailene C. de Vela