Multi-storey

structural Steel Structures

Background
Steel has been used for constructing buildings in the western
world for more than 150 years. With the introduction of
standard sections by the end of 19th Century, steel
structures were getting much more popular as a choice of
construction for high-rise buildings.
The use of structural steel to construct started only in the 70s
in HK, below is some of the projects being completed:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Park Lane Hotel (Causeway Bay, 1972)

Grand Hyatt & Harbor View Hotel (HKCEC Phase I, 1990)
Bank of China Tower (Central, 1991)
Time Square (Causeway Bay, 1992)
Lee Garden Redevelopment (Manu-life Tower, 1997)
The Center (Central, 1999)
Cheung Kong Center (Central, 2000)

Properties of steel - Steel has the following

properties, that makes it one of the most efficient
materials for use in building construction.
Favorable properties
-

Strong: has a high strength/weight ratio

Versatility: adaptable and ductile
Cheap and plentiful
Easy to cut, connect and fabricate

Some drawbacks
-

Heavy and lengthy, not easy to handle

Loss strength under higher temperature
Easily get rust if not properly treated
Deflect under loads

The use of structural steel sections

The availability of steel sections in a variety
of dimensional ranges provides the
designers with a wide variety of design
options.
These sections are manufactured in
convenient shapes, sizes and thickness.
They can be readily fabricated,
combined and connected to form
unlimited possibility of designs

Standard structural steel sections

Typical jointing details for structural frame

Column
connects to base

Typical jointing details for structural frame

Using splice plate

Using welded joint

Connecting H-column to form continual column

Typical jointing details for structural frame

Connecting
beam to
column

Connecting
beam to
beam

Typical layout of structural frame

Simple cage frame

cantilever frame

Typical layout of structural frame

Propped cantilever frame

Typical layout of structural frame

Wind-braced structures

Typical layout of structural frame

Core structure

Characteristic of various kinds of structural

steel framed structures
In general, the performance of steel frame
structure may be affected by the following
factors
a) Length of span
b) Composition/continuity of span
c) Methods of jointing the members
d) Movement and deflection allowed
When using in lowhas very good and efficient.
Favorable properties of steel
-

Strong: has a high strength/weight ratioentiful

Easy to cut, connect and fabricateget rust if not

properly treated

Principle factors affecting choice of frame

Structural Design consideration
n
n
n
n
n
n

Foundation consideration
Standardization of members or design
Span and floor loads
Fire resistance requirement
Maintenance consideration
Integration of architectural & structural elements

Features of structural steel construction

Structural characteristics
1.
2.

3.

4.

Steel has lower dead load (unless encased in

concrete)
Steel frame can easily to have the layout changed to
suit new design than concrete, especially requiring
alteration after completion of the building.
Easily accommodate building movements for steel is
a relatively flexible material and have greater
adaptability to take up strain and deformation
However, it is weaker in fire resistance for steel will
lose strength and deform serious at higher
temperature (at 600oC or above). This can be
improved by applying fire resistant plaster

Features of structural steel construction

Structural characteristics (continue)
5.
6.

7.

8.
9.

Beams usually shallower in size than for concrete

Beams
Sections in various convenient type and size thus
economical in design and uses refer to standard
steel sections
Produce larger deflection & deformation (Bend)
under wind this will cause uncomfort to users of
building
Steel has higher thermal expansion value
Rusting or corrosion problems very strict anticorrosion treatment has to be applied

Features of structural steel construction (cont.)

Construction aspects
1.

2.
3.

4.

Quicker to erect and can be prepared offsite in

workshop/factory environment with good
production and quality control
Erection on site less affected by climatic
conditions without placing of concrete
Longer and highly coordinated planning require
long time to make structural design, fabrication
and delivery
Higher requirement in the control of dimensional
accuracy before and during construction (in
fabrication and in erection

Features of structural steel construction (cont.)

Construction aspects
5.
6.
7.

8.

9.

Demand greater transportation or cranages

provision
Complicated quality assurance procedures
especially in the control of welding connection
Difficult to make connection with rigid structures
especially in composite structure in which RC core
structure is involved
More complex when building become more
gigantic and taller due to the huge number of
structural members, some may be of very heavy
section (e.g. those stiffening members)
Induce more works at higher altitude

Stiffening
members in the
form of outrigger,
belt truss or
transfer truss is
very difficult to
install during the
construction
process

Outrigger tying up the core

wall and the outer frame

Detail of the outrigger and

transfer truss system used
in Cheung Kong Center

The actual process in

installing the transfer truss
a temporary support frame
erected for the purpose

The completion of the

belt/transfer truss and
outrigger at various stages

Features of structural steel construction

Construction aspects highlight of some
problems
Delivery of structural steel
member by ship

Large member delivery to site

waiting to hoisting up for erection

Features of structural steel construction

Construction aspects

Hoisting of the structural steel

member to the upper floor

Features of structural steel construction

Construction aspects

Connecting steel members with RC

element an anchor frame may be
required for making strong connection

Features of structural steel construction

Construction aspects
Constructing the composite floor
in steel/RC composite structure

To connect floor to core wall starter bars

are to be provided within the core structure

Features of structural steel construction

Construction aspects

Very large component often in

complicated shape

Features of structural steel construction

Construction aspects

Huge amount of structural members

make erection very complicated

Features of structural steel construction

Construction aspects

The existence of very complicated

jointing in steel structure

Features of structural steel construction

Construction aspects
highlight of some problems

Required to perform works

at very high altitude

Features of structural steel construction

Construction aspects

Workers work at high altitude

Features of structural steel construction

Construction aspects

Connecting large and complicate shaped

components can be very difficult

Features of structural steel construction

Construction aspects

Concrete has to be trimmed

to allow steel to pass through

Examples of location where unmatched dimension causing problem

Features of structural steel construction

Construction aspects

Roof truss and

the decking not
on the same level

Examples of location where unmatched dimension causing problem

Future development of using structural steel or

composite structures in Hong Kong
Instead of building very large and complex building using
composite manner, which resulted to very high cost in
construction, the following ways may be adopted in order
to achieve more cost effective application of technology in
future.
1. Use more simple and straight forward design like regular steel
frame structure in grid layout
2. Use more standardized components such as universal sections,
lattice trusses or prefabricated standard sections in the design
3. Apply more to other types of building structure/construction as
in many developed country like Japan, USA, or even Korea and
Taiwan
4. Forming hybrid structure with other prefabricated elements

The use of standard structural

steel members in construction

Convenient products in market allowing

the use of very cheap and effective
ready-install structural steel members to
form various building systems

A hybrid structure in Melbourne, Australia with the mixed use of

Precast concrete, cast-in-situ concrete and steel composite

Detail of the hybrid elements

End of presentation