DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY

STEEL DESIGN
CENG 155
Engr. MARCELO T. ABRERA, Jr.
Instructor
STRUCTURAL STEEL
refers to steels that are suitable for load-carrying
members in structures because of their economy and
desirable mechanical properties.

ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials

For FERROUS METALS, the designation has a prefix

letter “A” followed by two or three numerical digits.

Examples: ASTM A36

ASTM A514
ASTM A53
Properties of Steel

YIELD STRENGTH, Fy
is that unit tensile stress at which the stress-strain curve
exhibits a well-defined increase in strain (deformation) without
an increase in stress.
Properties of Steel

TENSILE STRENGTH, Fu
Is the largest unit stress that the material achieves in a
tension test.
Modulus of Elasticity, E
is the slope of the initial straight-line portion of the stress-
strain diagram.
is usually taken as 200,000 MPa for design calculation for all
structural steel.
Ductility
is the ability of the material to undergo large inelastic
deformations without fracture.

Toughness
is the ability of the material to absorb energy and is
characterized by the area under a stress-strain curve.

Weldability
is the ability of steel to be welded without changing its basic
mechanical properties.
Poisson’s Ratio, ν (μ)
is the ratio of the transverse strain to the longitudinal strain.
Common values of Poisson’s Ratio are:
0.25 to 0.30 for steel;
(approximately) 0.33 for most other metals;
0.20 for concrete.

Shear Modulus/ Modulus of Rigidity, G

is the ratio of the shearing stress to the shearing strain during
the initial elastic behavior.
Typical Properties of A36 Steel

Modulus of Elasticity, E 200,000 MPa

Yield Strength. 𝑭𝒚 248 MPa
Tensile Strength, 𝑭𝒖 400 MPa
Endurance Strength 207 MPa
Density, ρ 7780 kg/m3
Poisson’s Ratio, μ 0.3
Shear Modulus, G 77,200 MPa
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, α 11.7 x 10-6/°C
STANDARD CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPES
Dimensions are found in the AISC Manual

1. WIDE-FLANGE SHAPE TABLE 1-1 AISC MANUAL

the most commonly used section.

Example: W18 x 50

18 in. = NOMINAL DEPTH

50 lb/ft = NOMINAL WEIGHT
STANDARD CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPES
Dimensions are found in the AISC Manual

2. AMERICAN STANDARD TABLE 1-3 AISC MANUAL

BEAM
commonly called I-beam; has relatively narrow and sloping
flanges and a thick web compared to the wide-flange shape.

Example: S18 x 70

18 in. = NOMINAL DEPTH

70 lb/ft = NOMINAL WEIGHT
STANDARD CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPES
Dimensions are found in the AISC Manual

3. CHANNEL TABLE 1-5 AISC MANUAL

are commonly used either alone or in combination with other
sections

Example: C9 x 20

9 in. = NOMINAL DEPTH

20 lb/ft = NOMINAL WEIGHT
STANDARD CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPES
Dimensions are found in the AISC Manual

4. ANGLES TABLE 1-7 AISC MANUAL

designated by their leg length (long leg first) and thickness

Example:
STANDARD CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPES
Dimensions are found in the AISC Manual

5. STRUCTURAL TEE TABLE 1-8 (to 1-10) AISC MANUAL

Is made by cutting wide-flange or I-beams in half and is
commonly used for chord members in trusses.

Example: WT18 x 105

Cut from
W36 x 210

18 in. = NOMINAL DEPTH

105 lb/ft = NOMINAL WEIGHT
STANDARD CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPES
Dimensions are found in the AISC Manual

6. PIPE SECTIONS TABLE 1-14 AISC MANUAL

Is available as standard, extra-strong, or double-extra-strong.
Example: Pipe 5 Std.
Pipe 5 x-strong
Pipe 5 xx-strong

5 in. = NOMINAL OUTER DIAMETER

NOTE:
The different strengths correspond
to the different wall thickness for
the same outside diameter
STANDARD CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPES
Dimensions are found in the AISC Manual

7. HOLLOW TABLE 1-11 (to 13) AISC MANUAL

STRUCTURAL STEEL
(ROUND, SQUARE, RECTANGULAR)
Is used where pleasing architectural appearance is desired with
exposed steel; Tubing is designated by outside dimensions and
thickness

Example: HSS 8 x 6 x 1/4

8 in.; 6 in = NOMINAL OUTSIDE
DIMENSION
1/4 in = NOMINAL THICKNESS
STANDARD CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPES
Dimensions are found in the AISC Manual

8. PLATES

9. BARS
SPECIFICATIONS AND BUILDING CODES

AISC Specifications
is the result of combined judgment of researchers and
practicing engineers.

set of recommendations put forth by a highly respected

group of experts in the field of steel research and
design.

AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction)

is composed of steel fabricator and manufacturing
companies, as well as individuals interested in steel
design and research.
SPECIFICATIONS AND BUILDING CODES

NSCP Specifications
structural code addressing the design an installation of
structural systems.

ASEP (Association of Structural Engineers of the

Philippines)
group of structural designers/engineers in the
Philippines.
DESIGN METHODS

Allowable Strength Design (Allowable Stress Design,

or ASD)
has been the principal philosophy used during the past
100 years.

Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)

Limit State Design – include the methods Ultimate

Strength, Strength Design, Plastic Design, Load factor
Design, Limit Design, Load and Resistance Factor
Design
LIMIT STATE
Those conditions of a structure at which it ceases to
fulfill its intended function

TWO CATEGORIES
STRENGTH
Limit states are such behavioral phenomena as
achieving ductile maximum strength, buckling, fatigue,
fracture, overturning and sliding

SERVICEABILITY

Limit states are those concerned with occupancy of a

building, such as deflection, vibration, permanent
deformation, and cracking.
A 20-foot-long W8 x 67 is suspended from
one end. If the Modulus of Elasticity is
29,000 ksi, determine the following:
① What is the maximum tensile stress?
② What is the maximum normal strain?

Answer
 back

① 𝝈 = 𝟔𝟖. 𝟎𝟐 𝒑𝒔𝒊
② 𝝐 = 𝟐. 𝟑𝟒𝟓𝟓 𝒙 𝟏𝟎−𝟔

Next
During a tensile test of a specimen of unknown
material, an increase in length of 𝟔. 𝟕𝟗𝟐 𝒙 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔
within the gage length was recorded at a load of 5000
lb. The specimen diameter was 0.5 inch and the gage
length was 8 inches. (The gage length is the distance
between two marks placed along the length of the
specimen.)
① Based on this one data point, what is the
modulus of elasticity?
② If the maximum load reached before fracture
was 14,700 lb, what is the ultimate tensile stress?

Answer
 back

① 𝑬 = 𝟐𝟗, 𝟗𝟗𝟑. 𝟖𝟔 𝒌𝒔𝒊

② 𝒇𝒖 = 𝟕𝟒. 𝟖𝟔𝟔𝟒𝟗 𝒌𝒔𝒊
DESIGN PHILOSOPHIES

The design of a structural member entails the selection

of a cross-section that will SAFELY and
ECONOMICALLY resist the applied loads.

Fundamental Requirement of Structural Design:

Required Strength ≤ Available Strength

ALLOWABLE STRENGTH DESIGN (ASD)
also called Allowable Stress Design. The Allowable
Stress is in the ELASTIC range of the material.

also called Elastic Design or Working Stress Design.

Working stresses are those resulting from working
loads, which are the applied loads. Working loads are
also called the service loads.

Required Strength ≤ Available Strength

𝑵𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉
𝑨𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 =
𝑺𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒚 𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
If stresses are used instead of forces or moments,

Required Stress ≤ Available Stress

ALLOWABLE STRENGTH DESIGN (ASD)

𝑅𝑎 is the sum of the service load, or load effects

PLASTIC DESIGN
is based on a consideration of failure conditions rather
than working load conditions.

Members designed by plastic theory would reach the

point of failure under the factored loads but are safe
under actual working loads.
LOAD AND RESISTANCE FACTOR DESIGN (LRFD)
is similar to plastic design in that strength, or the
failure condition is considered.

Load factors are applied to the service loads.

The theoretical strength of the member is reduced by

the application of a resistance factor.

Criterion that must be satisfied:

Factored Load ≤ Factored Strength
Factored Load = the sum of all service loads to be
resisted by the member, each multiplied by its own
load factor
Factored Strength = is the theoretical strength
multiplied by a resistance factor
LOAD AND RESISTANCE FACTOR DESIGN (LRFD)

Factored Load ≤ Factored Strength

∅𝑅𝑛 = 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑟 𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

LOAD AND RESISTANCE FACTOR DESIGN (LRFD)
A column (compression member) in the upper story of a
building is subject to the following loads:
Dead load: 109 kips compression
Floor live load: 46 kips compression
Roof live load: 19 kips compression
Snow: 20 kips compression
① Determine the controlling load combination for LRFD
and the corresponding factored load.
② If the resistance factor ∅ is 0.90, what is the required
nominal strength?
③ Determine the controlling load combination for ASD
and the corresponding required service load strength.
④ If the safety factor 𝛀 is 1.67, what is the required
nominal strength based on the required service load strength?

Answer
① Combination 2 controls
Factored Load = 214.4 kips
② 𝑹𝒏 ≥ 𝟐𝟑𝟖. 𝟐𝟐 𝒌𝒊𝒑𝒔
③ Combination 4 controls
Required Service Load Strength = 158.5 kips
④ 𝑹𝒏 ≥ 𝟐𝟔𝟒. 𝟕𝟎 𝒌𝒊𝒑𝒔

Next
When LRFD was introduced into the AISC
Specification in 1986, the load factors were
determined in such a way as to give the same
results for LRFD and ASD when the loads consisted
of dead load and live load equal to three times the
dead load

𝟏. 𝟓
𝛀=
𝝓