Advanced 

Design of Steel
Structures
(CV597)
Date: 8 March 2021
Topics:
• Introduction

Dr. Tauqir Ahmed

Introduction

CL : Advanced Design of Steel Structures:

Credits: 3+0
Contact hours: 3

Course Outline (Approved):

Introduction:
 Introduction to steel structures, understanding of codes and design 
philosophy.
 Wind Load calculations
 Review for the design of
o Tension and compression members 
o Flexural members
o Beam‐column and frames
Introduction

 Details of steel connection design

o Riveted connections
o Welded connections
o Bolted connections
 Design of industrial buildings
 Design of tall buildings Composite action and its advantages 
o Composite construction Computation of elastic section properties
o Bracing‐systems
Nominal moment strength of fully 
o Floor vibration and seismic design composite sections
 Design of Steel Bridge Shear connectors
 Fire safety design Deflections
Design procedures
Introduction

Specifications and Books:

• AISC, LRRFD specifications for structural steel
buildings,
• Steel structural design and behavior by Salmon and
Johnson
• LRFD steel Design Aids in SI units by Zahid,
Mahboob and Ashraf
• Steel Structures by Zahid, Mahboob and Ashraf
Introduction
Course Accessment Policy 
(Subjected to change based on requirements):
• Quizzes 2  18%
• Assignments 1 7 %
• Term project 1 10%
• Mid Term Exam  1 25%
• Final Exam 1  40%
Note:
 Final Exam will be comprehensive, (from complete course)
 Mid term and Final exam will be CLOSED book and only 
LRFD manual will be allowed
Introduction
To share the Information/Material

Please WhatsApp at 03049697320
• This group is for information/material sharing only
• Students are allowed to send necessary and relevant messages
• Forwarded messages are strictly prohibited
Introduction

 Structure: Structure is a 
system of interconnect 
elements used to 
transfer the loads safely.

 Steel Structures: The structural steel shapes jointed together

by means of riveted, bolted and welded connections and use
to transfer the loads safely.
 Application of Steel Structures

 Buildings with large openings

 Industrial Buildings (Terminal buildings), domes
 Application of Steel Structures
 Communication  Large span bridges for railways & highways

towers

 trusses
Structural System

Usually, the behavior of structural elements are complex but for the

purpose of analysis, we may idealizes the elements as 1D, 2D or 3D 
elements. Accordingly, we define the structural systems.

1‐ Skeletal Systems ( framework system)

The main load carrying/transferring members are I‐D elements. The 

elements are interconnected to form two‐dimensional (truss, frames 
of industrial buildings) or three‐ dimensional frames (Towers, 3D 
trusses, multistory buildings)

Further division of skeletal systems exists.

Structural System
2‐ Shell Systems ( framework system)

The main load carrying/transferring members are 2‐D elements are

plate/shell elements. Some line members (1‐D) may present in shell 
system, but main load carrying/transferring elements are palte
elements (2‐D).

Examples

 Gas tanks, liquid storage tanks

 Large size bins used for storage of loose materials

 Large diamenter pipes.

Advantages of Steel Construction
 Creativity

 Easy Extension

 Large spans

 No limit on architectural design

 Slender columns, more space

 It is easy to fix some extra member ( because of welding and

ease in bolting)

 Lesser construction time

Advantages of Steel Construction
 Possibility of Reuse/recycle

 Visible connections

 Weather independent construction

 Batter quality control

 It is assumed in ‘Elastic beam theory’ that material is isotropic. 
Steel is isotropic material, thus the elastic beam theory is 
applicable with higher confidence

 Lesser weight
 Advantages of Steel Construction

Weight/Strength Ratio for Different Materials

Material

Aluminum 1.1

Steel 3.2

Wood 4.5

Concrete 24

Weight/strength ratio for Aluminum is higher than steel, but 

its price is much higher as compared to steel
Disadvantages of Steel Construction
 High initial cost and high maintenance cost

 Corrosion ( directly reduces the cross‐sectional size)

 Chances of buckling (local and global instability)

 Fire proofing cost ( drastic reduction in strength at elevated

temperatures)

 High thermal, electric and acoustic conductivity

 Design / fabrication / installation of joints

 Skilled labor is required

Design Methods

Based on ‘Design philosophy’ we have following design 

methods.

1 Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)

(Other names are ultimate design or limit sate design)

2 Allowable Stress Design (ASD)

(Also know as working stress design)

3 Plastic Design
1‐ Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)
FOS is divided into two parts.

• Major part of FOS is applied on loads (to increase) and called as

Load Factor.

• Minor part of FOS is applied on strengths (to reduce) and called as

resistance factor.

Resistance Factor X Strength ≥ Load factor X Service load effects

1‐ Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)

Nominal Strength ( Rn): The resistance of a member (in 

shear/tension/compression/flexural) calculated by using formulas 
given in design codes and specifications.

NOTE: Nominal strength is based on material properties and cross

sectional properties only.

Design Strength (Φ Rn): The nominal strength reduced by resistance

factor is called as Design Strength.

Design Strength is independent of applied loads. For example: a 

bottle of one litter …..
1‐ Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)

Required Strength ( Rn): The load effects increased by a 

load factor is called as required strength.

Required strength= Load factor X service load effects

NOTE: Required strength depends on

magnitude/nature/types/point of application of loads.
2 – Allowable Stress design (ASD)

In ASD, the FOS is applied on the material strength only and service 

loads are used as it is.

In ASD, material strength is reduced by FOS and called as allowable

strength.
NOTE:

In Both ASD and LRFD, analysis is carried out in elastic range. 

Hence,

 ASD method is consistent because both Analysis and Design

are made in Elastic Range

 In LRFD method, Analysis is in the elastic range. In design, the

nonlinear part is also considered.
3 – Plastic Design
 Plastic design is extension of LRFD.

 Design is same as in case of LRFD.

 The analysis is performed in the nonlinear range (Plastic Analysis).

 The reserve strength due to indeterminacy of structure is also used

 Full strength is utilized by considering the collapse mechanisms.

Problem: Difficult to preform
Comparison of LRFD & ASD for design of Tension Member

 If dead load is grater than the other loads, then ASD gives
conservative results. ( Preferred for very important structures)

 In ASD, same factor of safety is considered for all types of loads. 

While in LRFD, FOS is decided considering the relative level of 
un‐predictability of each load. (More Systematic/logical 
approach)

 LRFD is new method and accepted in design codes, while ASD is 

specified as an alternate design method.
Comparison of LRFD & ASD for design of Tension Member

Discussion: Average FOS in ASD and LRFD

Discussion: Origional LRFD specifications are calibrated to 1978 ASD 

specifications at a live load to dead load ratio= 3, (L=3D)
Wind Load
Wind Loads
Structures block the flow of wind and the wind’s kinetic energy 
is converted into potential energy (into pressure), which causes 
a wind loading. 

The effect of wind on a structure depends on the
• density and velocity of the air
• angle of incidence of the wind 
• shape and stiffness of the structure
• roughness of its surface

For design purposes, wind loadings can be treated using either 
a static or a dynamic approach.
Wind Loads
Static Approach: For the static approach, the fluctuating 
pressure caused by a constantly blowing wind is approximated 
by a mean velocity pressure that acts on the structure. This 
pressure q is defined by its kinetic energy

Discussion
 ‐Wind Loads (ASCE 7‐16)
Static Approach:

NOTE: Previously it was given as ASCE 7‐05
The Importance factor I is removed in revised equations, and 
accordingly the wind velocity maps are modified.
Wind Loads (PBC)
 Calculation of Velocity Pressure 

NOTE
None of the above mentioned factors are related with the structure.
 Calculation of Velocity Pressure (cont.) 
NOTE
1‐ None of the above mentioned factors are related with the 
structure.

2‐ These factors are site 
specific and can not 
calculated /accessed by 
a structural design 
software (SAP, STAAD) 
and need to be provided 
by the user.
Calculation of Velocity Pressure (cont.) 

Ke = Ground elevation Factor
This factor accounts for the height above mean sea level
Calculation of Velocity Pressure (cont.) 

Kz = Velocity Pressure Exposure Coefficient
To account the increase in effect of wind with height
 Calculation of Velocity Pressure (cont.) 

Kzt = To consider topographical effect

Page # (267)322
Calculation of Velocity Pressure (cont.) 

Kd = Wind directionality factor