Steel structural framing systems

Introduction

Steel structures are formed from a skeleton frame that consist of vertical columns,

horizontal beams and so on made from steel materials, riveted, welded or bolted together, often
in a rectilinear grid. Steel structures are typically used for medium and high-
rise, industrial, warehouse and residential buildings.

Advantages of steel structures include:

 Resilience to earthquakes and wind loading.

 Ease of construction and deconstruction.
 Short construction time.
 Resistance to fire when treated.
 Can be used in combination with other types of construction.
 Easy to join.
 High precision.
 Offsite fabrication.
 High ratios of strength to weight and strength to volume.
 Permit long clear spans.
 Narrow columns.
 Can be made to be exposed

Steel structural systems

The main steel buildings elements include walls, floors, roofs and bracing members can be
arranged to have a certain type of system that aids in the structural stability of
the building depending on the type or use of the building, the nature and intensity of the applied
loads and the design life required

Wall bearing framing

Wall bearing framing involves the erection of masonry walls on the perimeter and interior of

the building and the structural steel members are then anchored on the masonry
walls using bearing and end steel plates and anchor bolts. The design and construction of
the wall bearing framing depends on the load intensity and the span distance between
successive supports.

While lower depth beams help to increase the clear headroom height of the building it also

poses a requirement for the closer spacing of the columns and hence limits the clear floor
space area. On the other hand deep beam frames help to span long distance.
Skeleton framing

This is the column – beam structural framework system, in which all the lateral and

gravity loads are transmitted to the steel framework and transferred down to
the foundation. Walls are made as a curtain wall with no load bearing. Skeleton framing typically
comprises of spandrel beams, main or primary beams, intermediate or
secondary beams, wall columns and interior columns and reinforced concrete slab. For
eccentric connections between column and beams there a lot of techniques involved such as
the use of metal brackets, gusset plates and haunches which help to distribute the
induced stresses. Shims help in making line and elevation adjustments. Shelve
angle brackets help in attaching the spandrel beam and column.

Long-span framing

A long span is a span that exceeds 12m. It helps to provide a flexible floor

space, column free internal spaces, reduction in the on-site construction period, allows
for installation of multiple services and mixed use of spaces. It is typically used for
large industrial buildings, auditoriums, theatres, exhibition spaces and so on.

The following techniques are used; stub girders, hunched composite

beams, composite trusses, cantilever suspensions spans, folded plates, curvilinear grids,
thin shells domes, cable networks, space trusses, portal frames and so on.

Girders

These are deep steel beams which help to span long distances. The spanning length depending

on the girder steel grade and the span depth ratio. Girders are installed in different ways there
are stub girders which span longitudinally across the structures being connected to
the main girders and the hybrid girders these are the manipulated girders stiffened to carry
higher amount of loads by addition of the welded parts in the both top and bottom flanges.

Trusses

Trusses have the advantage of spanning long distances due to the greater depth they possess
making them stiff against deflections. The types of trusses used for
long span construction includes Pratt trusses, Warren Trusses, Fink Trusses, Scissors, Bow
String and Vierendeel Trusses. For more information see: Truss.

These truss forms can be used as the main supporting structural members in