STEEL MEMBERS.

The standard Sections or members are available for use in structural steel work are given in Bs 4-1 and Bs ENs
10056 and 10210 according to (Chudley, 2006) , (Riley, 2014).The typical standard steel work sections include;

Universal Beams.

These consist of two flanges connected by a member called a web. The size and weight of these sections range
from 203 x133 x 25kg/m to 914x 419 x388kg/m.

Universal Columns.

As similar to the beams, they consist of two flanges connected with a web of effective depth, unlike the
universal beams, the flanges are larger because they carry increased load as compared to beams. The size and
weight of universal Columns range from 152 x 152 x 23kg/m to 356 x 406 x 634kg/m.

Joists. These are also similar to universal columns and beams but with a smaller dimensions compared to the
two. Size and weight range from 76 x 51 x 6.67kg/m.

Channels.

These consist of a web connecting two half flanges at 95˚ to the web. The size and weight of the channels range
from 76 x 38 x6.7kg/m to 432 x 102 x 66.54kg/m. They are typically applied as primary load bearing beams
most useful as frames and for bracing.

Hollow rectangular sections.

These consist of depth and breadth .There size and weight range from 50 x 25 x 2.92kg/m to 457 x 355 x
156kg/m. The smaller sizes are used in simple roofing trusses while the larger sections used in other structures
where greater loads are required to be resisted.

Hollow Circular Sections.

These pipe like sections whose size and weight range from 27 diameter x 1.89kg/m to 457 dia x 138kg/m.
structural tubes are designed for high stress applications in bridges ,buildings ,roll cages and under water plat
forms.

Structural steel Plates/flat bars

Plates are flat and are produced in a variety of thickness to meet construction needs where durability and weight
savings are necessary.
 Figure 1: Typical structural steel sections.

Compound sections.

According to (Chudley, 2006) Compound sections are produced by welding up together standard sections .They
are used where standard section alone are insufficient .There are several forms of compound sections and some
of them include;

Single .It can be a universal column or beam whose flanges are welded or bolted together with steel plates.

Double. These can be two universal beams or columns or joists connected together by a steel plate.

Tipple. These can be three universal beams or columns or joists connected together by a steel plate.

Gantry Girders .This consists of a combination of a c-channel and a steel plate welded together or a joist and c-
channel welded together.

Figure 2: some of the possible compound connections.

STANCHIONS.

A Stanchion or steel column is a combination of a universal column and the foundation footings. There are
three typical connections in which a stanchion can be fabricated. The connection is selected depending on the
load to be carried by the column and the distribution area of the base plate. The cross sectional area of a
universal beam being small it concentrates the load into a relatively small part of the base plate. Therefore the
base must be fixed with emphasis to resist column loads and transfer them to the pad foundation below it.

The various connections of base plates to the stanchion according to (Riley, 2014) include;

Slab or Bloom Base. This consists of a universal Column connected to the base plate with fillet weld.

Gusset Base.

This consists of gussets connected to the universal column and then the combination connected to the base plate
using angle cleats placed in four directions of the universal column

Slab Base with Angle Cleats.

This connection consists of a universal beam welded together with angle cleats and the angle cleats welded to
the base plate.

Procedure for erection of stanchions according to (Chudley, 2006)

1. The site joiners make plywood that is the same size as the steel plate.
2. The plywood is then marked with grid line according to how the bolts will be oriented in both directions.
3. Then the plywood is fixed in place by attaching them on supporting formwork both ends and struts to
make sure it doesn’t move during placing of concrete.
4. The arrangement is checked by the site engineer for alignment and level to make sure it’s on level.
5. Bolts are grouted with the help of tubes as formwork and these are removed during placing.
6. Then concrete is placed after removing the bolt boxes.
7. After curing, the column base plates can now be bolted to the bolts.
8. Then the universal column

Note: The holes in the base plate are usually 6 mm larger than the bolt diameter, to facilitate some lateral
alignment. (Steel buildings in Europe).
There are scenarios where the bolts may be fixed in the wrong position or on an incorrected level being realized
after curing of concrete.

If the bolts are wrongly positioned, there are two alternatives to be adopted;

i. Blow out the bolts using high pressure water jets and replace them.
ii. Drill holes into the slab in the correct position and fix the bolts in their correct positions using epoxy
resin.
However the latter is not recommended by most structural engineers because the bolts will not bond
corrected with the concrete making the combination a weak connection.

If the bolts have been put to higher level resulting into the bolt thread being too high for the nut, then the whole
level can be increased or alternatively pad concrete level reduced by breaking and then the bolts drilled into the
concrete. If the bolts are too low in that the thread is insufficient to accommodate the nuts, Bolt extenders are
used however being costly.
 Figure 4: Drilled holes for bolts to be driven

Figure 5: Reduced concrete and bolt extenders.

STEEL PLATE GIRDERS.

According to (Abbas, 2003) are built up beams used to carry heavier loads on larger spans. When rolled
sections of I –section of adequate strength and size are not available, plate girders are used. Plate girders are
uneconomical to use for light loads and short spans (<10mm).

Plate girders are generally provided in bridges but can also be used in buildings where loads act on a longer
span beam.
Elements of Steel Plate Girder.

a) Web plate.
b) Flange Plate
c) Flange Angle Cleats
d) Stiffeners.

The web flange depth depends on mainly upon the loads acting on the girder, but requirement of the head room
clearance and transportation of the girder may limit it.

The depth of the plate girder is usually kept between 1/8th to 1/12th of its span. The thickness of the web plate is
between 10mm to 20mm.

Note: In rivet plate girders, the thickness of the flange plates shouldn’t be more than the thickness of the flange
angles, if welded plate girders are used, one plate is generally used as a flange. The thickness of the flange
varies from 10mm to 12 mm and width may ne 1/30th to 1/40th of the span.

Vertical and horizontal stiffeners are provided in the web flange to prevent buckling due the smaller thickness
of the web.

Figure 6: steel plate girder

Bibliography
Abbas. (2003). Analysis and Design of corrugated web I-Girders for Bridges using High performance steel.
lehigh university.
Chudley, R. G. (2006). Building Construction Handbook. Routledge.
Riley. (2014). construction technology 2:Industrial and commercial Buildings.