Ferenc Papp

Ph.D. Dr.habil

Steel Buildings
DESIGN NOTES

Practice 1

PRELIMINARY DESIGN

Written in the framework of the project TÁMOP 421.B JLK 29

Reviewed by
Dr. Béla Verőci
honorary lecturer

2012 Budapest
 Ferenc Papp
Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

1.1 The aim of the design task

The objective of the design task is the steel structure of a simple hall. The primary load
carrying structural members are the frames made of hot-rolled or welded sections. The
distances between the frames are normally equal. The secondary load carrying structural
members are the purlins in the roof and the wall beams in the side walls. These structural
members are running in perpendicular direction to the plane of the frames. The covering
trapezoidal plates are running in the perpendicular direction to the direction of the purlins. The
wall beams in the front walls are supported by the wall columns which should be located
below the purlins. The gates in the front walls may be framed by secondary columns and wall
beams. The spatial stiffness of the building structure is ensured by the wind bracing systems
which may be located at the front wall frame units and which are connected by stiffener bars,
if it is needed. The described system is illustrated in the Figure 1.1.

pulins
stiffener bars wind bracing

double trapezoidal paltes with

heat isolation

wall beams wall bracing

wall columns main frames with hot-rolled or

welded sections
secondary beam for
gate frame

Fig.1.1 Conceptual system of

the structure

2. The initial data for the

design

The work starts with the preliminary design of the structure. It is based on the initial data
which are determined and supplied by the architectural engineer which satisfy both the
appropriate building regulations and the requirements of the owner. In the case of the present
design project the initial data concerns to the outer surfaces of the flanges of the steel main
frames (see Figure 1.2):
 Base area to be built: A0 [m2];
 Horizontal distance between the flanges of the main frame: b [m];
 Height of the side walls: Hv [m]
 Slope of the roof:  [deg]

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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

b [m]  [deg]
Hv [m]

A0 [m2]
0.0

Fig.1.2 Initial data for the design

1.3 The theoretical parameters of the main structure

The symmetric frame structure may be fabricated from four structural members (two beams
and two columns) and these members are connected to each others at the building site using
moment resistance end plated bolted connections at the frame corners and at the ridge point.
The column bases are usually connected to the concrete bases by pined joints. Fix column base
may be used in special cases since the cost of it may be much more. The beams made of hot-
rolled or uniform welded sections may be strengthened by haunches. The haunch should be
short (at about 1,5 times the depth of the beam section), if it is used to ensure the construction
of the end plated connection. Long haunch (at about 0,4 times the length of the beam) may be
used to increase the strength of the beam at about the frame corner where the bending moment
has maximum. In case of relatively great span tapered structural members may be used. In this
construction haunch is not used. The frames at the front walls might be weaker than the
interval ones, but in order to keep the conditions of the extension of the building, these frames
should be the as strong as the interval ones.

The sizes of the frame sections are determined by the b initial parameter (span of the frame). If
the building is relatively low,

Hv
 0.5 és
  15o b

and the dominant design loads are the meteorological loads, the initial depth of the frame
sections may be taken as the following:

- depth of the beam and column sections:  b / 40  50

- width of the flange of welded sections:  b / 80  120

If long haunch is used the depth of the beam sections may be reduced (it is suggested). Table
1.1 contains the suggested sizes which are based on practical experiences. The depth of the
haunch can net be greater than the depth of the beam section. The width of the flange and the
thickness of the web of the haunch may be equal to those used in the beam sections, but the
flange should be thicker by 4-6 mm. The symbols of the section parameters used later are
shown by the Table 1.2.

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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

Tab.1.1 Initial size for the cross-sections of the main frames in the function of the span L
span L [m] type of the section size* [mm]
1216 hot rolled (IPE/HEA) 300450/200260
1624 welded I flange: 200300 – 1620
web: 400600 – 810
2432 tapered I flange: 300340 – 1620
web: 8001200 – 68
* in the case of hot rolled sections the values mean depth of the section for the lower and the upper limits of the
span L; in the case of welded sections the values mean the width and thickness of the plates for the lower and
the upper limits of the span L

Tab. 1.2 Denotations for the geometrical properties of the cross-sections

structural member property meaning
column bcf width of the flange
tcf thickness of the flange
hcw width of the web
tcw thickness of the web
beam bbf width of the flange
tbf thickness of the flange
hbw width of the web
hb depth of the beam
tbw thickness of the web
hh depth of the haunch
lh length of the haunch
(*) used letters in the indexes: column; beam; flange; web; haunch

1.4 Theoretical parameters of the frame

The theoretical parameters of the steel frame are needed for the structural analysis (see Figure
1.3 for both the prismatic and the tapered members). The theoretical span of the main frame
is equal to the horizontal distance between the central (reference) axes of the columns:
L 0  b  hc
where hc is the initial height of the column section, b is the outer distance of the columns
prescribed by the architectural engineer.

 hc
hb
hb
covering system
Ht Hw Hc Hf Hf
hc
b/2 b/2
L0/2 L0/2

Fig.1.3 Theoretical parameters of the main frame

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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

The theoretical height of the columns is equal to the distance between the theoretical column
base point and the intersectional point of the column and the beam central axis. This parameter
may be calculated approximately by the following expression:
hb
H c H v
2  cos
where Hv is the initial height of the side walls, hb is the initial depth of the beam section. The
theoretical ridge (top) point of the frame may be calculated by the following expression:

L
H f  Hc  20  tan(  )
It is noted that the last two parameters may be determined by drawing. The reference axes of
the tapered structural members in Figure 1.3 start at the centroid of the lower ends and run
parallel to the outer flanges. This is done when the applied design software (for example
ConSteel) uses eccentric elements in the mechanical model. Otherwise the reference axes
should follow the centroidal axis of the members.

1.5 The number of the main frames and their interval

The architectural concept has prescribed the basic area of the building (A), from which the
theoretical length of the steel structure may be calculated,

d n  A0
b
where the parameters are defined in the Section 1.2. The required number of the main frames
may be determined as following:

d
nn cn  1
f

In the expression cf denotes the interval between the main frames, where the optimal value is
c=57 meters. Different distance may be used in special circumstances only. The applied
number na of the main frames should be an integer, which is determined on the base of the
required number of frames nn. The real theoretical length between the final frames is the
following (see Figure 1.4):
d a  na  1 c f
1 2 na

cf cf cf cf
da

Fig.1.4 The applied number of main frames and the real theoretical length of the
structure
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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

Since the distance between the main frames is normally uniform, therefore the initial basic
area (A0) of the building may be kept only approximately. The real basic area can be
calculated by the main parameters of the structures which were determined previously:

A  b  d  b  2  h 
a a bf csw

where bbf [m] is the flange width of the beam section, hcsw is the depth of the column section in
the end wall system (see Figure 1.5). It should be noted that the previous expression is valid
for the structural solution illustrated in the Figure 1.5.
purlin

beam of the frame

wall beam

wall column

hcsw bbf
da

Fig.1.5 Structural system of the end wall

1.6 The initial grade of material

The main structural elements are normally made from S235 or S355 steel. Unless there is any
previous reason to use S355 steel grade, the grade of S235 is suggested using. If it is
reasonable, the initial grade of steel may be changed during the analysis and design of the
structure. At the and of the design the quality of steel material should be selected with great
care (see the course of Steel Structures II).

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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

1.7 Application

1. PRELIMINARY DESIGN
1. Initial parameters
- area to be built 2
A 0  725 
- width of the building
m b  20.0
- heigth of the side walls
m Hw  7.5
- slope of the roof
m
1.2 Initial data for the main structural members
  10  deg
- main frames (welded I section)
column
flange b  240  mm tcf  16  mm
cf
web
hcw  468  mm tcw  8  mm
depth h c  hcw  2tcf  500mm
beam
flange
bbf  240  mm tbf  16  mm
web
hbw  368  mm tbw  6  mm
depth h b  hbw  2tbf  400  mm
- columns in HEA160 hcsw  150  mm
side walls
Lindab Z 200
- purlin h p  200  mm
Lindab C 200
- beams in walls hbsw  200  mm
1.3 Theoretical properties of the structural model

- span of the frames L0  b  h c  19.5m

- height of the columns  hb 

Hc H w  7.3m
2
L0
- heigth of the frame Hf  Hc  tan() 
9.019m 2
1.4 Number of the main frames
A0
- prescribed length of the building d 0   36.25m
b
- interval of the frames cf  6.0  m
d0
- required number of the frames n n   1  7.042
cf
- applied number of the frames na  7
The building consists of 7
1.5 Area of the bulding frames!
- length of the building
 
d a  na  1 cf  36m

A a b d a b bf  2h csw  730.8m

- actual area of the building 2

- deviation  
Aa
  100% 
0.8% A0
The actual area of the building satisfies the
official plan!

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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

8. Arrangement of the purlin system

The wind bracing system may be in the following relationship with the purlin system:
 Concept A: Purlin system is independent to the wind bracing system
 Concept B: Purlin system and wind bracing system form a unified static system
In case of Concept A it is assumed that the purlin system carry the loads and effects which act
directly to the roof, and it does not take part in the bracing of the building. In this case the
wind bracing system is a spatial trussed structure, which consists of the two neighboring main
frames, the diagonals and the longitudinal bars which are placed under the purlins
independently to them. In the case of Concept B the longitudinal bracing bars are replaced by
the purlins. Which concept to be followed in the design may be supported by the following
rules and comments:
 Application of the Concept A may be suggested in the case greater span (more than
20m) and/or for considerable design loads (e.g crane load) since the solution is not
economical for relatively small spans with relatively low design loads and effects.
 Application of the Concept B may not be suggested for relatively small span (less
than 20m) where besides the dead load and the meteorological loads the seismic effect
is not dominant.
More details can be available in the material of the Practice 4. In this design project the
Lindab Z purlin is suggested for the roof system. It is a practical experience that the optimal
distance between two neighboring purlins is e=1,53,0 meters. The depth of the purlin may
change form 200 mm to 300 mm, while the thickness from 1,5 mm to 2,5 mm. The distance is
determined also by the rule that the optimal value of the angle of the bracing diagonals to the
axis of the frame beam is about 45 degrees, but it is not greater than 60 degrees and not lower
than 30 degrees. The suggested numbers for intermediate units are 4, 6 or 8, since the
application of a half-bracing unit can be avoided by this way (see Figure 1.6).

b1224m

Ls

b18-36m

Ls

b24-48m

Ls
Ls - distance between the ridge point of the roof and the outer point of the edge purlin in
the plane of the roof system (see Figure 1.7)

Fig.1.6 Optimal arrangement of purlin system

The practical arrangement shown in Figure 1.7 may differ from the theoretical arrangement
shown in Figure 1.6:
(i) at ridge double purlins are used (Figure 1.7a);
(ii) at edge of the roof special edge shape is used (Figure 1.7b).

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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

The distances denoted in Figure 1.6 may be calculated by the following expressions:

h
L c
 hbsw  hcov  e
Ls   f where f
2 l cos
2
hbswis the depth of the wall beams, hcov is the thickness of the covering and le is the
where cos
extension (about 150mm). The distance between the purlin and the ridge point may be
g≈150200 mm.

Ls ea
g
ea
ea

(a)

(b)

Fig.1.7 The scheme of the practical purlin arrangement:

(a) double purlins at the ridge; (b) C shaped edge purlin

The two suggested constructions for the covering system are shown in Figure 1.8. In any
case the external loads and effects are carried by the external trapezoidal sheet.
(a) (b)
external trapezoidal sheet
vapour permeable leaf
external trapezoidal sheet heat insulation (150 mm)
vapour permeable leaf vapour proof leaf
heat insulation (150 mm) internal trapezoidal sheet
vapour proof leaf
internal trapezoidal sheet

spacer members

Fig.1.8 Covering system with heat insulation and double trapezoidal sheets:
(a) insulation is placed between the purlins
(b) insulation is placed on the purlins

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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

1.9 Application

1.6 Arrangement of the purlin system

The covering is constructed with insulation layer placed onto the purlins (wall beams):
- thickness of the covaring hcov  200  mm
- extension le  150  mm
- distance between the edge purlin and the theoretical point of the frame corner
hc
 h bsw h cov  e
f  l 2  812  mm
cos ()

- distance between the edge purlin and the ridge

point
Ls  L0 ()  f  10.713 m
2cos
- interval of purlins
Ls
case of four spans e4   2678 mm
4
Ls
case of six spans e6   1785 mm
6
applied spans ea  2640 mm

ga  Ls  4ea  153  mm
The e=2640 mm distance is choosen for the arrangement
of the purlin system (except the last distance at the ridge) !

1.10 Wall system

The rules of the arrangement of purlins are valid for the arrangement of the wall beams (see
Section 1.8). The arrangement is governed by the dimension of the openings (gates and
windows). It is important that the wall beams in side and front walls are located at the same
levels (see Figure 1.1). The wall columns in the front walls should be located below the
purlins. Figure 1.9a shows the situation where the gate is framed by two neighboring wall
columns and a wall beam. Figure 1.9b shows the situation where the gate is wider than the
distance between two wall columns and therefore the frame of the gate is ensured by
secondary columns.

wall beam secondary columns

(a) wall column (b)

Fig.1.9 Wall columns and beams in the front wall

(a) gate framed by wall columns and beam
(b) gate framed by secondary columns

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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

1.11 Wind bracing system

The spatial stiffness of the building structure is ensured by the wind bracing system. As it is
mentioned in Section 1.8, the wind bracing system may be design on two different concepts.
The so called ‘conservative” concept (Concept A) uses longitudinal bracing members between
the braced units and the purlins and the wall beams are not the parts of the bracing system. The
so called “economic’ concept (Concept B) assumes that the purlins and the wall beams can
replace the longitudinal bracing members, therefore they may be neglected (partially or
totally). In the practice the mixed construction is also used, where longitudinal bracing
members are used only at the frame corners and the ridge point. Theoretically, using the
modern computational tools the optimum wind bracing system may be determined by
advanced numerical methods. Practically, these methods are time and cost consuming. In this
design project the conservative design method is discussed. In Figure 1.10 thick lines denote
the frames, dashed lines denote the members of the wind bracing system, while thin lines
show the purlins and the wall beams. Here it is assumed that the planes of the bracing
structures are located in the reference (centroid) planes of the main (walls and roof) structures.
Later it is allowed to move these planes.
(a) bracing
members

wind bracing
(in roof)

purlins

(b) wall beams

wind bracing
(in wall)

Fig.1.10 Wind bracing system designed by Concept A

(dashed lines denote the bracing members)

1.12 Preliminary drawings

The aim of the preliminary drawing is to establish the initial parameters of the design in
drawings. The preliminary drawings are the basic documents for the structural analysis and
design. Therefore, these drawings should contain all the initial parameters of the building used
in the procedure of the analysis and design. These drawings should not be confused with the
architectural plans and the scenario of the building. In this design project the following three
drawings should be prepared (the format of the drawings is A4 or A3):
 top view of the foundation and the roof structure
 side views of the building

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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

 side views of the main frame.

1.12.1 Foundation and roof view (M 1:200)

The building is symmetric, therefore the one half of the drawing may show the top view of the
foundation, while the other half of it may show the top view of the roof. If the wind bracing
system follows the Concept A (the bracing system is independent to the purlin system), the top
view side of the drawing may be divided into two symmetrical parts: the upper quarter of the
drawing shows the arrangement of the purlin system, while the lower quarter of the drawing
shows the bars of the bracing system. The view of the foundation and the roof system is
projected to the horizontal plane. The drawing gives exact answer to the following parameters:
 top view of the foundation (right side of the drawing):
- theoretical span
- number of the frames
- distance between the frames
- arrangement and initial parameters of the columns in the side walls
- scheme of the foundation
 top view of the roof structure (left side of the drawing):
- arrangement and initial parameters of the purlins
- arrangement and parameters of the wind bracing system.

The drawing of the top view of the foundation and the roof structure which satisfies the
Sections 1.7 and 1.9 (Applications) is shown in the Figure 1.11. It can be seen that the bracing
system follows the design Concept A. Furthermore, it can be seen that the column foundations
are tied up by beams, and this system works together with the concrete slab of the industrial
floor.

1.12.2 Side views of the building (M 1:200)

The aim of the side view drawings of the building is to give direct information about the
arrangement of the wall beams and about the area and place of the openings as well. The
building is symmetrical, therefore the right hand side of the drawing may show the
arrangement of the openings, while the left hand side may show the arrangement of the wall
beams and the bracing system. The drawing should give exact answer for the following
parameters:
- places and initial section of the wall beams
- arrangement and initial sections of the bracing system
- place and area of the openings.

The drawing of the side view does not contain architectural sceneries, it concentrates to the
above parameters. The drawing which satisfies the Sections 1.7 and 1.9 (Applications) is
shown in the Figure 1.12. It can be seen that the wind bracing system is an ‘independent’
structure, the wall beams are not the part of it.

1.12.3 Side view of the frame (cross section of the building) (M 1:100)

The aim of the side view drawing of the frame is to give direct information to take the
structural and load model for analysis and design. The frame is symmetrical, therefore the

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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

right hand side of the drawing may contain the general parameters, while the left hand side of
it may show the theoretical parameters and the arrangement of the structural members:
 general parameters (right hand side)
- distance between the outer flanges of the columns (b)
- height of the facade (Hv);
- slope of the roof ();
- height of the structure (Ht);
- parameters of the column section (bcf;tcf.hcw;tcw);
- parameters of the beam section (bbf;tbf.hbw;tbw);
- parameters of the haunch (bhf;thf.hhw;thw);
- layers of the covering system;
 arrangement of members and theoretical parameters (left hand side)
- theoretical height of the columns (Hc);
- theoretical height of the frame (Hf);
- arrangement and initial section of the purlins;
- arrangement and initial section of the wall beams;
- type of the joints;
- type of the column base;
- length of the haunch;
- quality of materials
- standards are used;
The drawing which satisfies the Sections 1.7 and 1.9 (Applications) is shown in the Figure
1.13. It can be seen that the column foundation, the beams between the concrete blocks and the
concrete slab of the industrial floor form a unified structural system.

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 Top view Top view of the foundation
(projected to horizontal plane)

wall columns
2600 (HEA or IPE)
purlin (Lindab Z200)
4400
2600 Purlin system
10550
2600
5350
2750
19500

5350 5350
bracing members (L or rod section)
bracing member, if it is needed (CHS)
9750

4400 Bracing system

4400

bracing members in wall (L or

6000 6000 6000

Department of Structural Engineering BUTE

Steel Buildings
Draw No. 1: Preliminary drawing/Top view M 1:200
Designer Clever Student (XYZVW)
Fig. 1.11 Top view drawing of the roof and the foundation
Supervisor Clever Teacher assistant professor
 Ferenc Papp
Steel Buildings – Preliminary design
7,860
Arrangement of wall beams and bracing system Arrangement of
openings 4,600

1200
3000 Bracing bars (CHS),
Lindab if it is
wall beam needed
(C200) 3,600
7700
2900 Bracing diagonals (L or rod section
0,0
600

6000 6000 6000 length of the window: 11600

18 000 18 400

9,700

7,860

3000 4,600

1200 3,600
7700
2900
600 0,0

4400 5350 gate: 5000 3600

Department of Structural Engineering BUTE

Steel Buildings
Draw No. 002: Preliminary drawing/Side view M 1:200
Fig.1.12 Side view drawing of the building Designer Clever Student (XYZVW)
Supervisor Clever Teacher assistant professor

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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

Covering system:
153 - external trapezoidal sheet
2640
10713 - vapour permeable leaf
2640 Welded I section
- heat insulation (150 mm)
- flanges: 240-16
2640 - vapour proof leaf
- web: 368-6
- internal trapezoidal sheet
2640 - purlin

Slope of roof: 100

330 Moment
resistant end-
2850 Haunch:
3500 plated bolted
connections - flange: 240-20
9019 9219 - web: 330-6
Purlins (Lindab Z200)
1200 Wall beams (Lindab C200)
7300
Welded I section 7500
CHS bracing members - flanges: 240-16
CHS bracing members, if it is needed - web: 468-8
2900 19500/2 20000/2
Grade of steel: S235
Standard: Eurocode 3

600 Fix column base

Department of Structural Engineering BUTE

Steel Buildings
Fig.1.13 Side view drawing of the structural frame Draw No. 003: Preliminary drawing /Side view of the frame M 1:200
Designer Clever Student (XYZVW)
Supervisor Clever Teacher assistant professor

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Steel Buildings – Preliminary design

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