BUILDING

CONSTRUCTION

STRUCTURAL STEEL CONSTRUCTION

 Structural Steel
Construction
4.0
4. STRUCTURAL STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Structural Steel Shapes 4.1 4.1 STRUCTURAL STEEL SHAPES
Structural Steel Framing
The most common shapes of structural steel used in buildings are the American
Steel Columns &
Connections Standard Steel Shapes such as:

Steel Beams & 1. Square Bars

Connection
2. Round Bars
Open-Web Steel Joists
3. Plate Bars
Metal Decking

Steel Trusses and Rigid 4. Angle Bars

Frames

Structural Steel Framing

5. Channels – The standard channel has the shape of unsymmetrical balance
Systems consisting of two flanges on one side. It requires lateral support to prevent its
tendency to buckle. Channels are generally used as parts of built-up sections
Joining of Steel
Members for columns and are also suitable for framing around floor openings, spandrels
and lintels attributed to the absence of flanges on the other side. The channel
section is identified as C 15 x 20 which means that the channel has a depth of
20 cm and weights 15 kg per meter length.

6. I-Beams – The use of a standard I-beam as a column is uneconomical

because the whirl or revolving action of the member about an axis through the
centroid of the web is comparatively small.
 Plate Bars

Square Bars

Round Bars

I-Beams

Angle Bars

Channel Bars
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction

Structural Steel Shapes 4.1 7. Tee Beams

Structural Steel Framing 8. H-Columns

Steel Columns &
Connections 9. Wide Flanges – Wide Flange sections are designated as W 12 x 24 which
mean that the flange has a depth of 24 cm and weighs 12 kg per meter
Steel Beams &
Connection length. All wide flange sections are generally with parallel face flange
except those with 5% slope inside face produced by Bethlehem Steel
Open-Web Steel Joists
Company. Comparatively, wide flange sections are more efficient than
Metal Decking standard I-beams with respect to bending resistance.

Steel Trusses and Rigid

Frames

Structural Steel Framing

Systems

Joining of Steel
Members

10. Zees – The zee section is another structural form in a letter Z which is not
frequently used in building construction except for the fabrication of steel
windows and other frames.
 H-Columns
Tee beams

wide flanges Zee bar

 Structural Steel
Construction
4.0 4.2 STRUCTURAL STEEL FRAMING
Structural Steel Shapes
Structural steel girders, beams, and columns are used to construct a
Structural Steel Framing 4.2 skeleton frame for structures ranging in size from one-story to
skyscrapers. Because structural steel is difficult to work with on site, it
Steel Columns &
is normally cut, shaped, and drilled in a fabrication shop according to
Connections
design specifications; this can result in relatively fast, precise
Steel Beams & construction of a structural frame. Structural steel may be left exposed
Connection
in unprotected non-combustible construction, but because steel can
Open-Web Steel Joists lose strength rapidy in a fire, fire-rated assemblies or coatings are
required to qualify as fire-resistive construction.
Metal Decking
The three major types of framing systems are the following:
Steel Trusses and Rigid
Frames 4.2.1 One-Way Beam System – each
pair of external columns supports a
Structural Steel Framing
Systems long-spanning beam or girders. This
form of construction is suitable for
Joining of Steel long, narrow buildings, especially
Members
when a column-free space is desired.
The absence of columns in the interior
is an advantage in structures such as
car parks, as freedom from
obstruction makes for greater and
safer maneuverability, besides
allowing the layout of the parking
spaces to be altered at any time.
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction
4.2.2 Two-Way Beam System – a two-layer system, where beams
Structural Steel Shapes frame into girders, increases floor depth considerably and provides
Structural Steel Framing 4.2
more space for mechanical systems. Steel girders span the short axis
of a building bay thus contributing to the lateral stability of the structure.
Steel Columns &
Connections

Steel Beams &

Connection

Open-Web Steel Joists

Metal Decking

Steel Trusses and Rigid

Frames

Structural Steel Framing

Systems

Joining of Steel
Members
 Structural Steel
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Construction

Structural Steel Shapes 4.2.3 Three-Way Beam System – is used when a large column-
Structural Steel Framing 4.2 free space is required, where long-spanning plate girders or
trusses can be used to carry the primary beam, which in turn
Steel Columns &
Connections support a layer of secondary beams.
Steel Beams &
Connection

Open-Web Steel Joists

Metal Decking

Steel Trusses and Rigid

Frames

Structural Steel Framing

Systems

Joining of Steel
Members
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction

Structural Steel Shapes 4.3 STEEL COLUMNS AND CONNECTIONS

Structural Steel Framing
4.3.1 STEEL COLUMNS
Steel Columns &
4.3
Connections
Steel columns are of the following types:
Steel Beams &
Connection
a. Struts of one or two angles. These
Open-Web Steel Joists are used for compression members in
roof trusses, light towers, and lattice
Metal Decking
girders. The two angles of a double
Steel Trusses and Rigid struts are riveted together by rivets
Frames driven through washers placed
Structural Steel Framing between the two angles at intervals of
Systems 4 to 6 ft.
Joining of Steel
Members
b. Starred angles of two or four
connected by batten plate spaced at
intervals of 3 to 4ft. These are used
to support the light loads.
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction

Structural Steel Shapes c. Latticed Columns made up of channels or

angles connected by lattice bars are often
Structural Steel Framing
used where light loads are to be supported on
Steel Columns &
4.3
long columns.
Connections

Steel Beams &

Connection

Open-Web Steel Joists

d. Rolled H-columns. These are obtainable
Metal Decking with depths ranging from 6” to 16” and are
Steel Trusses and Rigid
now commonly used instead of built-up
Frames columns in steel skeleton construction.
Structural Steel Framing
Systems
e. Built-up Columns. These are usually of H-shaped section formed by a
Joining of Steel combination of plates and angles although box columns with two or more
Members
webs are not uncommonly used in heavy building frames.
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction
f. Top Chord sections of heavy trusses are
Structural Steel Shapes usually unsymmetrical and are made of two
Structural Steel Framing
rolled or built-up channel sections and a cover
plate. The open (bottom) side of the section is
Steel Columns & latticed.
4.3
Connections

Steel Beams & g. Columns for bents are sometimes made up

Connection of a pair of channels and an I – beam with batten
Open-Web Steel Joists plates at intervals of 3 to 4 ft. connecting the
flanges of the channels. Columns made of four
Metal Decking angles and a web-plate are commonly used in
Steel Trusses and Rigid
mill building bents.
Frames

Structural Steel Framing h. Battened columns are those in which two

Systems component parts of the column are connected
Joining of Steel
only by batten plates. They are decidedly
Members inferior to latticed columns and should be
avoided if a continuous plate or latticing can be
used instead.
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction

Structural Steel Shapes

In the design of steel columns the following should be taken into
Structural Steel Framing
consideration: No part of a steel column should be less than 1/4” thick. No
Steel Columns & material whether in a body of the column or used as a lattice bar or stay
4.3
Connections plate, shall be of less thickness than 1/32 of its unsupported width,
Steel Beams &
measured between centers of rivets transversely, or 1/6 of the distance
Connection between center of rivets in the direction of stress. Tie-plates are to have
not less than 4 rivets and are to be spaced so that the ratio of length to the
Open-Web Steel Joists
least radius of gyration of the parts connected does not exceed 40, the
Metal Decking distance between nearest rivets of two stay plates in this case being
considered as length. In built-up columns the thickness of any outstanding
Steel Trusses and Rigid
Frames
member (for example, the outstanding legs of angles) shall not be less
than 1/12 of the width of the outstanding portion.
Structural Steel Framing
Systems
Base plates for steel column are usually made of steel plates and shapes.
Joining of Steel Cast-iron bases are sometimes used for very heavy columns. Ribbed
Members cases may also be used instead of plates and when bolted to the columns,
add greatly to the stability of the supporting members because of their
greater width.
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction

Structural Steel Shapes 4.3.2 LALLY COLUMNS

Structural Steel Framing
These are columns made up of a cylindrical
Steel Columns & steel pipe shell filled with 1:1-1/2:3 Portland
4.3
Connections
cement concrete. The standard type of lally
Steel Beams & column is reinforced with only the steel pipe
Connection shell. Special types of columns are obtainable
Open-Web Steel Joists
with additional reinforcement consisting of steel
pipe, reinforcing bars or structural steel shapes.
Metal Decking The light weight column is 4” in outside diameter
Steel Trusses and Rigid
with a shell thickness of 0.134”, while the heavy-
Frames weight columns are from 3-1/2 to 12-3/4 inches
in outside diameter with shell thicknesses of
Structural Steel Framing
Systems
0.216 to 0.375 inches.

Joining of Steel
Members 4.3.3 COMPOSITE COLUMNS

These are columns in which a concrete core is further reinforced with a

steel or cast-iron core designed to support a part of the load. Steel
cores may be structural H-sections or four angles, latticed or battened;
cast-iron cores are usually either solid shafts or hollow pipe sections.
The column may be further reinforced by vertical rods or bars placed
at the circumference and enclosed by spirals.
 Structural Steel
4.0 4.3.4 STEEL COLUMN CONNECTIONS
Construction

Structural Steel Shapes

Structural Steel Framing

Steel Columns &

4.3
Connections

Steel Beams &

Connection

Open-Web Steel Joists

Metal Decking

Steel Trusses and Rigid

Frames

Structural Steel Framing

Systems

Joining of Steel
Members
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction

Structural Steel Shapes 4.4 STEEL BEAMS AND CONNECTIONS

Structural Steel Framing

Steel Columns & 4.4.1 STEEL BEAMS

Connections
Steel beams may be rolled in the shape of the letter I (I-beams), channel
Steel Beams &
4.4 beams or angles. Beams of T shape were formerly used but have now
Connection
been restricted to minor uses. The I-beam is the ideal type of steel beam.
Open-Web Steel Joists
The horizontal portion is the web. Channels are sections of this shape:
Metal Decking They vary in depth from 3” to 15”, and in weight from 4.1lb. per ft. to 55lb.
per ft.
Steel Trusses and Rigid
Frames

Structural Steel Framing

Systems

Joining of Steel
Members
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction
Girders may be built up of angles and plates riveted together for long spans
Structural Steel Shapes and for unusual cases of very heavy loading. Those are of two types:
Structural Steel Framing

Steel Columns &

a. Plate Girders. A plate girder is a beam
Connections
composed of a wide plate, known as a
Steel Beams & web, at the top and bottom of which are
4.4
Connection
riveted angles and plates. The simplest
Open-Web Steel Joists type of plate girder consists of a web and
four flange angles. If this does not give
Metal Decking sufficient flange area, cover plates may be
Steel Trusses and Rigid added. The web may be frequently
Frames reinforced against buckling by angles
riveted to its sides, known as stiffener
Structural Steel Framing
Systems angles.

Joining of Steel
Members
b. Box Girders. This is a built up
beam in which more than one web
plate is used.
 Structural Steel
4.0 Beams and girders may be connected to columns by either seated connections or
Construction
framed connections.
Structural Steel Shapes In a seated connection the bottom flange of the beam rests on and is field-riveted
to an angle shop-riveted to the flange or web of the column. Another angle is field-
Structural Steel Framing riveted to the column and to the top flange of the beam.
In a framed connection the web of the beam or girder is connected by angles or by
Steel Columns &
Connections gusset-plates to the column. In framed connections, angle seats are usually shop-
riveted to the columns to hold the beam or girder during erection.
Steel Beams &
4.4
Connection 4.4.2 STEEL BEAM CONNECTIONS
Open-Web Steel Joists
Moment Connections – AISC Type 1 – also called Rigid Frame
Metal Decking connections are able to hold their original angle under loading by developing
a specified resisting moment, usually by means of plates welded or bolted to
Steel Trusses and Rigid
Frames the beam flanges and the supporting column.

Structural Steel Framing

Systems

Joining of Steel
Members
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction 2. Shear Connections – AISC Type 2 – Simple Frame connections are
Structural Steel Shapes made to resist only shear and are free to rotate under gravity loads. Shear walls
or diagonal bracing is required for lateral stability of the structure.
Structural Steel Framing

Steel Columns &

Connections

Steel Beams &

4.4
Connection

Open-Web Steel Joists

Metal Decking

Steel Trusses and Rigid

Frames
3. Semi Rigid Connections – AISC Type 3 – Semi-Rigid Frame
Structural Steel Framing connections assume beam and girder connections possess a limited but
Systems
known moment resisting capacity.
Joining of Steel
Members
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction

Structural Steel Shapes

4.5 OPEN-WEB STEEL JOISTS
Structural Steel Framing
Open web joists are lightweight, shop fabricated steel members having a
Steel Columns & trussed web. A K series joist has a web consisting of a single bent bar,
Connections running in a zigzag pattern between the upper and lower chords. The LH
Steel Beams &
and DLH series joists have heavier web and chord members and are for
Connection increased loads and spans.
Open-Web Steel Joists 4.5

Metal Decking

Steel Trusses and Rigid

Frames

Structural Steel Framing

Systems

Joining of Steel
Members
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction
4.6 METAL DECKING
Structural Steel Shapes

Structural Steel Framing Metal decking are corrugated steel panels used as a working platform
Steel Columns & during construction and eventually as formwork for sitecast concrete
Connections slab. The decking panels are secured with puddle-welds or shear welded
through the decking to the supporting steel joists or beams. The panels
Steel Beams &
Connection are fastened to each other along their sides with screws, weld, or button
punching standing seams. If the deck is to serve as a structural
Open-Web Steel Joists
diaphragm and transfer lateral loads to shear walls, its entire perimeter is
Metal Decking 4.6 welded to steel supports. In addition, more stringent requirements to
support and side lap fastening may apply. There are three major types of
Steel Trusses and Rigid
Frames
metal decking:

Structural Steel Framing

Systems

Joining of Steel
Members
 Structural Steel
4.0
Construction
4.6.1 Form Decking – serves as a
Structural Steel Shapes permanent formwork for a reinforced
concrete slab until the slab can
Structural Steel Framing
support itself and its live load.
Steel Columns &
Connections 4.6.2 Composite Decking –
serves as a tensile reinforcement
Steel Beams &
for the concrete slab to which it is
Connection
bonded with embossed rib pattern.
Open-Web Steel Joists Composite action between the
concrete slab and the floor beams
Metal Decking 4.6
or joists can be achieved by
Steel Trusses and Rigid welding shear studs through the
Frames
decking to the supporting beam
Structural Steel Framing below.
Systems
4.6.3 Cellular Decking – is
Joining of Steel manufactured by welding a
Members
corrugated sheet to a flat steel sheet,
forming a series of spaces or
raceways for electrical and
communications wiring; special
cutouts are available for floor outlets.
The decking may serve as an
acoustic ceiling when the perforated
cells are filled with glass fiber.