• Allowable stress, or allowable strength, is the maximum stress

that can be safely applied to a structure. This is usually defined

in building codes and the strength of the metal in question.

• Allowable Stress Design (ASD) is also referred to as the service

load design or working stress design (WSD). The basic
conception (or design philosophy) of this method is that the
maximum stress in a structural member is always smaller
than a certain allowable stress in bridge working or service
conditions.
• Allowable Stress Design (ASD)— ASD has been in use for decades for steel
design of buildings and bridges. It continues to enjoy popularity among
structural engineers engaged in steel building design. In allowable stress
(or working stress) design, member stresses computed under the action of
service (or working) loads are compared to some predesignated stresses
called allowable stresses. The allowable stresses are usually expressed as a
function of the yield stress (Fy ) or tensile stress (Fu) of the material. To
account for overload, understrength, and approximations used in
structural analysis, a factor of safety is applied to reduce the nominal
resistance of the structural member to a fraction of its tangible capacity.
The general format for an allowable stress design has the form
• Figure 3.2
• Allowable Stress Design The allowable stresses for tension yield,
tension fracture, and shear rupture are 0.60Fy , 0.45Fy , and 0.30Fu,
respectively. The allowable stresses for bearing are given in the
section on Connections. Load and Resistance Factor Design The
design tensile strength φtPn for a pin-connected member is given as
follows: