AISC-Structural Members

Title Slide
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY

a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY :
Structural Steel Members and Systems
STEEL
S T E E L
American Institute of Steel Construction1

STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY PRODUCTION TEAM College of Architecture
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture UNC - Charlotte
Project Director David Thaddeus, AIA
Slide Design & Graphics Deborah J. Arbes, RA
Modeling & Animations Joe Corsi

Dave Mayo
Production Assistants Jennifer August

Brittany Eaker
Kathy Phillips
IT Coordination Matt Parker

Photography David Thaddeus, AIA
S T E E L
Software PowerPoint
Photoshop
Cinema 4D (Mac)
For additional information,
please contact: David Thaddeus, AIA, Associate Professor
College of Architecture, Thaddeus@email.uncc.edu
UNC-Charlotte
2
Structural Steel Members and Systems | CREDITS
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Acknowledgements
 This project was made possible through funding from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
with support from the College of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
 Special thanks to the following people at AISC for their support and help over the duration of the project:
Fromy Rosenberg, PE, Director, AISC University Programs
Megan Maurer, Coordinator, AISC University Programs
 The following people have my sincere gratitude for serving on the Focus Group and offering their
comments and feedback in the development of this project :
Kurt Baumgartner, AIA, JIA, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Terri Meyer Boake, Associate Professor, University of Waterloo
Thomas Fowler, Associate Professor, California Polytechnic State University
Harry Kaufman, PE, NCARB, Professor, Southern Polytechnic State University
Kemp Mooney, Kemp Mooney Architects
Tim Mrozowski, AIA, Professor, Michigan State University
S T E E L
Ryan Smith, Assistant Professor, University of Utah
 The following AISC members have provided invaluable insight into the content of this teaching aid:
Ron Bruce, PE, President, Builders Steel Company, North Kansas City, MO
Lawrence Kruth, PE, Engineering & Safety Manager, Douglas Steel, Lansing, MI
David McKenzie, PE, Vice President - Engineering, SP International, North Kansas City, MO
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Terms
 The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) is a non-profit technical

institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel
design community and construction industry in the United States.
 AISC is offering this teaching aid and learning tool for educational purposes only.
The data and information in this presentation is not intended for use in the
physical construction of steel structures.
 The information presented here is considered public information and as such may
be distributed or copied. The use of appropriate credit to for images, byline,
animations, and content is requested.
 We hope that you and your students will find this information useful.
S T E E L
 Please contact Fromy Rosenberg (rosenberg@aisc.org) for further information

on AISC or for feedback on this teaching / learning product.
 Please contact David Thaddeus (thaddeus@email.uncc.edu) for questions or
comments on the content of this project.
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | TERMS
CONTENTS
Overview of
Structural Steel Members and Systems
Planar Members and Configurations

Decking / Diaphragms
Space Frames
Spanning Members
Linear Configurations
Open Web Joists / Girders
Steel Beams / Girders
Steel Trusses
Lintels
S T E E L
Axially Loaded
Steel Columns
Steel Bracing
Steel Piles
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | CONTENTS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Steel Structures | Overview
 Steel Structures are skeletal frame systems.

 Steel frames can handle heavy loads
and long spans.
 Steel is an ideal material for tension applications.
 Steel is also very strong in shear.
 Field welding is more costly than shop welding.
 Field welding is more costly than field bolting.
 Steel is fabricated in the shop and assembled
S T E E L
on the site (not a wet trade).

 Special attention is required to protect steel
structures against fire and corrosion.
 Accuracy, precision and tolerances
are very high in steel construction.
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | OVERVIEW
 Joints and connections are particularly vulnerable and must be designed carefully.
 Rigidity of the frame must be secured against buckling (unlike wood and concrete,
steel members are typically slender).
 Lateral loads must be resisted through the use of diaphragms, rigid connections,
bracing or shear walls.
 Gravitational loads are resisted in roof / floor decking, joists, beams, girders,
columns and walls.
S T E E L
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | OVERVIEW
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Structures | Space Frames
 Long span system
 Light / uniform roof loads
 Works best for square bays, but can
accommodate highly irregular configurations
 Visually rich, uniform in all directions
 Usually left exposed to express visual richness
 Linear members - all same size
 Essentially a space frame is a 3-dimensional truss,
in other words, two triangulated grids
S T E E L
 Depth is constant and equals plan cell dimensions

 Cross-Sectional shape : Pipe
Space frames are visually rich, light,

and span great distances.
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | SPACE FRAMES
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY  Cell configuration: tetrahedral, pyramidal
 Typical modules: 4’, 5’, 8’, 12’
 Overhang: 1/4 span
 Joints: balls / socket - all the same
mechanically fastened - bolted / welded / screwed
 Different support conditions affect the depth Space frame assembly (courtesy of Douglas Steel)
Column support - single-point

- multi-point.
Perimeter support - beam / girder
- wall.
S T E E L
Multi-point column support Multi-point column support Perimeter Support
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | SPACE FRAMES
S T E E L STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
Structural Steel Members and Systems |

SPACE FRAMES
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a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel | Decking and Diaphragms
Fabricated from copper-alloy steel.

Deck is galvanized or painted against
moisture and condensation.
May be corrugated or cellular.
Addition of a straight piece of sheet metal
at the bottom can turn corrugations into Deck transfers a uniform load to the beam
electric / information raceways.
Serves as a platform during construction.
S T E E L
Shear studs make the concrete deck and the steel beam
act together. This is called composite action
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | DECKING AND DIAPHRAGMS
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture  Serves as formwork and reinforcing for concrete.
 Composite construction with concrete.
 Welded Wire Mesh / Fabric used for temperature and shrinkage steel.
 Deformations on the surface of the metal deck allow the concrete

to bond to the decking.
 Perforations in roof deck allow steam of hydration to escape.

S T E E L
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 Shear Studs fastened to the top flange of the
supporting beam or girder will create a lock
between the concrete and the top flange.
 This creates a composite action in which the
concrete deck and the supporting member act
as a unit. The section of such a unit is a Tee.
 When concrete is poured in a metal deck,
it is considered a rigid diaphragm and is thus
capable of resisting in-plane lateral loads.
 Rigid diaphragms are attached to top flanges
of structural members using shear studs.
 Floor construction is generally constructed as
S T E E L
a rigid diaphragm (shear studs and concrete

will create a composite structure).
 Rigid diaphragms may cause torsion
in the vertical lateral - resisting system.
Pouring concrete on deck gives a rigid diaphragm.
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 Flexible diaphragms are metal decks that do NOT

have concrete poured in them.
 Roof diaphragms are often constructed as flexible

diaphragms (rigid insulation, water-proof
membrane, ballast, etc…without concrete).
 As long as a roof is constructed of panels and

is not “monolithic”, then the diaphragm is
considered flexible.
 Flexible diaphragms do not transfer torsion

S T E E L
to the vertical lateral-resisting system.
Flexible diaphragms
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STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Steel Structures | Open Web Joists / Girders
 Lightweight structure, capable of long spans.
 Repetitive members that are closely spaced
and that support uniform loads.
 Support members may be beams,
girders, or load-bearing walls.
 Shop fabricated, welded very quickly.
 Bar joists have standardized span, depth,
member size, dead and live load capacity.
 Span of bar joists depends on: depth, top Bar joists support uniform loads.
and bottom chord areas, web areas,
configuration, and deck load.
S T E E L
 Spacing of bar joists depends on the

span capability of the deck (gauge of deck,
spacing, and depth of corrugations). The depth of the bearing seat is variable and depends
on the joist configuration and type of support
 Ceiling may be hung from bottom chord.
 Integration with HVAC - could run parallel,
in between, or perpendicular to bar joists.
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | OPEN WEB JOISTS / GIRDERS
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Closer spacing allows shallower floor / roof thickness

 Fire rating depends on floor / ceiling material.
 Bearing length varies with type and size of open

web joist
 Open web joist types : Standard (K)

Longspan (DL)
Deep Longspan (DLH)
Horizontal bridging of top and bottom chords.
 Horizontal or diagonal bridging to prevent lateral
movement of top and bottom chords.
 Joist span and chord size determine

bridging requirements (10’-15’ o.c. max).
S T E E L
 Horizontal bridging must be top and bottom.
 Top chord overhangs are possible.

Diagonal bridging between top and bottom
 Open Web joists are usually manufactured chords.
with Grade 50 KSI Steel.
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a teaching primer for colleges of architecture K -SERIES LH & DLH SERIES G - SERIES
Shortspans Longspans Supports other joists
8 - 24” Deep 32 - 36” Deep
Typical Web Typical Web Typical Web

a Round Bar (Rod) Crimped Angle / Lighter loads Double Crimped Angles
may also be Crimped Angle Double Angle / Heavier loads
Top and bottom chords for all bar joists in all series are a pair of angles.
S T E E L
K-Series LH - Series DLH - Series G - Series
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OPEN WEB JOISTS / GIRDERS
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STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Steel Structures | Beams / Girders
 Typical shapes for steel beams / girders are:

W, S, C and Hollow Structural Sections (HSS).
Bar joists receive a uniform load from the deck. Beam
 Standard depth ranges from 4” - 44”. receives a uniform load from the bar joists and delivers
a concentrated load to the column.
 Steel beams and girders may receive uniformly
distributed or concentrated loads.
 A steel girder is a large member that supports
other beams, joists or decking.
 The Plastic Section Modulus ( Z ) and
Moment of Inertia (I) of a beam are greatly
increased with increasing depth. Girder supports loads from decking , bar joists or other
beams.
S T E E L
 Increasing the depth of a beam, increases

its section modulus which improves its ability
to withstand bending moments.
 When a beam frames into a girder, coping of
the flange(s) is often required to maintain a
flush surface underneath the decking.
Coped Flanges Coped Flanges
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | BEAMS / GIRDERS
 All physical dimensions and properties
of steel shapes (A, Z, I, r) are listed
in tables in the AISC Steel Manual.
 Steel beams are typically

governed by Bending Moment
(Plastic Section Modulus Z ), or by
Deflection (Moment of Inertia I).
 The flanges of a wide flange beam

resist 90% of Bending Moment (M).
 Steel beams are seldom sized

S T E E L
primarily for Shear (area of web).
 The further the flanges are from each other (deeper beam),
the larger the bending moment capacity of the section.
 Beams that have a thin web or a narrow flange are susceptible to lateral buckling.
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 In a wide flange beam or girder

subjected to downward gravitational loads,
the top flange is in compression
while the bottom flange is in tension.
 The web of a wide flange beam
resists 90% of Shear ( V ).
 The thicker and deeper the web,
the larger the shear capacity of the shape.
 If the web of a member is slender for the
S T E E L
concentrated load it supports, stiffeners

are added to prevent the web from crippling .
Stiffeners prevent buckling of the web
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 The wider and / or thicker the flanges,

the larger the moment capacity.
When deck is parallel to beam compression flange, no lateral
support is provided.
 Steel beams are seldom sized
for shear (area of web).
 Lateral support for the compression flange
BEAM of a beam is provided by members that
GIRDER frame perpendicular to the flange.
S T E E L
When the deck is perpendicular to the beam flange, lateral support is provided.
Since the beam is perpendicular to the girder flange, they provide lateral support.
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BEAMS / GIRDERS
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STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Steel Structures | Columns
 Shapes: W, Pipes, HSS (Hollow Structural Section).

 Column cross-section is most efficient when
the most mass is equidistant from the centroid.
 The more symmetrical the section,
the more efficient it is in carrying axial loads. Ontario College of
Art and Design
Toronto, Canada
 When in compression, a column Will Alsop
or a brace is susceptible to buckling.
 The slenderness ratio of a steel column is
a function of its unbraced length, its radius
of gyration and the rigidity of its supports.
S T E E L
 If the section of the column is not the same in

the x and y directions, the slenderness ratio
(effective unbraced length divided by the radius of
gyration) must be investigated in either direction.
 The radius of gyration of a steel section ( r )
is a measure of the distribution of the mass The Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto, Canada
about the Centroid. ( r = SQRT( I / A ) Daniel Libeskind
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | COLUMNS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY  With the exception of round and square
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture hollow sections, the mass of steel is not
evenly distributed about the axes, and so
for the same length the smaller radius of
gyration will result in the more critical
slenderness ratio, and thus would dictate
about which axis the member will buckle.
 The stiffer the connection of a steel column at
its top and bottom, the less likely it is to buckle.
 A steel column may be stiffened against rotation
at its base with anchor rods embedded in concrete.
 With only two anchor rods outside the flange,
the column may still rotate about the web.
 With at least four anchor rods (2 outside the
S T E E L
flanges and one on either side of the web),

the connection is now secure against rotation
about either axis.
Anchor rods are typically used to secure a steel
column to its foundation.
 Additional anchor rods (based on the
dimensions of the base plate) will
increase the stiffness of the connection.
25
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture  Although a steel column may be
secured against rotation, it may
still be able to translate horizontally.
 A moment resisting frame resists
vertical and lateral loads by making
the horizontal and vertical members
act together through rigid connections
between them.
 Although a rigid connection does not

allow rotation, drift (horizontal sway)
is often significant. Braced Frame Moment-Resisting Frame
 If the connection at the top of a column

is braced, then a frame sways less than
S T E E L
in a moment frame.
 Horizontal translation in a braced
frame is less than in a moment frame.
 A shear wall will reduce translation

even further than a braced frame.
Shear Wall
26

COLUMNS
27
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture  Adding a brace to a pin-connected frame
enables it to resist lateral loads.
 The orientation of the lateral load with
respect to the brace will determine whether
it will receive a compressive or tensile load.
 Steel tension braces are more efficient
than compression braces since they are
not susceptible to buckling.
 Tension braces are usually installed in
pairs; compression braces can typically
also handle tension and are thus installed
individually.
 Braces are typically pinned to other
S T E E L
members and are thus allowed to

rotate slightly at their ends.
 A pin connection allows a brace to dedicate
itself to resisting pure axial compression or
tension without any significant bending.
Pin Connections
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | BRACES
 Additional pinning, bolting, or welding of the

brace may require increasing the size of the
brace, as it will have to resist bending in
addition to tension or compression.
 Frames may be braced in many configurations,
to minimize intervention with space configuration
and openings.
 Bracing a simply supported frame is an
economical method to stiffen the frame
S T E E L
against lateral loads.

 Bracing in a steel frame may be fabricated from
Angles, Tees, Channels, HSS or Pipe sections.
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | BRACES
Steel Structures | Trusses
 Steel trusses are light and able to span

great distances while supporting heavy loads.
 Steel truss members may be fabricated from
Angles, Tees, HSS or Pipe sections.
 Steel truss members may be connected by
bolting or welding.
 Although welded truss members experience
some bending stresses, they are designed
as axially loaded members with pinned
S T E E L
connections.
 Gusset plates are often used to
facilitate the connection detail
between steel Angles and / or Tees.
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | TRUSSES
 Trusses are most efficient when loaded with concentrated loads applied at panel
S T E E L
points, as this will result in direct axial tension or compression in the members.
 In reality the top chord may be loaded uniformly with decking that causes
bending stresses, but still it may not designed for bending.
 Applying concentrated loads in between panel points on the top chord,
causes bending in the top chord member(s).
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 Truss members are subjected to direct axial loads.
 Under downward gravitational loads, a simply supported
truss is similar to a simply supported wide flange beam.
 Like the flanges of a steel beam subjected to downward
gravitational loads, the top chord of a simply supported
truss is also in compression and the bottom chord is in
tension. Top and Bottom chords are Tees.
Web members are double angles.
 This creates an internal couple in the
beam or truss that enables it to resist
external moments, which increase
towards the middle of the span.
S T E E L
 For this reason, typically, the chord members

in the middle of the top and bottom chords of
a truss are subjected to greater loads than the
chord members at the ends.
Purlins transfer concentrated

loads at truss panel points
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 The web of a steel beam or a truss under similar conditions is subjected to shear.
 Since shear increases towards the ends of a simply supported member,
web members closer to the supports will be subjected to greater shear
loads than web members in the middle of the span.
S T E E L
The truss that supports the retractable roof of the Reliant Stadium in Houston is 70’ deep, 20 feet wide and spans 983’
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a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Structures | Piles
 Steel piles have very high load carrying
capacity and therefore are used when
loads are heavy and the soil bearing
capacity is weak.
 End-bearing piles carry loads to strong
and stable soil and transfer loads
through direct support on the soil.
 Friction piles are used when a strong
and stable soil is not feasibly reached.
 A friction pile resists applied load by
developing friction between its surface
and the soil.
S T E E L
 The soil provides lateral stability to the

pile and thus reduces the possibility
of buckling.
 Piles are generally clustered under a
pile cap.
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Structural Steel Members and Systems | PILES
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture  Corrosion of steel piles and sheet piles occurs
between oxygen in the soil and the surface of the steel.
 Considering the duration that a steel pile remains in the ground,
the relative loss of bearing strength due to corrosion is slow.
 The optimum solution for loss of wall thickness due to corrosion penetration
is to increase the thickness in anticipation of corrosion penetration.
 Although used less frequently, other methods of corrosion protection include:
anti-corrosion painting, application of coatings and casting in concrete.
S T E E L
35
Structural Steel Members and Systems | PILES

PILES
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a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Structures | Lintels
 Steel lintels are used in load-bearing

masonry walls to span openings.
 Steel lintels are light, easy to install
and are durable.
 The steel lintel carries a portion of
the weight of masonry units above it.
 Depending on the type of masonry
and the bond pattern (CMU, brick,
etc.), the amount of weight will vary.
The distribution of the weight of the

S T E E L

masonry units supported by the lintel
is assumed to be a 45° triangle.
37
Structural Steel Members and Systems | LINTELS
 To secure proper attachment between the masonry and the steel lintel,
rebar or shear studs are usually shop welded to the steel member.
 Steel profiles that are commonly used for lintels include :
Wide Flange, Channels, Angles, Tees and HSS.
 The masonry supporting either side of the lintel may need to be
reinforced to receive the load.
S T E E L
38
Structural Steel Members and Systems | LINTELS

LINTELS
39
the end
S T E E L
40
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Title Slide

STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY

STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY :

a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

Structural Steel Members and Systems

American Institute of Steel Construction1

Slide Design & Graphics Deborah J. Arbes, RA

Modeling & Animations Joe Corsi

Production Assistants Jennifer August

IT Coordination Matt Parker

Ryan Smith, Assistant Professor, University of Utah

 The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) is a non-profit technical

 Please contact Fromy Rosenberg (rosenberg@aisc.org) for further information

Planar Members and Configurations

 Steel Structures are skeletal frame systems.

on the site (not a wet trade).

 Depth is constant and equals plan cell dimensions

Space frames are visually rich, light,

Column support - single-point

Multi-point column support Multi-point column support Perimeter Support

Structural Steel Members and Systems |

Fabricated from copper-alloy steel.

 Composite construction with concrete.

 Deformations on the surface of the metal deck allow the concrete

 Perforations in roof deck allow steam of hydration to escape.

a rigid diaphragm (shear studs and concrete

Pouring concrete on deck gives a rigid diaphragm.

 Flexible diaphragms are metal decks that do NOT

 Roof diaphragms are often constructed as flexible

 As long as a roof is constructed of panels and

 Flexible diaphragms do not transfer torsion

to the vertical lateral-resisting system.

 Spacing of bar joists depends on the

 Fire rating depends on floor / ceiling material.

 Bearing length varies with type and size of open

 Open web joist types : Standard (K)

 Joist span and chord size determine

 Horizontal bridging must be top and bottom.

 Top chord overhangs are possible.

8 - 24” Deep 32 - 36” Deep

Typical Web Typical Web Typical Web

K-Series LH - Series DLH - Series G - Series

Structural Steel Members and Systems |

 Typical shapes for steel beams / girders are:

 Increasing the depth of a beam, increases

Coped Flanges Coped Flanges

 Steel beams are typically

 The flanges of a wide flange beam

 Steel beams are seldom sized

primarily for Shear (area of web).

 In a wide flange beam or girder

concentrated load it supports, stiffeners

Stiffeners prevent buckling of the web

 The wider and / or thicker the flanges,

Structural Steel Members and Systems |

 Shapes: W, Pipes, HSS (Hollow Structural Section).

 If the section of the column is not the same in

flanges and one on either side of the web),

 Although a rigid connection does not

 If the connection at the top of a column

 A shear wall will reduce translation

Structural Steel Members and Systems |

members and are thus allowed to

 Additional pinning, bolting, or welding of the