DESIGN OF STEEL STRUCTURES

UNIT:1

INTRODUCTION
 What is the steel?
The steel is an alloy consisting almost entirely of iron. It also contains small
quantities of carbon, silicon, manganese, sulfur, phosphorus, and other elements.
Carbon is the material that has the greatest effect on the properties of steel. The
hardness and strength of steel increase as the carbon increased.
However, more carbon will cause steel to be more brittle and will adversely affect
its weldability.
If the carbon content is reduced, the steel will be softer and more ductile, but also
weaker. The addition of elements such as chromium, silicon , and nickel produces
high strength steel but the steel will be more expensive and not as easy to fabricate.
The steel is manufactured in special process (extraction from the earth, melting in
high temperature dasting….etc.. Today, most of the structural steel shapes and plates
made by melting scrap steel ( junk cars, scrapped structural shapes, discarded
refrigerators, motors.
 What are steel structures
• In steel structures, structural steel is the main load carrying
material to transfer the load within them and to transfer load to
the ground
• Ex: - I-Beam, Tee section, [ - Channel section, Steel plate etc..,
• Steel concrete composite structures are also used in high-rise
buildings but we are only going to study about steel structures
in this paper
Common Steel structures
1. Roof truss in factories, cinema halls and railways.
2. Crane girders, columns, beams
3. Plate girders, bridges
4. Transmission towers, water tank, chimney etc.,
Framed Building
Industrial Building
Old Arch Bridge
Truss Bridge
Usage of Steel in Structures: Bridges, Buildings, Trusses, Towers, Frames, Others.

Advantages of Steel as a Structural Material:

1High Strength: High strength per unit of weight important , for example : in long span
structures and tall buildings.
2Uniformity: Homogeneous material and do not change with time.
3Elasticity: Closed to design assumptions than most materials.
4- Permanence: New steel do not require painting maintenance.
5- Ductility: Withstand Extensive deformation without failure.
6Toughness: Absorbs energy in large amounts ( Beneficial in erection and in structure).
7Addition to existing structures: Elements can be added to the structures.
8Others ( Ability to connect parts by bolts and welding, Fast erection, Various sections, Reuse
after a structure is disassembled, Recyclable material).

Disadvantages:
1Corrosion.
2Fireproofing Costs.
3Buckling.
4Fatigue: The strength reduced if a variation of tensile stress occurs.
5Brittle Fracture: In some cases, for example: fatigue, low temperature, stress concentration.
MATERIALS
Types of structural steel
1. Carbon steel (IS 2062)
2. High strength carbon steel
3. Medium and high strength micro alloyed steel (IS 8500)
4. High strength quenched and tempered steels
5. Weathering steels
6. Stainless steels
7. Fire – resistant steels
1. Carbon steel (IS 2062):

 Carbon and manganese are the main strengthening elements.

 The specified minimum ultimate tensile strength for these steels

varies from about 410 Mpa to 440 Mpa and their specified
minimum yield strength from about 230 Mpa to 300 Mpa.

-Low – carbon steel : carbon content less than 0.15 percent. (e.g.
nails, screws)
-Mild – steel: carbon content 0.15 – 0.29 percent ( e.g. structural
steel )
-Medium – carbon steel: carbon content 0.30 – 0.59 percent. ( e.g.
structural steel, rails)
-High – carbon steel: carbon content 0.60 – 1.70 percent. (e.g. saw
blades, punches)
2. High strength carbon steel

 In this type, carbon content is very high (0.60% - 1.10%) and

because of high content of carbon increases the hardness, yield
strength and tensile strength of steel and decreases ductility,
toughness and weldability.
 this type of steels are using in transmission lines and microwave
towers, where relatively light members are joined by bolding.
 The specified minimum ultimate tensile strength for these steels
varies from about 480 Mpa to 550 Mpa and their specified
minimum yield strength from about 350 Mpa to 400 Mpa.

Contains additional element such as chromium, silicon, copper, and

nickel. It has higher strength and greater atmospheric corrosion
resistance.
The term Low – Alloy Steel means the total of all alloying elements is
low ( does not exceed 5 percent of the total composition of steel).
3. Medium and high strength microalloyed steel (IS 8500)

 In this type of steel having low content carbon but achieves high strength
due to the addition of alloys such as niobium, vanadium, titanium, or
boron (it restricted to 025%).
 The specified minimum ultimate tensile strength for these steels varies
from about 440 Mpa to 590 Mpa and their specified minimum yield
strength from about 300 Mpa to 450 Mpa.

4. High strength quenched and tempered steels

 These steels are heat treated to develop high strength. Tough they are
tough and weldable, they require special welding techniques.
 The specified minimum ultimate tensile strength for these steels
varies from about 700 Mpa to 950 Mpa and their specified minimum
yield strength from about 550 Mpa to 700 Mpa.
5. Weathering Steels

It has low alloy atmospheric corrosion resistance steels, which are often left
unpainted
They have ultimate tensile strength of about 480 Mpa and yield strength about
350 Mpa.

6. Stainless Steels

Thses are essentially low-carbon steels to which a minimum of 10.5%

(maximum 20%) chromium and 0.50% nickel is added.

7. Fire Resistant steels

It is also called theromomechanically trated steels, they perform better

than ordinary steel under fire.
Mechanical Properties