ES3D2 Steel Structures

Module Leader: Dr T.M. Chan

Co-Lecturer: Dr J. Qureshi and Professor J. T. Mottram

Module Information

Scope

This 15 CATS module is one of the third year modules for:

Core:	Optional:
Civil Engineering	Engineering (Co-requisite module ES3D3 required)

Aims

The appraisal and design of structures is the main activity of many professional civil engineers. (Study of the structural behaviour, analysis and design is therefore a principal part of civil engineering teaching and is essential for professional accreditation.)

Structural engineering is a substantial economic activity.

Many structural engineering works are of such a scale or complexity that they require extensive management for their procurement, maintenance and later reuse or demolition. (The study of the design of steel structures is therefore core within an integrated programme leading to a degree in Civil Engineering.)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module the student should be able to...

Understand function of structures as load-bearers and the response of members, joints and frames;
Propose design concepts for common civil engineering structures in steel, particularly those related to buildings;
Analyse common building structures to determine response to load;
Determine form and size of structural elements.
Sketch structural solutions;
Prepare structural calculations.
Appraise alternative structural solutions and examine critically the results of structural analysis.
Appreciate the needs of clients and the relationship between design, safety and ease of construction.

Syllabus

Introduction to steel structures: Structures for buildings and bridges and the design process: types and forms of structure; load paths; choice of structural materials (steel grades); design of individual members and connections; influence of imperfections, design for construction methods; H&S issues (e.g. CDM 2007); sustainable construction and the client’s view. Eurocode system for limit state design: loads and load combinations and arrangements; ULS (resistance) and SLS; (deflections and vibration), robustness (Building Regulations), frame stability, fire design and durability.

Plastic collapse analysis: ULS for members and frames, to limit analysis, mention of shakedown; interpretation of results for the design process. Geometric properties of steel sections.

Design process: Tension struts, Local buckling and classification, Laterally-restrained beams; (bending moment and shear), Uniform and non-uniform torsion: Unrestrained and restrained warping, Laterally-unrestrained beams - lateral-torsional buckling, Column members; buckling curves; interaction of bending and axial compression.

Introduction to Connections and Joints, and flooring systems.

Overall stability of frames: Second-order P-delta effects; elastic critical buckling loads; beam-column members and stability functions. Design process: alpha_crand Merchant-Rankine formula and Wood’s modification.