Steel Structural Design: Beams, Columns, Base Plates, Lugs, Connections

Base plates are elements required at the end of columns to distribute the concentrated load of the column over a much larger area of the material that supports it. The design of column base plates involves two main considerations: One, spread the load so as to maintain the bearing pressures under the allowable values, and the second is with the connection, or anchorage, of the base plate and column to the concrete foundation.

The software performs the column steel base plate design resting on a concrete support and subjected to any combination of axial load and biaxial bending moments, including uplift loading. In addition, this program computes and checks the maximum bearing stress on the support, as well as the tension and shear forces per anchor rod. The column may be eccentrically placed on the concrete support. Base plates can be either rectangular or circular.

For base plates with moments, the strain compatibility is enforced. ASDIP STEEL performs the anchor bolts design per the latest provisions of the ACI 318-25 Chapter 17 “Anchoring to Concrete”, and it includes checks for all failure modes in both tension and shear, interaction effects, and reinforcing design. Shear lugs can be designed as well. The software considers the ACI and AISC seismic provisions. Load combinations per ASCE 7-05 or 10/16 or user-defined.

Input

The input options are conveniently organized in tabbed pages. The input data required includes the plate, column and pier dimensions, the edge distance from anchor rods, the materials properties and the acting loads, either per ASD or LRFD. Loads cases can be specified to be combined internally, or a set of pre-combined loads can be entered as well. Select the column properties and the anchor rod material from the built-in databases.

Output

ASDIP STEEL structural design software calculates the bearing pressure under the plate and finds the required plate thickness. In addition, it checks the bearing capacity of the support. The anchor rods are checked for all failure modes in tension and shear, and the interaction of both. Shear lugs limit states are also checked when specified to resist the shear load.

A detailed step-by-step report is available to the touch of a tab, which is updated with every new change. In addition, ASDIP STEEL uses a pre-formatted colorful text-with-values output for easier identification of the problem areas. ASDIP STEEL generates a graphical view of the designed base plate and the resulting bearing pressures and anchor rod forces, as well as the breakout areas in tension and shear.

Beams are structural members that mostly work in bending and shear as a result of transverse loading. Other terms such as girders, joists, purlins, stringers, girts and lintels are often used. The compression flange, which is attached to the web in the plane of the beam, may or may not be laterally braced, thus the buckling concepts of compression members apply to beams as well.

Composite action is developed when two load-carrying structural elements, such as a concrete floor slab and its supporting steel beams, are integrally connected and deflect as a single unit. Since the concrete slab exists anyway and the shear connectors are inexpensive and easy to install, it is structurally advisable to use composite construction whenever possible.

ASDIP STEEL performs the steel or composite design for multi-span  continuous beams, either interior or border, subjected to distributed and concentrated loads, as well as moments. Two overhangs may be modeled. The program computes the bending moments, shear forces, and vertical deflections per load combination, and compares them against the beam strength. The program computes the number and spacing of the shear studs or connectors required to develop either partial or full composite action, as well as the required camber.

This steel structural design software is based on the AISC ASD/LRFD methodology and calculates the shear and flexure strengths according to the AISC 360-16 Specifications (15th Ed. Manual). Load combinations per ASCE 7-05 or 10/16 or user-defined.

Input

The required input data consists of steel yield strength, member span lengths, and lateral bracing. In addition, for composite beams it is required the slab thickness and beam spacing. as well as metal deck and shear studs information.

Either service or factored loads may be specified. Load cases are internally combined, or you may enter a set of pre-combined loads. Construction loads and final loads are specified and treated separately in the software.

Output

The design process is simple with ASDIP STEEL. First, enter your input data using the rich set of controls. Second, specify the design criteria, such as the allowable deflection and camber, shear connectors, etc. Then use the Design Manager to find all the steel sections that meet this design criteria. Sort the table if you wish, either by weight or by design ratio. Finally, when you select one of these winner sections, the corresponding properties are transferred automatically to your calculations.

For a quick check of the overall design, click on the “At a Glance” tab. For a more detailed set of step-by-step design calculations click on the “Condensed” or “Detailed” tab.

Columns are structural members that mostly work in compression and bending. Often buckling, or sudden bending as a result of instability, occurs prior to developing the full material strength.

This steel structural design software performs the steel column design, either sway or non-sway, subjected to axial load an biaxial moments, based on the AISC ASD or LRFD methodology. It checks the axial, bending and combined stresses according to the AISC 360-16 specifications (15th Ed. Manual). Load combinations per ASCE 7-05 or 10/16. The design may either include or ignore the AISC seismic provisions.

Depending whether the source of the loads is a first or a second order analysis, two procedures may be followed:

• Second Order Analysis – It considers the P-Delta and P-delta effects. No further amplification is required.
• Amplified First Order Analysis – In this case the software will calculate the amplified moments per the AISC Moment Magnification Method.

Input

The required input data consists of steel yield strength, member length, and unbraced length. In addition, the effective length K-factors in both directions are required. Either service or factored loads may be specified. Load cases are internally combined, or you may enter a set of pre-combined loads. The software includes the AISC Seismic Provisions.

Output

This software checks the footing stability in overturning, sliding and uplift under the service combined loads, and performs the concrete footings design, which includes the one-way shear, punching shear and bending under the factored combined loads. In each case the controlling load combination is identified and reported.

For a quick overview of the design results click the “At a Glance” tab. A more detailed step-by-step calculations are available at the “Detailed” tab, which is updated with every new change. In addition, This foundation design software uses a pre-formatted colorful text-with-values output for easier identification of the problem areas. Use the Print Preview command to see a preview of the pre-formatted report on-screen, which includes the color graphics generated by the software.

ASDIP Foundation generates a graphical view of the footing design and the resulting pressures and forces, as shown. The program also generates the moment and the shear diagrams for the controlling combination, as well as a view of the construction section and elevation with the reinforcement information.

Shear connections are typically used to connect beams to other beams or columns. Such connections transfer shear, with minimum rotational restraint, as opposed to moment connections.

ASDIP STEEL structural design software performs the shear connection design subjected to vertical loads, based on the AISC ASD / LRFD methodology. It checks the limit states and design limitations according to the AISC 360-16 specifications (15th Ed. Manual). Either service or factored loads may be specified.

A typical shear connection is composed of three parts: support, connector, and beam. The support may be another beam or girder, a column flange, or a column web. The connector may be either bolted or welded to the support and to the beam. Typical connectors are single or double clip angles, single shear plates, or Tees. Beams can be connected also to HSS columns or HSS beams. 

Input

The required input data consists of the geometry of support, beam, and connector. Beam can be coped at either flange. Connector can be either bolted or welded. Material properties of all components are required. Load cases are combined internally per ASCE 7-05 or 10/16. Custom combinations or a single set of pre-combined loads may be specified.

Output

This steel structural design software calculates the capacity ratio of all applicable limit states. The effect of the load eccentricity on the bolt group is calculated per the Instantaneous Center of Rotation Method (ICR). In addition, the software performs the design checks required by the AISC per each connection type, and checks the geometric constraints.

For a quick check of the overall design, click on the “At a Glance” tab. For a more detailed set of step-by-step design calculations click on the “Condensed” or “Detailed” tabs.

Moment connections are typically used to connect beams to columns rigidly. Such connections transfer bending moments, with full rotational restraint, as opposed to shear connections. Rigidly connected frames are able to resist lateral loads and deflections.

ASDIP STEEL structural design software performs the moment connection design of members subject to end moments, based on the AISC ASD or LRFD methodology. The vertical reactions are resisted by shear connections. It checks the limit states and design limitations according to the AISC 360-16 specifications (15th Ed. Manual). Either service or factored loads may be specified.

Input

Typical moment connections include Flange-Plated, direct beam Welded Flange, and End Plate. To take full advantage of the column capacity, beams are typically moment connected to column flanges. Beams can be connected also to HSS columns.

The required input data consists of the geometry of support, beam, and connector. Flange plate can be either bolted or welded to beam. Material properties of all components are required. Load cases are combined internally per ASCE 7-05 or 10/16. Custom load combinations or single set of pre-combined loads may be specified.

Output

This steel structural design software calculates the capacity ratio of all applicable limit states for both shear and moment connections. The effect of the load eccentricity on the bolt group of moment connections is neglected per AISC. In addition, the software performs the design checks required by the AISC per each connection type, and it checks the geometric constraints.

For a quick check of the overall design, click on the “At a Glance” tab. For a more detailed set of step-by-step design calculations click on the “Condensed” or “Detailed” tabs.

Web openings can be used to utilities through beams, such as pipes and ducts, and thus help minimize the story height of multistory buildings. On the negative side, web openings can significantly reduce the shear and bending capacity of steel or composite beams.

ASDIP STEEL calculates the bending and shear capacities of the beam at the opening location, then it checks the interaction between bending and shear. If necessary, it designs the required reinforcement based on the AISC Design Guides #2, ASD or LRFD methodology. Either service or factored loads may be specified.

The required input data consists of the geometry of beam, slab, opening, and reinforcement. Beam can be either non-composite or composite. Material properties of all components are required. The required loads are the shear force and bending moment present at the opening location. Load cases are combined internally per ASCE 7-05 or 10/16. Custom load combinations or single set of pre-combined loads may be specified.

ASDIP STEEL calculates geometric properties of the top and bottom tees at the opening, and then it calculates the nominal maximum capacities in bending and shear based on the AISC provisions for steel and composite beams. The moment-shear interaction ratio at the location of the web opening is compared versus the maximum ration of 1.0. If required, the reinforcement is designed as a plate, either on one side or both sides, and welded to the beam web. Finally, multiple design checks are performed to fully comply with the AISC provisions.

A detailed step-by-step report is available to the touch of a tab, which is updated with every new change. In addition, ASDIP STEEL uses a pre-formatted colorful text-with-values output for easier identification of the problem areas. ASDIP STEEL generates a graphical view of the designed beam with web opening.