Preface

The number of books available on the design of steel structures in India is very limited, and most of them are not in tune with contemporary practices of steel structure design and construction. Steel structures are seldom constructed using rivets these days, with most of them being fabricated by welding and bolting. This aspect is not touched upon in the text books written by Indian authors. Pre-engineered steel buildings are being constructed due to advantages such as fast construction, lightweight structure and low cost. In these buildings, self-weight of the structure is reduced by using light-gauge sections, and the cross section of these sections may be varied depending on sectional forces and moments. The sections needed for a preengineered structure are fabricated in a workshop by welding and are erected at the site of construction very easily by bolts. Recently, the basic Indian Standard code of practice on the design of steel structures IS 800:1984 General Construction in Steel – Code of Practice has been revised and is now based on the Limit State Method. Hence, there is an urgent need for text books to be updated with the latest practices in the design and construction of steel structures. This book tries to fulfi ll this objective.

Except for Chapter 12 on Light-gauge Steel Sections, the book is written using the Limit State Method of design as per IS 800:2007 General Construction in Steel – Code of Practice. Reference has also been made to other relevant latest Indian Standard codes of practice or specifications. Only welded and bolted connections are considered in this book, reflecting the needs of the industry. A special feature of this book is the inclusion of the design of structures for fatigue, light-gauge steel sections and composite construction, which are generally not found or dealt with in Indian books. The scope of this edition is introductory, i.e. it discusses the behaviour and design principles of various structural steel elements and does not deal with the complete design of different types of steel structures such as buildings, bridges or towers. Many illustrative examples are included to help the reader to grasp the principles involved in the behaviour and design. The problems listed at the end of the chapters are fashioned to stimulate the reader's perceptive and designing ability and enhance his or her confi dence. Appendices, provided at the end of the book, contain the properties of various sections used in steel structures.

The book though meant for undergraduate students of Civil/Structural engineering in Indian universities and colleges will also be useful for professionals involved in the design and construction of steel structures. While efforts have been taken to produce an error-free book, I will be grateful to the readers who bring to my notice any inaccuracies that might have inadvertently crept in. I welcome comments and suggestions for the improvement of this book and may be contacted at [email protected].