Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
ESDEP WG 1A
STEEL CONSTRUCTION:
ECONOMIC & COMMERCIAL FACTORS
1. INTRODUCTION
Steel was first produced in the Middle Ages, but it was not until just over a century ago that it was used for
structural engineering.
Today, many remarkable structures demonstrate the possibilities of this well developed material in their clear
and transparent appearance, Slides 1 - 5.
Slide 2
The strength-to-volume ratio, the wide range of possible applications, the availability of many standardised
parts, the reliability of the material and the ability to give shape to nearly all architectural wishes are some of
the reasons to choose this material for the main structure and for other elements of a building or other
construction.
Safe and strong steel structures are assured by well-educated designers with a Quality Assured and Quality
Controlled production. A long life with a small amount of maintenance can be guaranteed by using well
designed details, a high level of pre-production in modern well-equipped shops with skilled employees and
modern corrosion-resistant systems.
Slide 6 : Relative material costs showing the relative change in prices between steel and concrete in recent years
Improvements in basic production have been matched by investment in better rolling mills. The latest hot
rolling mill can produce sections to a wider variety of shapes with close tolerances, good surface finish and
consistent, homogeneous composition. Slide 7 gives an indication of the range of sections that are produced.
Heat treatments in-line permit the greater control and enhancement of mechanical properties. Cold rolling can
be used to produce thin gauge strip material which can subsequently be formed into a wide range of shapes,
Slide 8.
Slide 7 : Range of typical standard hot-rolled sections manufactured by the steelmaking industry
Slide 8 : Range of typical cold-rolled profiles manufactured from thin galvanised sheet
This revolution in manufacturing techniques has been accompanied by, and has probably been possible because
of, a major restructuring of the entire industry. It is worth recalling that the European Coal and Steel
Community (one of the founding components of the European Community) was established in 1952 to ensure
the restructuring of these crucial industries after World War 2. It has been a difficult and painful process for
both traditional industries but a lean, fit and modern steel industry has finally emerged.
Slide 9 : Mechanical properties for a range of steels showing the wide range of characteristics which different
steels exhibit
Improvements in mechanical properties are best typified by a simple example. The Eiffel Tower was
undoubtedly an engineering triumph when it was completed in 1888. Making the best use of the available
materials, it contains around 7000 tonnes of iron. A redesign today would require just 2000 tonnes.
The breadth of steels also encompasses corrosion resistance. Weather resistant steels that can, in appropriate
circumstances, be left unpainted throughout the life of the structure are now used for many bridges, Slide 10.
Stainless steels are available in an almost bewildering range of compositions. Appropriate choice of chemistry
and finish produces a durable and attractive structure, Slide 11. Coated steel products are very widely used for
cladding, Slides 12 and 13.
Slide 13 : Use of cold rolled steel for cladding: (Entrepot de la Societe Calberson, France).
2.3 Design
Design in steel used to be regarded as a 'black art' where one only reached a level of competence after 20 years
of hardwon experience. Whilst, of course, experience is still very important, the designer is now much better
supported and is able to be more accurate. Computers have made routine, levels of analysis that would
otherwise have taken much manual calculation. Codes of practice have become more comprehensive. The
advent of limit state design concentrates the designer's mind on the most important aspects of a particular
design. The Eurocodes [1 - 4] are the culmination of many years' hard work, drawing together the best
information on steel and composite design.
Two example illustrate the refinements in structural form that have been achieved by the improvements in
understanding of structural behaviour, analysis and design. The portal frame, the subject of much research from
1950 to the present day, is an elegant, minimalist structure, see Slide 14. Its inherent efficiency of shape (its
centreline closely follows the thrust line that would be associated with an axial equilibrium path, thus
minimising bending moments) is enhanced by modern plastic or elastic design. Plastic design permits
redistribution of the moments so that the bending moment envelope is the closest possible fit to the envelopes of
uniform strength associated with prismatic sections; a haunch is used to resist the peak moment at the eaves.
Elastic analysis and modern methods of fabrication permit the construction of a frame whose varying strength
distribution is a close fit to the elastic bending moment envelope.
2.4 Fabrication
In parallel with the improved efficiency of steel production, there have been significant increases in the
productivity of the steel fabrication industry, with roughly a doubling in output per man between 1980 and
1990. The introduction of numerically controlled machine tools has not only greatly reduced the time in both
preparing and handling the material but has also made an important contribution to achieving higher quality.
The shot blasting of steel sections and the process of painting can now be carried out automatically, while
sawing and drilling operations have also been automated. In the most modern plants, conveyor systems are
available which transfer material from machine to machine.
A good example of a piece of modern fabrication equipment is the numerically controlled plant for flame
cutting castellated sections. Such equipment offers substantial improvements in quality and productivity
compared to traditional equipment, see Slide 17.
3. ADVANTAGES OF STEEL
3.1 Speed of Execution
There is increasing pressure on all civil and structural engineering projects to reduce the periods of execution.
Nowhere has this had a more dramatic impact on methods of execution than in the streamlining and
simplification of a modern composite building.
Much execution is now by management contract in which the conventionally sequential activities of design,
substructures execution, superstructure execution, envelope execution and finishing are overlapped to reduce
the overall contract period. The contractor becomes a member of the design team at an early stage. In many
cases the client becomes involved in the buildability of the project which is divided into self-contained work
packages.
Structural steel - fast, accurate, prefabricated - lends itself naturally to fast track execution. Key elements are
metal deck for shuttering and reinforcement; through-deck stud welding for composite and diaphragm action
and lightweight fire protection, Slide 18.
Traditionally, the greatest disincentives to the use of steel for multi-storey frames were the additional costs and
time for fire protection (Slide 26). However, the use of new, lower-cost, lightweight board and spray systems
have now largely replaced in-situ concrete encasement. Fire protection costs have thereby been halved and the
implications on execution programmes reduced substantially. (The programme savings outlined above include
the fire protection systems).
Steel structures are generally lighter than those in other materials. In almost all cases this lower weight leads to
lower costs for foundations particularly for sites with poor ground. Smaller columns increase effective floor
utilisation and, where longer spans are required, the cost savings between steel and other forms of construction
increase considerably. For large column grids in buildings, steel is the only feasible solution.
For multi-storey commercial offices a number of new design approaches are being introduced to achieve clear
spans of 12-18m or more (slides 28 and 29) . These approaches include composite universal beam and lattice
girder arrangements; parallel beam approaches; tapered, haunched and notched beam and storey deep
construction, Slide 30. These schemes can increase spans in office buildings with only a small increase, in many
cases less than 15%, in structural costs. Since the structural cost is only a small proportion (< 20%) of the total
development cost, clear span offices can be achieved for less than 3% of total development cost. This cost is a
very small premium to pay for the increased flexibility in usage that results. Office activities are changing
rapidly, following the high rate of change of information technology; one can only speculate on the
requirements 30 years from now, well within the life of the structure. Clear, column-free space offers the best
opportunity of being able to adapt a building to these changing needs.
Slide 28 : Long span floor systems for office buildings - alternative solutions
In other contexts triangulated structures have been refined and lightened to the extent that they become
sculptures, Slide 34.
Steel's adaptability can also be put to good use in bridges. The main towers of the Severn suspension bridge,
Slide 38, were strengthened to absorb a doubling of traffic loading since the structure was initially designed 40
years ago.
3.4 Quality
Employment patterns in construction have recently changed considerably. Most site work is now carried out by
small, labour-only subcontractors. These companies have little long-term involvement in the construction sector
and are too informal to make any investment in training. The striving for further economy has reduced the
overall level of site supervision.
In this environment it is difficult to maintain the quality of on-site construction. However, a steel frame is a
factory made, precise product, produced by a stable, well-trained workforce. Only the erection of pre-fabricated
members is left for the site - a process which is easily controlled.
Quality Assured and Quality Controlled production methods will give cheaper and better results with
less time consuming repairs.
An increasing role for computers will lead to a greater refinement of design both to minimise fabrication
and construction costs (for everyday structures) and to permit the more adventurous use of steel (for
monumental structures).
Developments in steel production. At present very high strength steels (f y>500 N/mm2) carry a
substantial price premium. However further developments in on-line thermo-mechanical treatment are
likely to reduce this premium considerably. As the price of high strength steel drops so designers will
become more adventurous in using their full potential. This will tax engineers' ingenuity to the full
because the stiffness of steel (modulus of elasticity) does not vary with strength. Structural forms with
greater inherent stiffness will have to be developed if these higher strengths are to be mobilised.
Greater range of sections and products. Modern rolling techniques, for both hot and cold products, are
increasing in flexibility of use. Thus a greater range of sections will be made available to the designer, a
further spur to him to use his ingenuity for greater structural efficiency.
Fire and corrosion resistance. As techniques for fire and corrosion resistance improve further, designers
will have a greater opportunity to express the steelwork leading to more elegant and exciting structures.
The environment. As society pays greater attention to environmental issues, its demands for buildings
will evolve. Insulation standards will rise requiring more attention to details of construction. There will
be increasing usage of demountable, recyclable buildings and components, for which steel is eminently
suitable.
6. CONCLUDING SUMMARY
Steel is a modern material, produced in large quantity with high and reliable quality.
Steel is available in a wide range of hot and cold rolled products, as plates and profiles.
Steel is easily manufactured into end products.
Most of this manufacture takes place in quality controlled workshops.
Site connections can easily be made and can carry load immediately.
Given good corrosion protection and maintenance, steel has an indefinite life.
Erection on site can take place quickly with little risk of delay.
Steel structures are light and strong and only require simple foundations.
Existing steel structures can easily be adapted to new demands.
Quality Control and Quality Assurance will give a further guarantee of the economic application of steel
structures.
7. REFERENCES
[1] Eurocode 1: "Basis of Design and Actions on Structures", CEN (in preparation)
[2] Eurocode 3: "Design of Steel Structures": ENV 1993-1-1: Part 1.1: General Rules and Rules for Buildings,
CEN Brussels, 1992.
[3] Eurocode 4: "Design of Composite Steel and Concrete Structures": ENV 1994-1-1: Part 1: General Rules
and Rules for Buildings, CEN (in press).
[4] Eurocode 8: "Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures" CEN (in preparation)