Steel Frame Construction Course

Lesson 1 • Steel Grades and Specifications

Introduces standard steel grades used in structural framing and their designation systems. Connects material selection to load-bearing performance requirements.

Lesson 2 • Overview of Steel Frame Systems

Surveys moment frames, braced frames, and dual systems at an introductory level. Prepares students to recognize system types before detailed design study.

Lesson 3 • Steel as a Structural Material

Covers mechanical properties of steel including strength, ductility, and elasticity. Establishes why steel outperforms other materials in specific structural scenarios.

Lesson 4 • Industry Standards and Regulatory Framework

Introduces the role of structural design standards, building codes, and inspection requirements. Students understand compliance obligations before advancing to design tasks.

Lesson 1 • Load Combinations and Demand Envelopes

Applies LRFD and ASD load combination rules to produce governing demand cases. Students generate load envelopes that drive member sizing in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Dead and Live Load Determination

Defines permanent and occupancy-based loads and methods for calculating their magnitudes. Provides the first step in any structural load analysis workflow.

Lesson 3 • Wind Load Analysis

Explains wind pressure theory and the procedure for determining design wind forces on building envelopes and frames. Connects wind exposure categories to frame lateral demand.

Lesson 4 • Snow, Rain, and Special Loads

Addresses roof snow accumulation, ponding, and other special load conditions. Ensures students account for all load types before combining them.

Lesson 1 • Beam Design for Bending and Shear

Applies plastic and elastic section modulus concepts to beam flexural design. Covers shear yielding and web crippling as secondary limit states.

Lesson 2 • Serviceability and Deflection Control

Establishes deflection limits for floors and roofs and methods to satisfy them. Connects serviceability checks to occupant comfort and finish protection.

Lesson 3 • Tension Member Design

Covers gross yielding and net section fracture limit states for tension members. Students select sections and verify connection area reductions.

Lesson 4 • Beam-Column Combined Loading

Introduces interaction equations for members subject to simultaneous axial force and bending. Students apply biaxial bending checks to corner and perimeter columns.

Lesson 1 • Brace and Column Base Connections

Designs gusset plate connections for braced frames and anchor rod patterns for column bases. Connects connection ductility to overall frame performance.

Lesson 2 • Moment Connection Design

Addresses fully restrained moment connections including extended end-plate and welded flange types. Students verify panel zone shear and continuity plate requirements.

Lesson 3 • Bolt Types and Bearing Connections

Distinguishes snug-tight, pretensioned, and slip-critical bolt installations. Students calculate shear, bearing, and tension capacities for common bolt patterns.

Lesson 4 • Weld Types and Weld Design

Covers fillet, groove, and plug weld geometries and their effective throat calculations. Students size welds for shear, tension, and combined loading.

Lesson 1 • Moment Frame Analysis and Design

Applies stiffness-based analysis to distribute lateral forces among moment frame bays. Students size beams and columns to satisfy drift and strength simultaneously.

Lesson 2 • Diaphragm Design and Load Transfer

Explains how floor and roof diaphragms collect and transfer lateral forces to vertical elements. Students design chord and collector members for diaphragm action.

Lesson 3 • Torsion and Irregularity Effects

Addresses plan and vertical irregularities that amplify seismic and wind demands on frames. Students apply torsional amplification factors to irregular building layouts.

Lesson 4 • Eccentrically Braced Frame Design

Introduces link beam behavior as the primary energy dissipation mechanism in EBFs. Students size links and verify rotation capacity under seismic demand.

Lesson 1 • Spread Footing Design

Covers concentric and eccentric column footing design for axial and moment loads. Students size plan dimensions and reinforcement for combined loading conditions.

Lesson 2 • Pile and Drilled Shaft Foundations

Introduces driven pile and drilled shaft systems for poor bearing soils or high column loads. Students design pile caps and verify group efficiency.

Lesson 3 • Soil-Structure Interaction Basics

Introduces bearing capacity, settlement, and soil classification as they affect foundation selection. Establishes the link between geotechnical reports and structural foundation design.

Lesson 4 • Anchor Rods and Base Plate Integration

Connects column base plate design from Chapter 3 to foundation anchor rod embedment. Students detail anchor rod patterns, embedment lengths, and grout pockets.

Lesson 1 • Steel Fabrication Processes

Covers cutting, drilling, welding, and surface preparation operations in the fabrication shop. Students understand how fabrication sequence affects dimensional accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Bolt Inspection and Frame Tolerances

Covers pretension verification methods and dimensional tolerances for erected steel frames. Students apply tolerance standards to assess acceptability of as-built conditions.

Lesson 3 • Welding Inspection and Testing

Introduces visual, ultrasonic, and magnetic particle inspection methods for structural welds. Students specify the correct inspection method for each weld category.

Lesson 4 • Erection Planning and Sequencing

Addresses crane selection, pick points, temporary bracing, and erection sequence planning. Students produce an erection sequence that maintains frame stability at every stage.

Lesson 1 • Seismic Detailing for Special Systems

Applies seismic detailing requirements for special moment frames and special concentrically braced frames. Students detail protected zones, continuity plates, and ductile connections.

Lesson 2 • Multi-Story Frame Design Integration

Synthesizes gravity and lateral system design for a multi-story steel frame building. Students produce a complete set of design calculations and member schedules.

Lesson 3 • Performance-Based Design Concepts

Introduces performance objectives, hazard levels, and nonlinear analysis methods beyond prescriptive code design. Students evaluate when performance-based approaches add value.

Lesson 4 • Composite Beam and Deck Design

Designs composite steel-concrete floor systems using shear studs and metal deck. Students calculate composite section properties and verify stud layout for full and partial composite action.