Return to previous page

This book, Analysis and Design of Steel and Composite Structures offers a comprehensive introduction to the analysis and design of both steel and composite structures.

Design of steel and composite structures is the design of compression members, effective lengths of columns, design of plate girders design by buckling analysis, design of portal frames, behaviour and design of beam-columns, connection design, plastic design (beams, simple frames), composite steel-concrete structures, elastic and rigid plastic analysis of composite beams, composite columns, composite connections.

Composite construction is the dominant form of construction for the multi-storey building sector. Its success is due to the strength and stiffness that can be achieved, with minimum use of materials.

The reason why composite construction is often so good can be expressed in one simple way – concrete is good in compression and steel is good in tension. By joining the two materials together structurally these strengths can be exploited to result in a highly efficient design. The reduced self weight of composite elements has a knock-on effect by reducing the forces in those elements supporting them, including the foundations. Composite systems also offer speed of construction benefits, which is a key reason for the boom in use of steel for commercial buildings. The floor depth reductions that can be achieved using composite construction can also provide significant benefits in terms of the costs of services and the building envelope.