COMPARATIVE DESIGN OF BEAM-COLUMNS IN STEEL FRAMEWORKS USING BS 5950 AND EUROCODE 3

Abstract

In this research, nominal two-pin rigid portal frames were analyzed and designed using Staad. Pro.V8i software. The design was carried out according to both BS 5950 and Eurocode 3. The span of the rafter was varied from 5 m to 40 m, at interval of 5 m while the height of the columns was varied from 3 m to 6.5 m. Requisite British standards and Eurocodes were used for the determination of the dead and imposed loads. The design follows the prescribed method with respect to finding compression resistance, moment capacity, shear capacity as detailed in the British standard code (BS 5950-1:2000) and Eurocode 3 (EN 1993-1-2005) and finally weight of the steel section in each case was considered. Analysis of the portal frame was carried out using the same frame geometry. Compression resistance of rafter designed using BS 5950 is between 0.3 and 24.1% lower than that of rafter member designed using Eurocode 3. Furthermore, compression resistance of columns designed using BS 5950 is 13.4 to 68.7% lower than that of column member designed using Eurocode 3. Consequently, compression resistance of frame sections of same dimensions designed using Eurocode 3 can sustain more load than those designed using BS 5950. However, the moment capacity of frame section members designed using Eurocode 3 is lower than that of frame section members designed using BS 5950 by 0 to 19.8% for columns and 0 to 33% for rafter members. Appropriate minimum frame sections dimensions were obtained using Staad. Pro V8i software. Accordingly, the most economic section was selected on the basis of the least mass criterion. From the result, it is found that the use of Eurocode 3 is more economical in terms of effectiveness of use of steel