Structural Steel Buildings

ANSI/AISC 360-10: Specification for Structural Steel Buildings

For structural engineers and designers, the foundation of safe and efficient steel structures lies in robust, proven standards. The ANSI/AISC 360-10 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings stands as an essential and industry-leading benchmark, providing the definitive criteria for the design of steel members and connections. Its comprehensive approach ensures the integrity and performance of steel buildings across a wide range of applications, making it a cornerstone document for professionals in the field.

What is ANSI/AISC 360-10?

ANSI/AISC 360-10 is the authoritative standard developed by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) for the design of structural steel buildings. It presents unified design provisions for both Allowable Stress Design (ASD) and Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) methodologies. The primary purpose of this specification is to provide engineers with the established criteria necessary to design safe, reliable, and economical steel structures.

Scope & Purpose

This comprehensive standard governs the design of structural steel members and connections for buildings and other structures. It specifies requirements for materials, member design (tension, compression, bending, shear), connections, and stability. While it provides a framework for routine design, it is not intended to address highly specialized or infrequently encountered structural challenges, which may require additional specialized analysis. Seismic and nuclear applications are explicitly noted as having specific requirements beyond the general provisions.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Structural Engineers, Civil Engineers, Architects, Building Designers, and Steel Fabricators.
• • Industries affected: Construction, Architecture, Engineering, Steel Fabrication, and Manufacturing.
• • Compliance nature: Typically adopted by building codes, making compliance effectively mandatory for projects within their jurisdiction. It is also considered a best practice and recommended by industry professionals.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically enforced by building code officials during plan review and construction inspections, as well as by the professional engineers and architects of record.

Key Requirements Overview

The standard requires engineers to apply proven design principles to ensure structural integrity. Key provisions include:

• • Unified Design Methods: Professionals must ensure designs adhere to either the Allowable Stress Design (ASD) or Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) provisions, with clear guidance provided for each.
• • Material Specification: The specification mandates the use of approved structural steel materials, bolts, welding consumables, and other components that meet defined ASTM standards.
• • Member Capacity Checks: Designers must verify the capacity of individual steel members against various limit states, including yielding, fracture, buckling, and block shear, considering different load types.
• • Connection Design: Detailed requirements are provided for the design of connections (welded, bolted, etc.) to ensure they can safely transfer forces between members and develop the intended strength of the connected elements.
• • Stability Considerations: The specification includes crucial provisions for ensuring the overall stability of the structure, addressing issues like lateral-torsional buckling of beams and the stability of compression members.

Related Standards & References

ANSI/AISC 360-10 is often used in conjunction with other critical standards. The AISC Steel Construction Manual provides valuable design aids, tables, and examples that