Structural engineering continues to demand more precision, efficiency, and cost-effective material selection than ever before. Navigating design changes, managing stakeholder expectations, and working within compressed timelines requires reliable data and streamlined workflows. Fortunately, the inherent efficiencies of hollow structural sections (HSS) and structural steel HSS systems can help structural engineers meet project requirements. 

To help you optimize your HSS design process and keep projects on schedule, Atlas Tube has developed a suite of complimentary HSS engineering tools built specifically for today’s structural engineers. These resources are designed to enhance constructability, simplify collaboration, and maximize material efficiency when designing with HSS steel sections. Below is an in-depth look at four tools that help solve complex design challenges while controlling cost and schedule.

HSS Connections Hub™: Revolutionizing HSS Connection Design

Designing HSS connections was once perceived as a challenge that frequently requires custom spreadsheets, repetitive checks, and multiple design revisions. No more. The HSS Connections Hub™ is a first‑of‑its‑kind HSS design tool suite created by engineers, for engineers, to simplify HSS connection design and eliminate unnecessary friction between engineers and fabricators. 

Fabricator‑Friendly Typical HSS Connection Details 

Creating HSS connection details from scratch consumes valuable engineering hours and often leads to redesign requests from connection detailers. 

The Hub includes a growing library of 140 Typical HSS Connection Details, covering: 

• Wide flange to HSS connections 

• HSS to wide flange connections 

• HSS to HSS connections 

• Shear and moment connections for wide flange beams to HSS columns 

• Common HSS bolted connections and constructible details 

All details are available in: 

• PDF 

• AutoCAD (.DWG) 

• Revit (.RVT) 

Using these standardized, constructible HSS connection details helps reduce RFIs, minimize material waste, and accelerate project timelines.  

The Hub’s Typical Details Library helps improve design efficiency.

Advanced HSS Connection Calculators

The Hub replaces outdated, highly customized spreadsheets with more than 70 real-time HSS connection calculators.

Key capabilities include:

• Live calculations and utilization checks
• Alignment with the AISC Steel Construction Manual (16th Edition, 2023)
• Support for HSS moment connections and shear connections
• Exportable calculation reports for submittals and stakeholder review

Each calculation step is clearly shown, delivering transparency and faster approvals across project teams.

The Hub’s comprehensive Connection Calculators help engineers design simple and complex HSS connections.

Expert Support and Education

Beyond software, the Hub connects you directly with Atlas Tube’s in-house structural engineering experts, who can assist with:

• Complex HSS connection design
• Design code interpretation
• Connections Hub usage and optimization for specific project conditions

HSS vs. Wide Flange Column Comparison Tool

When designing gravity columns, material selection has a direct impact on cost, footprint, and performance. HSS columns offer a high radius of gyration about both axes, delivering excellent compression behavior compared to traditional wide flange shapes.

The HSS vs. Wide Flange Column Comparison Tool allows engineers to quantify:

• Weight savings
• Cost savings
• Footprint reduction
• Embodied carbon reduction

Why Engineers Use This Tool

For the same footprint:

• HSS columns can support higher axial loads
• HSS steel columns often require less total tonnage
• Closed shapes improve aesthetics for exposed conditions

This tool is especially valuable during the value engineering phase, providing data backed justification for switching from wide flange columns to structural HSS.

The HSS Vs. Wide Flange Comparison Tool facilitates an efficient switch to HSS by proving weight savings to project stakeholders.

Axial Load Calculator for HSS Columns

Rapidly evaluating column capacity is critical during schematic design or late-stage changes. The Axial Load Calculator enables engineers to quickly determine the axial strength of HSS columns without running dozens of manual checks.

Technical Basis

• Based on AISC 360‑22
• Uses ASTM A500-21 material properties (Fy = 50 ksi)
• Supports rapid selection of efficient HSS column sizes

Instead of manually checking multiple options, the calculator instantly identifies the most efficient HSS steel sections, accelerating early‑stage design and improving responsiveness to load changes.

The Axial Load Calculator streamlines design time by automatically determining HSS’ axial strength.

Wide Flange vs. HSS Beam Comparison Tool

Replacing wide flange beams with HSS beams can significantly improve efficiency in bending applications—especially where torsional resistance, cleaner lines, or architectural exposure are important.

The Wide Flange vs. HSS Beam Comparison Tool evaluates:

• Simply supported beams
• Uniformly distributed factored gravity loads
• LRFD design per AISC 360-22 Chapter F

Two Practical Design Modes

1. Identifies the lightest HSS beam sizes that meet or exceed the flexural capacity of a given wide flange
2. Optimizes HSS beam selection for a specific design load

This beam comparison capability makes it easier to replace heavy open sections with more efficient closed sections, improving constructability and reducing material costs.

The Wide Flange Vs. HSS Beam Comparison Tool helps engineers design with HSS in environments where torsional resistance and aesthetics are a priority.

Streamline Your Structural Steel Design Process

By integrating these tools into your daily workflow, you can optimize your material selection, facilitate project team collaboration, and deliver more efficient structural designs. Explore these resources today to elevate your engineering practice.