When you’re designing a large, open structure, you can’t let the supports get in the way of the aesthetics or the functionality of the space. But this can be a challenge when designing with ASTM A500 HSS. Variation in wall thickness with this spec forces you to err on the side of larger sections — making it harder to meet size limitations and...
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The use of tubular shapes is seen all around us in nature. Tube-like structures are naturally occurring in the bones of animals, bamboo and the stems of flowers. It’s no wonder HSS is so popular amongst structural engineers – from being a cost-effective structural member, to a high strength to weight ratio, to a uniform strength and aesthetical...
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When you go to twelve trade shows and speak to forty different engineering firms or fabricators each year, I hear people say it’s challenging to design structures for seismic applications. And in some ways, it’s true — if you design with ASTM A500 HSS, it can be difficult to predict how the sections will perform because of the variance in wal...
Read moreYou might already know that the steel used in bridges must meet the toughness requirements of ASTM A709 and AASHTO M270. If you design a bridge with ASTM A500 HSS, the sections will most likely have to be custom-manufactured to meet these requirements. That means higher costs, longer lead times and a higher minimum order quantity. Plus, you’ll ha...
Read moreIn the Fall of 2017, the California Legislature passed, and Gov. Brown signed into law, Assembly Bill 262 (AB 262), known as the Buy Clean California Act. This law has the intentions of bringing...
Read moreIn June, I attended the American Institute of Architects Architecture Expo at the Javits Center in New York City. For all the years I’ve been an engineer (which has been quite a long time now), I’ve never checked out this expo until now – which is surprising since architects love using HSS in their unique designs. First, walking into the J...
Read moreNASCC 2018 (#NASCC18) hosted by the AISC, was held in downtown Baltimore, MD at the Baltimore Convention Center. Another record crowd with over 5,000 attendees, the show featured more than 200 exhibitors and 100s of...
Read moreComposite HSS, or concrete-filled tubes (CFT) as it is sometimes referred, is an underutilized form of design and construction that has several advantages. The most common use is for columns supporting traditional steel framing or other floor systems such as Delta Beam with precast concrete planks. Let’s explore the top five reasons you...
Read moreHSS Project Spotlight: Seattle’s North Transfer Station What images com...
Read moreHSS Design Tools: The HSS Library There’s a lot of information around the internet on HSS products – so much so that it’s hard to...
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