steel quiz

Looking for a challenge? Modern Steel Construction’s monthly Steel Quiz tests your knowledge of steel design and
construction. The answers for many of this month’s questions can be found in the 2005 AISC Specification for Structural Steel
Buildings, the 2010 AISC Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges (both available as free downloads at www.
aisc.org/freepubs), and the 13th Edition AISC Steel Construction Manual (available for purchase at www.aisc.org/manual).

1 True/False: After galvanizing, it is 5 What is the minimum radius for 8 What is the plumbness tolerance
standard practice to increase the induced camber of a member? for a typical structural steel column?
bolt hole size for the connection. a) There are no limits. a) L/400
b) The limit depends on the bender. b) L/500
2 Where are the tolerances found c) Between 10 and 14 times c) L/600
for welded stiffener locations in the member depth is d) There are no published
buildings? recommended as a guide. plumbness tolerances.
a) AISC Code of Standard Practice d) Both (b) and (c).
b) AISC Specification 9 What is the tolerance for fit up of
c) AWS D1.1 6 Straightness tolerances for the backup bars?
d) AWS D1.5 usual grade of HSS are governed a) 1∕8 in.
by which ASTM standard(s)? b) 1∕16 in.
3 True/False: More than one filler a) ASTM A500 c) 3∕32 in.
can be used to account for gaps b) ASTM A501 d) None of the above.
between connection plies. c) ASTM A6
d) ASTM A6 and A500 10 An engineer designing with struc-
4 True/False: The “building line” tural steel must account for what
referenced in Section 7 of the 7 True/False: Fabrication tolerances types of tolerances in their design?
AISC Code of Standard Practice is for member camber and sweep a) Mill tolerance.
the exterior face of the building. of typical wide-flange shapes are b) Fabrication tolerance.
shown in Table 2 of ASTM A6. c) Erection tolerance.
d) All of the above.

MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION february 2011

steel quiz ANSWERS

1 False. Enlarging the holes is not 5 (d) Limits on radii of curved shapes 8 (b) Erection tolerances are given in
standard procedure and is not are essentially a function of the Section 7.13 of the AISC Code of
required in the usual case. If it is capabilities of the bender. Cold Standard Practice (a free download
desired to do so, the resulting holes bending guidelines for shapes are at www.aisc.org/freepubs). Section
must be approved by the Structural found in Part 2 of the 13th Edition 7.13.1.1 deals specifically with
Engineer of Record. The hole AISC Steel Construction Manual. column plumbness. In general,
becomes an oversized hole after They are summarized below: the plumbness must be within
modification, and the change would 1. The minimum radius for L/500. However, there are other
have to be considered. Increasing camber induced by cold bending in requirements that can govern in
the hole size for galvanized members up to a nominal depth of specific cases, see the AISC Code.
construction is not permitted in 30 in. is between 10 and 14 times
the AISC Specification or the RCSC the depth of the member. Deeper 9 (b) The 2008 AASHTO/AWS D1.5M/
Specification for Structural Joints members may require a larger D1.5 Bridge Welding Code has a toler-
Using High-Strength Bolts (available minimum radius. ance for steel backing. Section 3.13.5,
as a free download at www. 2. Cold bending may be used Weld Backing, states the following:
boltcouncil.org). If the holes are to provide sweep in members to Steel backing shall be placed
oversized the connection must be practically any radius desired. and held in intimate contact with
designed as slip-critical. 3. A length limit of 40 to 50 ft is the base metal. The maximum
practical. gap between the steel backing
2 (c) AWS D1.1 provides the guidelines and the base metal at the weld
for stiffener tolerances in buildings; 6 (a) Tolerances for HSS are found root shall be 2 mm [1⁄16 in.]…
see Sections 5.23.11 and 5.23.12. in their respective ASTM material The 1⁄16-in. tolerance is also present in
AWS D1.5 has the guidelines for specifications. For example, ASTM butt joints where backing is used in
stiffener tolerances in bridges; see A500 is the material specification for Section 5.22.1.1 in AWS D1.1/D1.1M
Section 3.5.1.11 and 3.5.1.12. non-weathering, cold-formed HSS. Structural Welding Code–Steel. Sec-
You can find a summary of these tion 5.22.1.1, Faying Surface, states
3 True. More than one filler can be used, requirements in Tables 1-27 and the following:
but note that the use of multiple fillers 1-28 of the 13th Edition AISC Steel The separation between faying sur-
requires a strength reduction. Recent Construction Manual. faces of plug and slot welds, and
research has shown that the overall of butt joints landing on a backing,
slip resistance of a connection can be 7 False. ASTM A6 tolerances are shall not exceed 1⁄16 in. [2mm]…
reduced by the presence of multiple for incidental mill camber. Small Both AWS D1.5 and D1.1 are available
fillers. The 2010 AISC Specification will amounts of incidental mill camber for purchase on the American Welding
require that where bolts have not been are common and do not typically Society website, www.aws.org.
added to distribute the load in the cause problems in construction.
filler (undeveloped fillers), the full slip The tolerances specified in Section 10 (d) An engineer designing with
resistance can be used if there is one 6 of the AISC Code of Standard structural steel must account for all
filler between connected parts. How- Practice apply to fabricator of these types of tolerances.
ever, for two or more fillers between “induced” camber.
connected parts a 15% reduction in
slip resistance is taken.

4 True. The AISC Code of Standard

Practice for Steel Buildings and
Bridges references “building line” in
Sections 7.13.1.1 (b), (c), and (d), and
Figures C-7.2, C-7.5 and C-7.6. The
building line referenced in these sec-
tions is the established location of
the exterior face of the building. For
example, in Figure C-7.5 an exterior
column for a building of 20 stories or
less may slope toward the building
line or exterior face of the building
by up to 1⁄500 slope or 1 in. maximum.
Figure C-7.2 shows this as well since
the building line wraps around the Anyone is welcome to submit questions and
columns at the exterior building face. answers for Steel Quiz. If you are interested in
submitting one question or an entire quiz, contact
AISC’s Steel Solutions Center at 866.ASK.AISC or
at [email protected].

MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION february 2011