KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY, MALETE

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CES 822 ASSIGNMENT 1

COMPILED BY

SUBMITTED TO

PROF. A.A. ADEDEJI

Iron and steel are both ferrous metals, meaning they contain iron as a primary element.

However, there are significant differences between the two in terms of composition,

properties, and uses. Here's a breakdown of the key differences between iron and steel:

1. Composition:

 Iron: Pure iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number

26. It has a relatively low carbon content and is quite soft and malleable in its

pure form.

 Steel: Steel is an alloy primarily composed of iron and carbon. The carbon

content in steel can vary widely, typically ranging from 0.2% to 2.1% by

weight. Other alloying elements, such as manganese, chromium, nickel, and

others, are often added to achieve specific properties.

2. Strength and Hardness:

 Iron: Pure iron is relatively soft and not very strong. It can be easily shaped

and molded.

 Steel: The addition of carbon and other alloying elements in steel significantly

increases its strength, hardness, and durability. Steel can be produced with a

wide range of properties, from soft and ductile to extremely hard and strong.

3. Malleability and Ductility:

 Iron: Pure iron is highly malleable and ductile, meaning it can be easily bent,

shaped, and drawn into wires.

 Steel: The malleability and ductility of steel depend on its composition. Low-

carbon steels are more malleable and ductile, while high-carbon steels tend to

be more brittle.
4. Uses:

 Iron: Pure iron has limited practical uses due to its softness and lack of

strength. However, it's used as a base material for producing steel.

 Steel: Steel has a wide range of applications due to its versatility and strength.

It's used in construction (buildings, bridges, infrastructure), manufacturing

(machinery, vehicles, tools), household items, and more.

5. Corrosion Resistance:

 Iron: Pure iron is prone to rusting and corrosion when exposed to moisture and

oxygen.

 Steel: The addition of alloying elements like chromium in certain types of

steel (stainless steel) provides better corrosion resistance compared to pure

iron.

6. Cost:

 Iron: Pure iron is less expensive than steel due to its simpler composition and

lower processing requirements.

 Steel: The cost of steel varies based on its composition and properties, with

more alloyed steels often being more expensive.

7. Production Process:

 Iron: Iron is typically extracted from iron ore through a process called

smelting, which involves melting the iron ore in a blast furnace and removing

impurities to obtain iron.

 Steel: Steel is produced by adding controlled amounts of carbon and other

alloying elements to iron in order to achieve the desired properties. This can

be done through various methods, such as the basic oxygen process, electric

arc furnace, and more.

alloy of iron and carbon (along with other elements) that offers a wide range of properties and

applications due to its enhanced strength, hardness, and versatility.

relation to AASHTO or any other codes apart from Eurocode.

BS 5950 and AASHTO are both widely used design codes for steel structures, each

developed by different standards organizations for specific applications and regions. Here's a

comparison of the design principles of steel structures in BS 5950 and AASHTO, along with

a mention of another notable code:

1. BS 5950: Structural Use of Steelwork in Building (United Kingdom):

 Scope: BS 5950 is a British design code primarily intended for the design of

steel structures in buildings and related structures. It covers a wide range of

structural elements and loadings.

 Load Factors and Load Combinations: BS 5950 provides load factors and

load combinations for various types of loads (dead load, live load, wind load,

etc.), taking into account factors like safety, probability, and intended service

life.

 Material Properties: The code provides material properties for structural

steel, including yield strength, tensile strength, and allowable stresses. The

steel is classified into different grades based on its yield strength.

 Limit States: The design philosophy of BS 5950 is based on limit states,

including the ultimate limit state (ULS) and the serviceability limit state

(SLS). Design checks are performed to ensure that the structure can withstand

loads without reaching failure or excessive deformation.

 Design Methods: BS 5950 employs the traditional elastic-plastic design

approach, which allows for redistribution of moments after reaching the yield

point in certain members. Plastic design methods are used for certain critical

elements.
  Connection Design: The code provides guidance on the design of steel

connections, including bolted and welded connections, to ensure proper load

transfer and structural integrity.

BS 5950 is a British standard for the design of steel structures. It focuses on the limit state

design philosophy, which involves considering both ultimate limit states (ULS) and

serviceability limit states (SLS) during the design process.

 Ultimate Limit State (ULS): BS 5950 emphasizes the importance of ensuring that the

structure can withstand the maximum loads and forces without collapsing. It provides

guidelines for calculating various load combinations, including dead loads, live loads,

wind loads, and others. The design involves checking the capacity of individual

members (beams, columns, connections) against the applied loads.

 Serviceability Limit State (SLS): This aspect focuses on ensuring that the structure

remains functional and doesn't experience excessive deformations or vibrations under

service loads. BS 5950 provides recommendations for deflection limits, vibration

criteria, and other factors related to user comfort and safety.

2. AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials):

 Scope: AASHTO codes are commonly used in the United States for the design

of transportation-related structures, such as bridges and highways.

 Load Factors and Load Combinations: AASHTO codes include specific

load factors and load combinations tailored to transportation structures and

traffic loads, considering different vehicle types and loads.

properties for structural steel. Different grades of steel are considered based on

their yield strength.

 Limit States: AASHTO uses limit states similar to BS 5950, including the

strength limit state (SLS) and the service limit state (SLS), to ensure the safety

and functionality of transportation structures.

 Design Methods: AASHTO codes incorporate both load and resistance factor

design (LRFD) and allowable stress design (ASD) methods. LRFD accounts

for load uncertainties by applying load factors, while ASD uses allowable

stress limits for different load cases.

 Connection Design: AASHTO provides guidelines for the design of

connections in transportation structures, considering factors like fatigue,

impact loads, and other specific conditions.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

provides design guidelines specific to transportation-related structures, such as bridges and

highways. AASHTO's principles align with the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)

philosophy.

 Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD): AASHTO LRFD emphasizes the

concept of load factors and resistance factors. Load factors are applied to different

types of loads (dead loads, live loads, etc.) to account for uncertainties, while

resistance factors are applied to material strengths to ensure a consistent level of

safety.
  Limit States: AASHTO LRFD identifies different limit states, including strength limit

states, service limit states, and fatigue limit states. The design process involves

verifying that the structure meets the criteria for each of these limit states.

3. AISC 360 (American Institute of Steel Construction):

 Scope: AISC 360 is another significant design code used in the United States

for the design of steel structures in various applications, including buildings

and bridges.

 Load Factors and Load Combinations: AISC 360 also employs the LRFD

approach, incorporating load factors and load combinations for different load

types.

 Material Properties: AISC 360 provides detailed material properties for

structural steel, including different shapes and sections commonly used in

construction.

 Limit States: AISC 360 uses limit states similar to other codes to ensure the

structural integrity and safety of designs.

 Design Methods: AISC 360 focuses on the LRFD method, allowing for a

consistent and systematic approach to considering loads and resistances.

 Connection Design: AISC 360 includes comprehensive guidelines for the

design of steel connections, covering both bolted and welded connections.

4. Other Codes:

Apart from Eurocode, there are several other codes used for structural design around the

world:

 ACI 318 (American Concrete Institute): This code is widely used for concrete

structures and provides guidelines for reinforced concrete design.

provides comprehensive regulations for building design, including structural aspects.

 IS 800 (Indian Standard): Used in India for general structural steel design.

 CAN/CSA S16 (Canadian Standard): Used in Canada for the design of steel

structures.

These codes have their own principles and philosophies that cater to specific design practices,

materials, and safety factors within their respective regions.

In summary, while BS 5950, AASHTO, and AISC 360 share some common principles like

the consideration of load factors, limit states, and material properties, they are tailored to

specific regions and applications. BS 5950 is widely used in the UK for building structures,

AASHTO is used in the US for transportation-related structures, and AISC 360 is used for a

variety of steel structures in the US. Each code has its own unique design philosophy and

methodologies. BS 5950 emphasizes the limit state design philosophy and AASHTO LRFD

focuses on load and resistance factors, other codes like ACI 318, IBC, IS 800, and CAN/CSA

S16 also have their unique approaches to structural design based on regional needs and

materials. Each code aims to ensure the safety, functionality, and longevity of structures

while accounting for different loading conditions and uncertainties.