An optimal structural design tool for steel column member and base plate subjected to bixial bending and axial compression based on eurocode 3

• Main Author: Tang, Jun Ji
• Other Authors: Lee Chi King
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/61054
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project is to develop an optimal design tool for the design of beam-column member and base plate using Microsoft Excel and the Eurocode (EC) is being used for the design of column member and base plate. In the developing of the design tool, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) coding is used in Microsoft Excel is used to create macros for the calculations and also in the optimisation of the programme interface, allowing the user who is using the design tool to use and navigate the design tool easily. The steel column section type that this design tool offers consists of “UKC-I-Section”, Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS), Square Hollow Section (SHS), and Circular Hollow Section (CHS). Beside the “I”-section, all three hollow sections can be further divided into hot-formed and cold-finished. In this design tool, after the user has completed the design of steel column, the user can continue to proceed further on to base plate and joint connections design, based on the selected steel column and relevant data entered by the user previously. As a conclusion, the design tool was developed based on the user’s point of view to him in designing of steel column and base plate with the aim to achieve an optimal user interface so that any user including structural designer, building engineer and even with people of minimum knowledge on column and base plate design will be able to use it effectively and efficiently.