Structural Steel Detailing

What Structural Steel Detailing Is

Structural steel detailing consists of the specification and drawing of the joints between steel columns and steel beams in steel structures. These joints (also known as "connections") are crucial to the stability of the structure and anything that is built upon it.

A joint is usually established using steel brackets, plates, bolts and nuts. There are very exacting international standards for these joints since their reliability can have a major influence on the safety of large buildings and therefore thousands of people.

Our Qualifications

TMG's senior, experienced structural engineers are well-versed in the aforementioned standards. They regularly provide architectural firms, construction companies and engineering firms with advanced structural analysis comprising virtual models, detailed drawings, bills of material and estimates.

The models and drawings are developed in accordance with standards such as the IBC, ACI, ASCE 7, AASHTO and AISC, and sometimes require advanced analysis of seismic and dynamic load conditions.

The software platforms our engineers use for analysis are STAAD, RISA, SAP2000, RAM, PCA, SAFE, and ETABS. We use AutoCAD or MicroStation for drafting.

Our engineers are assisted by more than 20 drafters to translate their ideas into CAD.

Our Steel Detailing Workflow

• We receive input data from the client. This is usually a 3D model of a steel structure designed in one of the programs listed above. The model will either include structural data (such as material, edge distance, cope criteria, bending moments, axial force and shear forces) or not include it
• If structural data is given and the preferred structural code specified, we derive the connection (comprising the type of brackets and fasteners) from the relevant design tables appropriate to the preferred standard
• If structural data is not given, we perform full load design, referring to the preferred standards for the relevant steel member properties for calculating structural data, then derive the connection as in the earlier case
• We generate a 2D drawing set containing all the information erectors need for building the structure on site.