What is Guides used for in structural engineering?

Guides provides values required for steel design calculations including capacity checks, connection design, and detailing. It is referenced in structural design codes and used by practicing engineers during the design of buildings, bridges, and industrial structures.

Can I use these reference values directly in my design?

Yes, provided the values match your governing code edition and project specifications. Always cross-reference against the primary source (code document, manufacturer data, or published standard). The information on this page is for educational use — final verification by a licensed engineer is required.

How often are these reference values updated?

Reference content is maintained to align with current code editions. When a new edition of AISC 360, AS 4100, EN 1993, or CSA S16 is published, values are reviewed and updated. Check the last-modified date at the bottom of the page and verify against the current edition for your jurisdiction.

Steel Design Guides -- Workflows, Worked Examples & Checklists

Free step-by-step guides for structural steel design. Each guide explains the design workflow, references the applicable code clauses, and links to the associated free calculator so you can follow along with your own inputs.

The guides are organized into categories: beam design, column design, connection design, base plate design, loading and analysis, portal frames, design standards and code comparisons, and utilities and workflow tools.

Beam Design Guides

Free Beam Calculator -- Deflection, Moment & Shear Guide -- How to use the simple beam calculator for shear, moment, and deflection analysis of simply supported and cantilever beams.
Beam Capacity Worked Example -- W-shape AISC 360 LRFD -- Complete step-by-step W-shape beam capacity check per AISC 360 including section classification, lateral-torsional buckling, shear, and deflection.
Beam Capacity Calculator Workflow -- Input Guide, DCR & PASS/FAIL Results -- How to use the beam capacity calculator: input parameters, interpreting DCR values, and understanding PASS/FAIL results.
Beam Deflection Worked Example -- AISC 360 LRFD -- Worked example of beam deflection calculation per AISC 360 serviceability requirements, including live load and total load deflection checks.
Steel Beam Workflow -- Loads to Capacity -- End-to-end workflow from defining loads through selecting a trial section to verifying capacity, covering load paths, bending moment diagrams, and section selection.
Steel Beam Span Reference -- Maximum Spans for W, UB, HEA -- Reference tables for maximum beam spans of common W-shapes, universal beams, and HEA sections under typical floor and roof loading.
Steel Beam Calculator Guide -- Design per AISC 360 -- Complete guide to the steel beam calculator covering how to enter section properties, apply load cases, and interpret moment and shear capacity results.
Steel Beam Design Guide 2026 -- Complete AISC 360-22 Walkthrough -- Full walkthrough of steel beam design to AISC 360-22 with worked examples for flexure, shear, deflection, and lateral-torsional buckling.
Steel Beam Span Calculator -- Free Design Guide -- How to use the beam span calculator for preliminary sizing of W-shapes, UB sections, and HEA beams under uniform loads.
Timber vs Steel Beam Calculator -- Which to Choose? -- Comparison guide for timber versus steel beam selection covering relative strengths, deflection characteristics, and when each material is appropriate.

Column Design Guides

Column Buckling Calculator -- Euler & AISC 360 Guide -- How to use the column buckling calculator for Euler buckling load, critical stress, and AISC 360 column strength including effective length and slenderness.
Column Buckling Guide -- KL/r & K-Factor -- Step-by-step guide to calculating effective length factor K, slenderness ratio KL/r, and determining the governing buckling mode for steel columns.
Column Capacity Worked Example -- AISC 360 LRFD -- Complete worked example of W-shape column axial capacity per AISC 360 including flexural buckling about both axes and local buckling checks.
Combined Loading Worked Example -- AISC 360 LRFD -- Worked example of beam-column interaction per AISC 360 Chapter H, covering combined axial compression and bending moment.

Connection Design Guides

Shear Tab Example -- AISC 360 Worked Example -- Complete worked example of a bolted shear tab (single plate) connection per AISC 360 including bolt shear, bearing, block shear, and weld design.
Bolted Connection Checklist -- AISC 360 & AS 4100 -- Comprehensive checklist for bolted connection design covering bolt shear, bearing, tearout, block shear, net section, edge distance, and spacing requirements.
Bolted Connection Worked Example -- AISC 360 LRFD -- Step-by-step bolted connection design example covering bolt group capacity, eccentric load analysis using the elastic method, and connection plate checks.
Bolt Torque Worked Example -- AISC & EN 1993 -- Worked example of bolt torque calculation per AISC and EN 1993 covering pretension, snug-tight versus fully-tensioned, and installation requirements.
Connection Design Methods Compared -- Bolted, Welded & Base Plate Across 5 Codes -- Detailed comparison of connection design methods for bolted, welded, and base plate connections across AISC 360, AS 4100, EN 1993, CSA S16, and AS/NZS 4600.
Steel Connection Calculator -- Bolted & Welded Guide -- How to use the connection calculator for bolted and welded steel connections including input parameters, design checks, and interpreting capacity results.
Steel Connection Design -- Bolted, Welded, and Base Plate Methods -- High-level workflow for steel connection design covering the three main connection types and their design procedures.
Weld Design Checklist -- Fillet & Groove -- Complete checklist for fillet and groove weld design including minimum size, effective throat, directional strength increase, and base metal checks.
EN 1993-1-8 Bolted Connection -- Worked Example -- Worked example of bolted connection design to EN 1993-1-8 covering bolt shear per Table 3.4, bearing, and tying resistance.

Base Plate Design Guides

AS 4100 Base Plate Design -- Step-by-Step Worked Example -- Complete step-by-step AS 4100 base plate design example covering concrete bearing, plate bending, and anchor bolt design for Australian projects.
AS 4100 Base Plate Worked Example -- Complete Code-Reference Calculations -- Detailed AS 4100 base plate worked example with full code clause references showing each step of the base plate design procedure.
Base Plate Checklist -- AISC 360 & AS 4100 -- Comprehensive checklist for base plate design covering concrete bearing, plate bending, anchor bolt tension and shear, and grout requirements.
Base Plate Design Workflow -- AISC DG1 Step-by-Step Guide -- Step-by-step base plate design workflow following AISC Design Guide 1 methodology from column loads through plate thickness selection.
Base Plate Design Worked Example -- AISC DG1 -- Complete worked example of base plate design per AISC DG1 including concrete bearing strength, cantilever plate bending, and anchor rod design.

Loading & Analysis Guides

Seismic Load Design Workflow -- ASCE 7 ELF Procedure Guide -- Step-by-step guide to the ASCE 7 Equivalent Lateral Force procedure for seismic load determination including seismic base shear and vertical distribution.
Seismic Load Worked Example -- ASCE 7-22 -- Complete worked example of seismic load calculation per ASCE 7-22 covering site class, spectral accelerations, seismic design category, and base shear.
Snow Load Worked Example -- ASCE 7-22 -- Complete worked example of snow load calculation per ASCE 7-22 covering ground snow load, exposure factor, thermal factor, and drift loading.
Wind Load Calculator -- ASCE 7-22 Design Guide -- How to use the wind load calculator for ASCE 7-22 wind pressure determination covering velocity pressure, gust effect factor, and pressure coefficients.
Wind Load Design Workflow -- ASCE 7-22 Step-by-Step Guide -- Complete step-by-step workflow for wind load design per ASCE 7-22 covering all chapters from wind speed through main wind force resisting system pressures.
Wind Load Worked Example -- ASCE 7-22 -- Full worked example of wind load calculation per ASCE 7-22 for a typical building including MWFRS and C&C pressures.
Wind Load Calculation Guide -- ASCE 7 Step-by-Step -- Step-by-step guide through each ASCE 7 wind load calculation step from basic wind speed through final design pressures.

Portal Frame Guides

Portal Frame Design Example -- Complete E2E Walkthrough -- Complete end-to-end portal frame design walkthrough from geometry definition through member checks, haunch design, and connection verification.
Portal Frame Design Guide -- AISC, AS 4100, Eurocode -- Comprehensive portal frame design guide covering elastic analysis, second-order effects, member stability, and connection design per AISC, AS 4100, and EN 1993.
Portal Frame Worked Example -- AISC 360 LRFD -- Full worked example of portal frame design per AISC 360 LRFD including frame analysis, member capacity checks, and connection design.

Design Standards & Code Comparison Guides

EN 1993-1-1 Beam Design -- Worked Example UKB -- Complete worked example of beam design to EN 1993-1-1 using a UKB section covering section classification, lateral-torsional buckling, and shear.
EN 1993-1-1 Column Buckling -- Worked Example UKC -- Worked example of column buckling to EN 1993-1-1 using a UKC section covering buckling curves, non-dimensional slenderness, and reduction factors.
Steel Design Codes Compared -- AISC 360 vs EN 1993 vs AS 4100 vs CSA S16 -- Comprehensive comparison of steel design codes covering resistance factors, buckling curves, connection design philosophy, and material grades.
UK Steel Design to EN 1993 -- Complete Eurocode 3 Guide -- Complete guide to UK steel design per EN 1993 with UK National Annex including section selection, material grades, and design workflow.
UK Steel Section Guide -- UB, UC, PFC, CHS, SHS -- Complete guide to UK steel sections covering universal beams, universal columns, parallel flange channels, and structural hollow sections.

Utility & Workflow Guides

Deflection Limits Explained -- L/360 & Serviceability -- Explanation of common deflection limits (L/360, L/240, etc.) covering live load, total load, and serviceability requirements per AISC and IBC.
DXF Export Guide -- CAD-Ready Geometry -- How to export connection geometry to DXF format for import into AutoCAD, Tekla, and other CAD software from the steel connection calculators.
Calculator Verification Guide -- Free QA Workflow -- Systematic workflow for verifying structural calculations including independent checks, order-of-magnitude estimates, and common error patterns.
Moment of Inertia Calculator -- Section Properties Guide -- How to use the moment of inertia calculator for I-beams, rectangles, circles, and T-sections to determine Ix, Iy, Sx, Sy, Zx, Zy.
Moment of Inertia Guide -- Ix, Iy, J for Steel Sections -- Complete guide to moment of inertia concepts including Ix, Iy, J, section modulus, radius of gyration, and the parallel axis theorem.
Steel Design Verification -- How to Check Your Calculations -- Practical guide to verifying steel design calculations covering independent checks, sanity checks, and common calculation errors.
Structural Analysis Calculator -- Free Online Guide -- How to use the online structural analysis calculator for beam, frame, and truss analysis including input methods and interpreting results.
Structural Steel Design Workflow -- From Geometry to Connection -- Complete end-to-end structural steel design workflow covering every stage from defining the building geometry through final connection design.
Structural Steel Section Properties Database -- 5 Catalogs Compared -- Comparison of five structural steel section property catalogs (AISC, AS 4100, EN 1993, CSA S16, and UK sections) covering availability, dimensions, and design properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the guides a substitute for the governing design standard? No. The guides explain design workflows, show worked examples, and link to calculators. The governing standard (AISC 360, AS 4100, EN 1993, or CSA S16) remains the authoritative source for design requirements.

How should I use a guide alongside a calculator? Read the guide to understand the methodology and code requirements for your specific standard. Then open the linked calculator, enter your design parameters, and compare the outputs with the worked example values to verify correct usage.

Are the worked example values design-ready? No. The worked examples use illustrative values. Always verify inputs for your specific project including loads, material grades, section sizes, and connection geometry.

Do the guides include exact code clauses? No. The guides focus on design process, workflow, and interpretation. The site avoids reproducing copyrighted standards text.

Which guide should I start with? For new users, start with the structural steel design workflow guide to understand the overall process. Then proceed to the specific guide for your design task (beam design, column design, or connection design).

How often are guides updated? Guides are updated regularly. Each guide includes a last-modified date for transparency. Check back for new content and revisions.

Run This Calculation

The guides on this page reference the following calculators. Use them alongside each guide to verify the workflows described.

-- Bolted connections calculator -- AISC bearing and slip-critical bolt groups, shear and tension checks.

-- Welded connections calculator -- fillet and groove weld capacity per AISC 360 and AWS D1.1.

-- Base plate & anchors calculator -- axial and moment base plates, anchor bolt tension and shear.

-- Beam capacity calculator -- W-shape moment and shear capacity with LTB and compact section checks.

-- Column capacity calculator -- column axial capacity with flexural buckling about both axes.

-- Wind load calculator -- ASCE 7-22 wind pressure for MWFRS and C&C.

-- Load combinations calculator -- ASCE 7-22 LRFD and ASD combinations with governing case highlight.

-- Portal frame calculator -- elastic frame analysis with member and connection design.

Disclaimer (educational use only)

This page is provided for general technical information and educational use only. It does not constitute professional engineering advice, a design service, or a substitute for an independent review by a qualified structural engineer. All calculations, outputs, examples, and workflows discussed here are simplified descriptions intended to support understanding and preliminary estimation.

All real-world structural design depends on project-specific factors (loads, combinations, stability, detailing, fabrication, erection, tolerances, site conditions, and the governing standard and project specification). You are responsible for verifying inputs, validating results with an independent method, checking constructability and code compliance, and obtaining professional sign-off where required.

The site operator provides the content "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the operator disclaims liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of, or reliance on, this page or any linked tools.