Structural Design
Structural Steel Design
We prepare steel structural calculations, connection calculations and the fabrication drawings the workshop will use, for industrial buildings, multistory steel structures, crane runways and footbridges.
Calculation and shop drawings for steel structures
We design the steel structural systems of industrial buildings, warehouses, multistory steel buildings and mezzanines added to existing structures. We do not hand over a calculation report and walk away. We calculate the connections and also prepare the fabrication drawings and material list that the workshop can cut and weld from directly. Part of our work is done directly for the investor, and part for the steel fabricator that will build the project.
In Kocaeli, steel structures mostly mean the production and storage buildings in the organized industrial zones. In these buildings the traveling crane load, the wide roof span, snow and wind, and the earthquake effect are all calculated in the same model. If the crane capacity or the equipment to be placed on the roof changes later, everything from the columns to the foundations has to be recalculated, so we settle the loads with you before design begins.
Besides industrial structures, we have also designed footbridges, hotel terrace roofs, single-story steel buildings such as a hospital dining hall, and floating platforms on a lake. For steel footbridges crossing streams along a lake shore, we delivered the structural calculations, the fabrication drawings and the designs of the piled reinforced concrete supports.
The cost of a steel structure is set largely by the weight of material and the labor in the connections. When we select sections, we look beyond strength to profiles that are easy to find on the market and to the erection sequence, and we keep the number of connection types as low as we can. In a seismic region, connections have to be stronger than the members they join and detailed to suit the chosen ductility level.
Scope of services
Industrial and warehouse buildings
Portal frames, truss roofs, purlins and roof bracing. If solar panels are going on the roof later, we include their load from the start.
Multistory steel and mezzanines
Steel-framed office and administrative buildings, and mezzanines and platforms added inside existing buildings. For a mezzanine we also check whether the existing columns and foundation can take the extra load.
Crane runways
For overhead and traveling cranes, we size the crane girder, bracket and columns for the wheel loads and fatigue.
Footbridges and platforms
Truss or arched steel footbridges over streams and canals, and the steel frames of floating platforms on a lake. Where needed, we design the bridge supports together with their piled foundations.
Connections and shop drawings
We calculate bolted and welded connections, column bases and anchorages. The workshop receives part drawings, erection plans and a material list with a weight summary.
Existing steel structures
Before a new crane, additional equipment or a roof change, we check whether the existing system is adequate and propose strengthening if necessary.
Applicable regulations and standards
We carry out member and connection calculations to the Regulation on Design, Calculation and Construction Principles for Steel Structures. The regulation allows load and resistance factor design (YDKT) and design with safety factors (GKT). We state clearly in the calculation report which one we have used. Seismic effects and the detailing rules tied to the ductility level come from the Turkish Building Earthquake Code 2018 (TBDY 2018), and load values, snow and wind included, from TS 498 and the related load standards. Fabrication and erection requirements are defined by the TS EN 1090 series; the drawings give the fabricator the information it needs under this standard.
How we work
Use and loads
We discuss the spans, crane capacity, equipment and racking loads and any future extension with you.
System selection
We compare frame types, bracing layouts and roof systems in terms of steel weight, ease of erection and seismic behavior.
Analysis and sizing
Using commonly used structural analysis software, we build the model and size the members and connections.
Design and shop drawings
We draw the general arrangement plans, sections, and column base and anchorage details. Then we produce the part drawings and material list the workshop will use.
Fabrication and erection
If the fabricator proposes a different section or connection, we check it by calculation and work the ones we accept into the drawings.
Deliverables
- Load analysis and structural calculation report
- Connection calculations
- General arrangement plans, elevations and sections
- Connection, column base and anchorage details
- Foundation and anchor bolt layout plan
- Shop (fabrication) drawings
- Material and weight list
Frequently asked questions
Do you prepare shop drawings as well?
Yes. We draw the shop drawings for the work we design. When shop drawings are requested for another office's design, we first review the approved design and the calculation report.
Can solar panels or new equipment be added to an existing roof?
We cannot say without checking the existing system. The panels and their support frame put a permanent additional load on the roof. We build the model from the as-built survey and member measurements and report whether that load can be carried.
Where does earthquake damage start in a steel structure?
Usually at the connections, if the details do not suit the ductility level. A steel structure dissipates earthquake energy through plastic deformation in the braces and at the beam ends. If the connections are not made stronger than these members, damage can appear at the connection early and in a brittle way.
Do you design the foundations too?
Yes. We design the reinforced concrete foundations of the steel structure using the geotechnical investigation data, and for footbridges we have also designed piled reinforced concrete supports. For the reinforced concrete side, see our reinforced concrete design page.
What is the difference between light-gauge steel and structural steel?
The difference is in the sections used. Structural steel uses hot-rolled sections and welded sections. For structures built with thin-walled, cold-formed sections, see our light-gauge steel building design page.
Request a quote for your project
Write to us with the type of building, its location and the documents you have. We will agree the scope and timeline with you and send a written quote.