Introduction

Steel, renowned for its exceptional strength, ductility, and versatility, forms the backbone of modern infrastructure, enabling the construction of iconic skyscrapers, long-span bridges, and complex industrial facilities. Mastering Advanced Steel Design and Fabrication is crucial for engineers and fabricators to unlock its full potential, ensuring structural integrity, optimizing material usage, and achieving efficient construction. This training course is meticulously designed to equip civil and structural engineers, fabricators, erectors, quality control professionals, and advanced engineering students with cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills in understanding the advanced behavior of steel structures, mastering complex connection design, exploring stability analysis and progressive collapse prevention, delving into fatigue and fracture considerations, optimizing fabrication processes, and leveraging modern software tools for integrated design and manufacturing. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to design, detail, and fabricate high-performance steel structures that are safe, economical, sustainable, and meet the stringent demands of contemporary construction.

Target Audience

• Civil Engineers (Structural Design Focus)
• Structural Engineers
• Steel Fabricators & Detailers
• Construction Managers (Steel Structures)
• Quality Control/Assurance Professionals in Steel Industry
• Welding Engineers
• Researchers in Steel Structures
• Advanced Engineering Students

Objectives

• Understand the advanced behavior of steel members and connections under various loading conditions.
• Master the design of complex steel connections, including moment, shear, and bracing connections.
• Learn about stability analysis and design for steel frames and components.
• Explore fatigue and fracture considerations in steel structures.
• Understand the principles of steel fabrication, erection, and quality control.
• Develop proficiency in using advanced software for steel design and detailing.
• Learn about the design of steel structures for seismic and wind loads.
• Understand the concepts of progressive collapse prevention and robustness.
• Explore innovative steel materials and structural systems.
• Develop skills in coordinating design with fabrication and erection processes.
• Formulate comprehensive design and fabrication solutions for complex steel projects.

Course Content

Module 1. Review of Steel Design Fundamentals

• Material Properties: Stress-strain behavior of steel, yield strength, tensile strength, ductility
• AISC Specification (or relevant code) overview: Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)
• Design of tension members, compression members, and beams
• Shear and flexural design of steel members
• Introduction to common steel connections

Module 2. Advanced Beam and Plate Girder Design

• Lateral-Torsional Buckling: Advanced concepts and design considerations
• Plate Girders: Design of web, flanges, stiffeners (transverse, longitudinal)
• Shear lag effects in wide flange members and plate girders
• Design for combined bending and shear
• Fatigue design of plate girders

Module 3. Advanced Column and Frame Stability

• Column Stability: Flexural, torsional, and flexural-torsional buckling
• Effective Length Factor: Advanced determination for complex frames
• Second-Order Analysis: P-Delta effects and direct analysis method
• Stability bracing for columns and frames
• Design of frames for overall stability

Module 4. Design of Complex Connections: Moment Connections

• Moment Connections: Welded (full penetration, partial penetration), bolted (flange plates, end plates)
• Panel Zone Design and shear yielding
• Ductile Detailing: For seismic moment connections (e.g., prequalified connections)
• Stiffener requirements for moment connections
• Advanced analysis of moment connection behavior

Module 5. Design of Complex Connections: Shear and Bracing Connections

• Shear Connections: Shear tabs, double angle, single plate connections
• Eccentricity Effects: Design for eccentric shear connections
• Bracing Connections: Gusset plate design for concentric and eccentric braces
• Design for gusset plate buckling and yielding
• Connection design for truss members

Module 6. Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics in Steel Structures

• Fatigue Phenomena: Crack initiation and propagation under cyclic loading
• Fatigue Categories: AISC fatigue provisions, stress range, number of cycles
• Fracture Mechanics Fundamentals: Stress intensity factor, fracture toughness
• Brittle fracture prevention in steel structures
• Design considerations for fatigue-critical details

Module 7. Steel Fabrication Processes

• Material Handling: Receiving, storing, cutting (sawing, shearing, plasma, laser)
• Forming Operations: Bending, rolling, pressing
• Welding Processes: SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, SAW, inspection of welds
• Bolting procedures and tension control methods
• Assembly and Fit-up: Tolerances and dimensional control

Module 8. Steel Erection and Construction Engineering

• Erection Planning: Sequence, crane selection, temporary bracing
• Lifting and Rigging: Safe practices and equipment
• Field Connections: Bolting and welding in the field
• Plumbing and leveling of steel frames
• Safety considerations during erection

Module 9. Quality Control and Quality Assurance in Steel Construction

• Material Quality: Mill certificates, material testing
• Fabrication QC: Dimensional checks, weld inspection (NDT methods)
• Erection QC: Alignment, bolt tension, weld quality
• Inspection and Testing: Visual, UT, MT, RT, PT for steel structures
• Certification programs for fabricators and erectors

Module 10. Design for Seismic Loads in Steel Structures

• Seismic Force Resisting Systems: SMRF, BRBF, EBF, special plate shear walls
• Ductile Detailing: For seismic performance
• Overstrength and Redundancy in seismic design
• Performance-Based Seismic Design: For steel structures
• Seismic design of steel connections

Module 11. Design for Wind Loads and Dynamic Effects

• Wind Load Calculation: ASCE 7 or relevant code for steel structures
• Dynamic Response to Wind: Gust effects, vortex shedding
• Wind-induced vibrations and occupant comfort
• Aerodynamic Modifications: For tall steel buildings
• Wind tunnel testing for complex geometries

Module 12. Progressive Collapse Prevention and Robustness

• Progressive Collapse: Understanding the phenomenon and its causes
• Design Strategies: Alternate Path Method (APM), Enhanced Local Resistance (ELR)
• Robustness: Ability to withstand localized damage without disproportionate collapse
• Connection redundancy and continuity
• Case studies of progressive collapse

Module 13. Innovative Steel Materials and Systems

• High-Performance Steel (HPS): Properties and applications
• Stainless Steel: Corrosion resistance, fire resistance
• Weathering Steel: Atmospheric corrosion resistance
• Modular and Prefabricated Steel Construction: Benefits and challenges
• Long-span steel structures and special systems (e.g., diagrids, space frames)

Module 14. Advanced Detailing and Building Information Modeling (BIM)

• Detailing Standards: AISC Design Guides, industry best practices
• Shop Drawings and Erection Drawings: Importance and content
• Building Information Modeling (BIM): For integrated steel design, fabrication, and erection
• Clash detection and coordination in BIM
• Digital fabrication and automation in steel construction

Module 15. Case Studies and Future Trends in Steel Construction

• Iconic Steel Structures: Analysis of their design and construction challenges
• Failure Analysis: Lessons learned from steel structural failures
• Sustainability in Steel: Recycled content, recyclability, low-carbon steel
• Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) for steel components
• Future of steel construction: Smart structures, robotics, advanced materials.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.