Steel Availability
Steel Availability
(OP)
How does one figure out which of the many ASTM shapes (W's, S's, C's, etc.) are regularly available on the market for use? ...especially when the quantities may end up being low, not justifying a special rolling (i.e. between 0-2 tons).






RE: Steel Availability
From MSC 15th Edition:
Also AISC website on 'steel availability': Link
...and this Modern Steel Construction article 'ARE YOU PROPERLY SPECIFYING MATERIALS?': Link
For small quantities when I need to weld/fab something, I usually just call my local steel merchant.
RE: Steel Availability
Call a couple local fabricators who might bid the work. First for general info. a bit more locally specific than the AISC tabulation. Then again when you get some idea of some of the sizes involved on the project. A couple tons of fairly std. shapes and plate many fabricators might take out of their own stock.
RE: Steel Availability
Typically shorter lighter wide flange shapes, and smaller square tubing or pipe (8" or less w/ max 3/8" wall) are easy to get, never really had a problem with channels since there's not that many shapes. Really heavy wide flange shapes and larger tubes can be difficult to get, and a lot of times it's preferable to use multiple members or built up shapes that are more readily available to solve the problem if possible. I've had smaller projects where contractors just want to frame everything w/ W12x26 even if it's way oversized, just because they're used to using it and it's easy to get.
If its a bigger project, I would just spec what you need, within reason, and increase depth when you can to provide a more economical design. If the contractor wants to upsize for availability they will let you know, or they won't and just do it. If your holding someones hand, then you can just call local fabricators as others have mentioned.
RE: Steel Availability
Jeff
Pipe Stress Analysis
Finite Element Analysis
www.xceed-eng.com
RE: Steel Availability
Every piece of structural steel I've specced at 250/260MPa in the past several years and reviewed mill certificates for has been dual certified to at least 300MPa if not higher.
RE: Steel Availability
RE: Steel Availability
http://www.nucoryamato.com/staticdata/RollCastSche...
RE: Steel Availability
Dave
Thaidavid
RE: Steel Availability
Dave
Thaidavid
RE: Steel Availability