14th edition AISC Manual

[TehMightyEngineer]

Not sure why I didn't ask this question sooner but whatever.

In the 13th Edition of the AISC manual they drop off any W-section below a W8 from the tables. I HATE this! Doing industrial work I often need to use a W6 or W4 for numerous reasons and usually they are very lightly loaded and I would love to just grab their plastic flexural strength from a table or use Table 3-10 to calculate their flexural capacity for a small unbraced length. Same if I want to use them as a stubby column. Yes, it's not hard to hand-calc the numbers on them but why did they feel the need to save 10 pages in the manual and leave these members out? GAH!

</rant> My question is does the 14th Edition manual include these small W sections in the tables (such as Table 3-2, 3-10, etc.)? I still haven't got around to buying ASIC-10 yet, haven't had the need. If so I'd buy it right now.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[Archie264]

They probably dropped 10 pages in order to ad 35 more.

Don't tell anyone I told you this but the information in your old manual is probably still good.

 

[bootlegend]

Unfortunately they don't have the smaller columns listed in the 14th edition either.

I agree with you. Plenty of times that a small column can be used.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Your secret is safe with me and the rest of the internet (which has a great track record for confidentiality I hear).

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Thanks Boot, remind me to make a comment next time the AISC manual goes up for public comments.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[Hokie93]

As Archie indicated, you can find tabulated column capacities for W6, W5, and W4 shapes in most any "old" AISC steel manual, including the 9th edition (green) manual. You will, however, not find the information in the 3rd edition LRFD steel manual. For that manual, the smallest W-shape included in the column tables is a W10. See, AISC did you a favor by returning the W8 to the column tables for the 13th edition manual.

The rationale for including only W8 and deeper shapes in the column tables is difficulty in making standard connections to the W6 and smaller shapes. Another benefit is that, perhaps, our architect friends will get the idea that W4's are not intended to be used as columns! I know, wishful thinking.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

What? I'd say about 90% of the columns I specify are W8. No wonder my boss never used the LRFD manuals and stuck with the 9th edition.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[NOLAENG]

I got frustrated with this as well TME. I made a spreadsheet that creates the plot for a single section property, can do other yield strength values, and use a Cb >1 if necessary. We often use repeat sizes and it's not worth my time to read the graph (if there even is one) with other sections crowding the plot. It's faster for me to open spreadsheet and change a few values with a clearly presented graph and strength values. I wouldn't bother purchasing the 14th Edition unless required by building code. Grab the free specification pdf from AISC's website and pdf with changes from 13th to 14th.

 

[JedClampett]

Don't forget, AISC is a organization made to market steel. Bigger members mean more steel. If there's any reason to leave those tiny W4's and W6's off and leave in the larger sizes, they're going to do it.
In my case, I try to not use the smaller W8's as columns becuase I have to check slenderness and it's a pain. So I use a small HSS or pipe instead.

 

[spats]

It is my understanding that AISC plans on removing ALL tables from the next edition of the manual. The entire thing is being reorganized. There will be decision trees and formulas only, no tables!

 

[jittles]

Whaaat? That's crazy talk, all tables being removed. I refuse to believe!

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Yeah, I heard that rumor too spats. But did you also know that they've said that even after removing the tables they've still increased the size of the manual as well? It's now two volumes plus a CD. Oh, and I hear the manual requires that it be connected to the internet before you can open it. Not sure how that works but whatever.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[WillisV]

@spats - that is unequivocally false. While some reorganization and consolidation of tables may take place, there will certainly still be tables in the next Manual.

 

[Bagman2524]

AISC continues to make their spec/manual more geared toward multistory buildings and thus more complicated. There doesn't seem to be any consideration for smaller structures, pipe racks, platforms, etc. The 9th edition was the easiest to work with

"Look for 3 things in a person intelligence, energy and integrity. If they don't have the last one, don't even bother with the first 2. W. Buffet

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

I assumed he was joking (as I was in my response).

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[WillisV]

@TehMightyEngineer - I hope so!

 

[spats]

I double checked with the guy that talked directly to AISC, and found out that I misspoke. They're not eliminating tables, but are going to start reducing the number of tables beginning with the next manual. Supposedly they will phased out over time.