Design of HSS columns 1

[AELLC]

Is there a resource that shows me the procedure in ASD methodology, round pipe or hollow square column with axial compression applied off-centroid (induces some bending to upset stability)?

I design mostly with wood and once in a rare instance need a steel column where there is no room for a large wood post.

I have some old textbooks but they do not handle this case clearly, and not to current Code (IBC 2006 or 2009).

I could buy a new AISC manual but I would rather understand the procedure and create an Excel worksheet to do this because when I am in the middle of the design of some custom home I don't want to try to fumble thru the design of this using the AISC manual. It would be easy to consider a concentric load but I have no idea the magnitude a typical load eccentricity would reduce the allowable capacity of a slender, steel column.

 

[ToadJones]

Weell, I think you'll pretty much have to design per Chapter H of AISC for combined stress.
For an HSS column, this should be rather straight forward.

 

[steellion]

AISC makes their specification, which includes all of the design equations, for free online. The Manual is filled with design tables, connection details, and other useful information, but is not necessary to design one column.

 

[spats]

There is a spreadsheet on the AISC website

http://www.steeltools.org

called BEAMCOL13.xls.

 

[AELLC]

Thanks Spats, it's perfect.

 

[csd72]

This is about as simple as steel design gets, if you do not feel capable of designing a HSS column by hand then maybe you should give steel design a miss.

It just concerns me that you may just use the spreadsheet to plug and play.