opinions on new steel manual? 1

[bjb]

Hi all, I haven't yet picked up a copy of the new steel manual. Out of curiosity, (for those who have one) what are your opinions about it?

 

[Redfish205]

I think any opinions I have at this time will be like the first couple of weeks of college football poles. We are still up in the air until we see how well we perform further into the season.
I like the idea of having ASD/LRFD side by side. Wish they would make the pages out of something a little more substantial than onion skin. I like the "User Notes" added in each section and the fact that they have included the HSS manual into this edition.

 

[rday]

I wish it were a little cheaper than $350. I also second the desire for more substantial pages.

Rik

 

[HgTX]

The onionskin may be in response to earlier complaints about having to buy two volumes.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[whyun]

Design examples are removed from the manual, but they can be found in the CD-ROM.

I do have complaints about the onion skin but I'd rather have it this way than to have a 12" thick manual.

rday: $350 is quite high, I agree. If you have enough engineers at your firm, consider joining AISC as a firm. Membership dues can be as low as $1 per person if the numbers work out. Once an AISC member, you get substantial discounts on the manual. $175, for the 13th edition.

 

[DRC1]

I finally did the math and Joined AISC because of the price. Have found the free downloads of papers and guides very useful already. If you are going to buy it, pay the 175 to join and 175 for the manual

 

[UcfSE]

Is the one volume of this new manual a full complete edition, meaning it contains all the tables, all the different sections and has the connections volume included within it?

I'm definitely considering joining AISC. It would be cheaper to do that than pay for the non-member manual. Maybe that's why it costs so much, motivation to join.

 

[bjb]

UcfSE, I joined a while back and I consider it worth it. You can download all of the design guides for free, and you can also download engineering journal articles for free. The member discount for the manuals is also good, considering how expensive they are now. I wonder if the next version of the steel manual will hit $500 for non-members.

 

[UcfSE]

bjb,

Do you purchase enough and download enough free stuff to justify the membership price every year versus the more expensive manual price every few years?

 

[WillisV]

UcfSE - Yes the new manual (just like the 3rd edition) contains all of the design tables and connection information. Unlike the third edition they have incorporated the HSS connection manual and specification into this edition. In order to make room for this as well as the additional information required to allow for presentation of ASD and LRFD, the actual worked design examples were moved to a companion CD also included with the manual.

 

[JedClampett]

A question: When I was a student, many, many years ago, we were required to buy an AISC Manual, same as any textbook. In those days it cost about $19. I know textbook prices are through the roof, but $350! How does AISC expect to encourage young engineers to consider steel design if the book is so stinking expensive? I know students can join AISC for a nominal fee and get the discounted price, but still it seems punative. In the old days, I thought the AISC Manual was like a marketing item, where it was sold for less than cost and helped AISC in their mission of selling steel. Are they mostly in the business of selling books now?
By the way, many of us established types can expense these books to our companies, so this isn't just griping about the cost.

 

[bjb]

UcfSE,

I would say I probably don't download enough free struff every year to break even with the membership fee. On the other hand, having access to all of that free stuff is almost like having an extension of our own structural library. The resource is there whenever I need it. Also there is a big convenience factor because if I need to obtain a design guide or journal article I don't already have, I can just download it rather than having to go through the bureaucratic process at my firm to request the money. That takes a certain amount of time, and it can be aggravating.

 

[UcfSE]

That is a good point about the easy access when you need it. I know how the bureaucratic process works when you need something: the very earliest you'll get what you need is when you don't need it anymore. I was just thinking about the cost since I fund all of my own code buying and membership costs. It's a bit expensive to say the least.

Thanks bjb and Willis for taking the time to answer my quesitons. When I get my new manual I'll try to remember to post here

 

[bjb]

UcfSE,

I can see why you are giving this careful consideration since you have to foot the bill yourself. I would too if I had to fund it myself, but my firm allows us to joint up to 2 professional organizations. It may be possible for your firm to obtain a company membership with AISC. Good luck.

 

[LowLax]

Anyone else notice the allowable loads (ASD) for shear plate bolted connections is a lot higher than the old green book? Anyone know what caused the increase?

 

[whyun]

Capacity reduction due to eccentricities can now be ignored.

 

[DaveVikingPE]

bjb,

Have you downloaded all of the design guides? If they're "free" to AISC members, then the membership price and the discount on the manual is definitely worth it.

 

[bjb]

DaveViking,

Yes, I have downloaded many of the design guides. I agree that joining is worth it, but my company picks up the tab for my membership. What's also nice is that you can get access to all engineering journal articles for free too. I've compiled quite a library.