STEEL DESIGN USING WORKING STRESS METHOD AND CLAUSES OF SECTION 12 OF IS 800: 2007 – A COMPARISON

Abstract

The ‘Code of Practice for General Construction in Steel – IS 800’ was revised in the year 2007. The previous version of the code was released in the year 1984. It took 23 years for the revision of the code. During these years, there was a huge leap in the design philosophy of steel structures. The method of design changed from the ‘working stress method’ to the ‘limit state method’. This change was captured in the new revision that became available in the year 2007. It also captured the need for seismic design in a
detailed manner that was non-existent in the previous revisions of the code. These requirements are mentioned in the section 12 of IS 800 – 2007; ‘Design and Detailing for Earthquake loads’. Some of the requirements are found to have a large impact on the design of structures. The new clauses specify different and stringent requirements for bracing members, connections, etc. As a result, there is an
increase in the quantity of steel consumed. The quantity consumed as a part of connections has also increased. The present study intends to look critically at the provisions mentioned in the Section 12 of IS 800 – 2007, analyse the feasibility and practicality of using these clauses in design and understand the impact that it has on the quantities vis-à-vis the working stress method of design which has been prevalent