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New edition of AISC Steel Construction Manual now available

Codes and Standards

New edition of AISC Steel Construction Manual now available

Includes the 2016 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | August 14, 2017
A steel bridge from underneath

Pixabay Public Domain

The American Institute of Steel Construction’s (AISC) 15th Edition Steel Construction Manual is now available.

The new edition includes the 2016 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, with improvements and revisions in the provisions for slender-element compression members, shear strength and double angle and WT flexural strength. It also includes the 2016 Code of Standard Practice, which clarifies the use of models, and new and enhanced Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel (AESS) standards.

This is the 15th major update of the Manual, which was first published in 1927. The 14th edition was released in 2011. Major updates in the new edition include:

  • New heavier W-shape sizes and larger HSS, pipe and angle sizes.
  • A new, all-in-one, “super table” that gives the available compressive, flexural, shear and tension strengths for W-shapes.
  • W-shape column tables for 65- and 70-ksi steel.
  • HSS design tables updated to higher strength ASTM A500 Grade C steel.
  • Updated coped beam strength design procedure

“AISC is aware of the difficulty experienced by the structural engineering profession when dealing with the frequent changes in building codes and material standards,” said Larry Kruth, PE, AISC’s vice president of engineering and research. “The enhancements in the 15th Edition Manual should be a great aid in helping structural engineers in adapting to these changes when designing with steel.”

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