by Adalberto West (Editor)
Steel is widely used in the construction of large column free structures owing to its property of high strength per unit mass. Steel structures are commonly used in the design of water tanks, chimneys, transmission towers for microwave and electric power, roof trusses for factories, cinema halls, auditoriums, etc. Some other applications of steel structures include plate girder and truss bridges for railways and roads, and crane girders, columns and trussed bents in industrial structures. There are various advantages of steels over other materials for purpose of construction. These include high durability, assured quality, reusability, water and gas resistivity, and speed of construction. Another important benefit of steel structures is that they can be strengthened any time later through the process of welding. This book outlines the principles and practice for the design of steel structures. It includes some of the vital pieces of work being conducted by experts across the world, on various topics related to design of steel structures.