Comparison between BS 5950: Part 1: 2000 and Eurocode 3 for design the restrained structural steel beam

Abstract

This study is conducted to design and analysis the simply supported restrained steel beam by using Eurocode 3 (EC3) and BS 5950: Part 1: 2000 for comparing purposes. A simple program of Microsoft Excel 2007 was developed to execute an analysis for the steel beam design and compared it with manual calculation. Additionally, few parameters such as different loading types, beam lengths and steel grades (S275 and S355) were used to observe their influences in design. Besides, steel beam which designated by using both standards are compared in term of structural capacities and deflection. From the results acquired, it shows that design based on EC3 and BS 5950 is generally same. It’s also found that as the loadings and beam lengths increases, the shear capacity and moment capacity also increases. Meanwhile, the design based on BS 5950 required greater size of beam compare to EC3. Therefore, it can be stipulated that EC3 provide more conservative and economical design compare to BS 5950. Moreover, the actual and allowable deflection in EC3 is more desirable than BS 5950. In order to improve this project, further study can be made for other steel’s structural element by using different software.