HSS Design with the Latest Codes 

and Material Specifications
Kimberley Olson, PE
Technical Consultant to the Steel 
Tube Institute
Topics

Uses 
Materials
Availability 
Connections
 History
Structural members have been around for centuries.  
They’ve been used as flexural load carrying 
members…as columns and beams in huts and 
housing…and for scaffolding.

Galileo studied structural members in the 15th
century.  He called them “hollow solids” and 
analyzed specific examples from nature — the stems 
of flowers…the bones of animals…bamboo… 
structural members which are lightweight and 
flexible, yet strong. 
 Compression

No weak axis ‐ great for columns
 Torsion

Torsional constant of an HSS is ≈200 
times that of an open section

HSS Wide Flange

Torsion
 Torsion
Example:
Beam length 30’
torsional load 1.2 ft‐k/ft

W18x35 ϴ = 2.41 rad

HSS12x6x5/16 ϴ = 0.0063 rad
 Blast Loading
HSS are good blast resistant members
• direction of loading
• higher torsional rigidity
• composite HSS members
Manufacturing Process
Two processes:
• Electric Resistance Welding (ERW)
• Weld ‐ Round, Form ‐ Square 
Process (continuous forming)
• Form ‐ Square, Weld ‐ Square 
Process (direct forming)
• Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)
Manufacturing Process
All starts when steel coils are split 
into proper widths
Weld ‐ Round, Form ‐ Square
Form ‐ Square, Weld ‐ Square
Submerged Arc Welding
HSS Materials

A500
A1085
A1065
A847
A53
A252
 ASTM A500

…has been around since the late 70’s
 ASTM A500

Excerpt from ASTM A500‐13
 The 0.93 Reduction
Design wall Supporting
Spec Designation Comments
thickness Manual
1989 ASD (1) tnom 9th Ed. ASD TS
1986 LRFD tnom 1st Ed. LRFD TS
1993 LRFD (2) tnom 2nd Ed. LRFD TS
1997 HSS Supplement to the
0.93 x tnom (3) NA (4) HSS
(LRFD) 1993 LRFD Spec.
1999 LRFD (2) 0.93 x tnom (3) 3rd Ed. LRFD HSS
2000 HSS Supplement to the
0.93 x tnom (3) 3rd Ed. LRFD HSS
(LRFD) 1999 LRFD Spec.
2005 ERW: 0.93 x tnom
13th Ed. HSS
(AISC 360-05) SAW: tnom
2010 ERW: 0.93 x tnom
14th Ed. HSS
(AISC 360-10) SAW: tnom
2016 A500: 0.93 x tnom * also includes
15th Ed. HSS
(AISC 360-16) A1085*: tnom A1065

Notes:
(1) Includes previous ASD specifications and Manuals. HSS was not specifically covered in all of these specifications or manuals
(2) The reduction is included by using the appropriate separate HSS Specification
(3) Applies when the actual thickness of the wall is not known
(4) This specification never appeared in the Manual of Steel Construction but it did appear in the HSS Connections Manual.
 ASTM A1085

Wall Thickness 
Yield Strength tolerance & Mass  Corner Radius
tolerance

hold on, i have to 
± 10%
look it up…
A500 no mass  < 3t
ranges from 33‐
tolerance
50 ksi

50 ksi min, ‐5%, +10% t≤0.4” 1.6t ‐ 3t

A1085
70 ksi max ‐3.5%, +10% t>0.4” 1.8t ‐ 3t
The 0.93 Reduction

ASTM A1085
• 0.93 factor not required!!
• Not in AISC 360 yet but has been 
published in Modern Steel
• AISC 360‐16 draft includes A1085 
and does not require thickness 
reduction
 Strength Comparison
Compressive strength: HSS6x6x3/8, kL = 14’

A500 GrB A1085

0.93 x tnom tnom

12% 
Fy = 46 ksi increase Fy = 50 ksi
ɸPn = 153k ɸPn = 172k
 ASTM A1085
Ry values will go down

Ry =    actual yield
spec’d min yield
 ASTM A1085
Steels for use in primary bridge members are required to 
have sufficient fracture toughness to reduce the probability 
of brittle failure in the presence of a fatigue crack or other 
notch‐like defect.
CVN test requirement
• Ability of a material to resist fracture under impact 
loading
• Measures absorbed energy during fracture
• Cut V in steel and hit with a pendulum, measure how far 
the pendulum swings up
• Amount of energy absorbed will increase as temperature 
increases
 ASTM A1085
AASHTO divides US into three temperature 
zones for specifying fracture toughness.  
Delineated by lowest anticipated service 
temperature
 A1065
SAW manufacturing process

only rectangular / square 
sections

tapered sections

larger sections (perimeter 
greater than 64” and up to 1” 
thick)

no reduction in design 
thickness
A500 Gr B vs Gr C Smackdown

DUAL CERT!!!
Always specify Grade C!
 The Seam Weld
Per A500, “The longitudinal butt joint of 
welded tubing shall be welded across its 
thickness in such a manner that the structural 
design strength of the tubing section is 
assured”

A500‐13 adds that the 
weld seam shall not be 
placed within the radius
 ASTM A53
A true pipe specification, intended for 
mechanical and pressure applications 
(steam, water, air, gas).
Not recommended by STI.
Availability
 Connections
Program WF bm to HSS Col HSS Col HSS vert HSS to Mitered Integration
HSS col splices base plate bracing HSS Knee / End
(truss) pl
Enercalc X None

DESCON X X None

Fastrak X Fastrak
Connection
LIMCON X X X X X None

RAM X X X X RSS, RE,

Connection STAAD
RISA X X RISAFloor &
Connection RISA-3D
SDS/2 X X X X REVIT 2014
Connect add-in
STI’s HSS None
checks HSS
Connex
support only
Online
TEDDS X None STI
development
Connections ‐ TEDDS
Connections ‐ TEDDS
 Connections ‐ Excel
Single Plate Shear Connection of WF Beam to HSS 
Column
Moment Connection of WF Beam to HSS Column
• Continuous Beam over Column
• Through Plate
• Directly Welded
Truss Connection
• K Connection
• T/Y Connection
Connections ‐ Excel
Connections ‐ HSS Connex Online
Proprietary Connections

Sideplate ConXtech
Proprietary Connections

Hollo Bolt* by 
Cast Connex
Lindapter, Blind Bolt, 
Box Bolt by LNA*
 Resources
• AISC Manual & Design Guide 24
• CIDECT Design Guides
• Hollow Structural Section Connection and 
Trusses by J.A. Packer & J.E. Henderson
• STI’s Contact page
• Coming Q1/2015 STI Product Manual
Thank you!!

Kim Olson, PE
303.720.4076
[email protected]