American Conventional Steel

Detailing Process

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 Index
1. Concept Imperial Units & Calculation

2. Geometry & Formula

3. Basic of Engineering Drawing

4. Shapes & Grades

5. Conventional Steel Detailing Process

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1. Imperial Units & Calculation
Generally, two types of unit systems are used in industry. All other types of unit systems come under these two.
Mostly Imperial Unit System is used in USA & Canada but, it may vary depending on the Project & the Clients.
Imperial units (or) FPS - Feet Pound Second
Metric units (or) MKS – Meter Kilogram Second

FPS (Imperial units):

Dimension /Length is measured in foot / inch (ft / in)

Weight is measured in pound (lb)

Time is measured in Second (s)
Volume is measured in ft3 - in3
Density is measured in lbs/ in3

Imperial units’ Measurement & Representation:

1foot =12 inches 1inch =1/12 foot.

1kip = 1000 lbs 1lb = 0.001 kip
1ft = 1’- 0 1 inch = 0 – 1” (or) 1”

Feet / inch measurement:

Division in inch:

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Example of Addition in Imperial units:

2’ - 0 + 1’- 4 3⁄4 + 3’- 4 5⁄8

= 2’- 0 + 1’- 4 12⁄16+ 3’- 4 10⁄16

= 6’- 8 22⁄16
= 6’- 8 [16⁄16+6⁄16]
= 6’- 8 [1” +6⁄16]
= 6’- 9 6⁄16
= 6’- 9 3⁄8

5'- 11 13⁄16+ 14'- 10 7⁄8+ 19'- 8 1⁄8

= 5’- 11 13⁄16 + 14’ - 10 14⁄16+ 19 - 8 2⁄16
= 38’- 29 29⁄16
= 38’- 29 [16⁄16+13⁄16]
= 38’- 29 [1+13⁄16]
= 38’- 30 13⁄16
= 38’- [12 + 12 + 6] 13⁄16
= 38’- [1’+1’+ 6] 13⁄16
= 40’-6 13⁄16

Example of Subtraction in Imperial units:

6’- 0 – (1’-4 3⁄4) – (3’- 4 5⁄8)

= (6’- 0) – (1’- 412⁄16) – (3’- 4 10⁄16)

= (5’- 12) – (1’- 412⁄16) – (3’- 410⁄16)
= (5’- 1032⁄16) – (1’- 412⁄16) – (3’- 410⁄16)
= 1’- 2 10⁄16
= 1’- 2 5⁄8

16'- 11 13⁄16 – (14'-10 7⁄8)) – (0’-2 7⁄8)

= 15’-(12+11) 13⁄16 – (14’-1014⁄16) – (0’-214⁄16)
= 15’-23 13⁄16 – (14’-1014⁄16) – (0’-214⁄16)
= 15’-22 (16⁄16+ 13/16) – (14’-1014⁄16) – (0’-214⁄16)
= 15’-22 29⁄16– (14’-1014⁄16) – (0’-214⁄16)
= 1’-10 1/16

Example of Volume & Weight Calculation:

The weight of a steel plate whose length 2’- 0, width 2’- 0 and 1” thick.
3
Volume of plate = length x width x thickness = 24 x 24 x 1 in3 = 576 in
3
Density / unit weight of steel = 0.2836 lbs./in

Weight of the plate = Volume x density of steel= 576 x 0.2836 = 163.35 lbs.

Practice Question:

1. 5’- 8 9⁄16 (+) 4’- 2 1⁄2 (+) 2’- 1 3/4 =

2. 2’- 8 3⁄16 (+) 11’- 9 1⁄16 (-) 2’- 1 3/4 =

3. 3’- 2 5⁄16 (+) 4’- 9 1⁄4 (+) 2’- 1 1⁄2 =

4. 2’- 4 3⁄8 (+) 4’- 6 5⁄16 (+) 6’- 3 1⁄4 =

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5. 14’- 8 15⁄16 (–) 8’- 5 7⁄8 (–) 4’- 2 1⁄4 =

6. 8’- 4 13⁄16 (+) 4’- 9 3⁄8 (+) 7’- 3 1⁄2 (+) 3’- 8 3⁄16 (+) 5’- 2 1⁄16 =

7. 112’- 11 11⁄16 (+) 5’- 7 5⁄16 (+) 6’- 2 3⁄4 (+) 7’- 5 1⁄4 (+) 2’- 3 1⁄8 =

8. 92’- 0 (–) 9’- 2 7⁄16 (–) 6’- 3 1⁄8 (–) 8’- 0 3⁄16 (–) 9’- 4 1⁄4 =

9. 5’- 8 5⁄16 (-) 3’- 3 1⁄4 (+) 1’- 1 1⁄8 =

10. 111’- 4 5⁄8 (-) 4’- 2 1⁄16 (-) 5’-9 1⁄4 =

11. 11’- 7 15⁄16 (+) 5’- 3 7⁄8 (–) 2’- 8 1⁄8 =

12. 12’- 9 5⁄16 (-) 2’- 5 3⁄8 (+) 3’- 61⁄8 (-) 1’- 6 3⁄16 (+) 2’- 2 1⁄16 =

13. 11’- 9 1⁄16 (+) 2’- 7 5⁄16 (-) 11’- 9 3⁄4 (+) 7’- 5 1⁄4 (+) 2’- 5 1⁄8 =

14. 52’- 8 (–) 9’- 2 9⁄16 (–) 6’- 3 1⁄8 (–) 8’- 0 3⁄16 (+) 7’- 4 1⁄4 =

15. 5'-9 1/4 (+) 11'-10 3/8 (+) 19'-8 5/16 (+) 20’-10 1/2 =

16. 5'-11 13/16 (+) 14'-10 7/8 (+) 19'-8 1/8 =

17. 121’-11 5/16 (–) 21’-11 5/16 (–) 12’-11 5/16 (–) 2’-11 5/16 (-) 1’-11 5/16 =

18. 5'-9 1/4 (+) 11'-10 3/8 (+) 19'-8 5/16 (+) 20’-10 1/2 =

19. 11’-2 7/8 (–) 3’-2 1/16 (–) 4’-8 7/16 (+) 5’-0 =

20. 10’-1 1/16 (+) 2’-8 3/16 (–) 4’-9 15/16 =

21. Calculate volume of a steel plate whose length 1’- 0, width 1’- 0 and 2” thick.

22. Calculate volume of a steel plate whose length 2’- 6, width 1’- 3 and 2” thick.

23. Calculate volume of a steel plate whose length 2’- 6, width 1’- 3 and 1/2” thick.

24. Calculate weight of steel plate in Question 21, Density = 0.2836 lbs /in3

25. Calculate weight of steel plate in Question 22, Density = 0.2836 lbs /in3

Inches to decimal conversion:

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2. Geometry & Formula
Pythagorean Theorem:

This is the name of Pythagoras’ most famous discovery. It only works with right-angled triangles. The longest
side, which is always opposite to the right-angle, has a special name called ‘hypotenuse’. The square on the
longest side is equal in area to the sum of the squares on the other two sides.

Circles & Arcs:

A set of all points in a plane at a given distance from a given point in the plane.

Chord:

It is a line segment whose endpoints lie on the circle. Diameter is also a chord which passes through the centre of
the circle.

Tangent:

A line in the plane of the circle that intersects the circle in exactly one point.

Middle ordinate:

The perpendicular distance from midpoint of chord to circle/arc.

Arcs:

An arc is a part of a circle. A semicircle is one type of arc – half of a circle. A minor arc is smaller than a
semicircle. A major arc is larger than a semicircle.

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Formulas:

1. Circumference of a circle = 2.π.r (or) π.D.

2. Area of circle = π.r2 (or) π.D²/4

3. Chord length = 2.r. sin (Ø/2)

4. Middle ordinate, MO = r. [1- Cos (Ø/2)]

5. Arc length = π. D. (Ø/360)

Properties of Triangle:

1. The sum of interior angles of a triangle should be 180º. A + B + C = 180º.

2. The exterior angle of a triangle is equal to sum of opposite interior angles.

p + s = r; where p = b, s =a and r = a + b

3. Parallel line theorem Ѳ = ⱷ

Trigonometric relations:

Sin Ø = Opp. Side / Hypotenuse Ø = Sin-1 (Opp. Side / Hypotenuse)

Cos Ø = Adj. Side / Hypotenuse Ø = Cos-1 (Adj. Side / Hypotenuse)

Tan Ø = Opp. Side / Adj. Side Ø = Tan-1 (Opp. Side / Adj. Side)

Basic types of Surfaces:

Uneven Surface, Flat Surface, Slope surface and Step surface- Step Up & Step-Down Surface.

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Slope:

Slope surfaces are those whose are inclined from horizontal. Inclination of Slope surfaces can be denoted using
angles/bevel.

Bevel & Calculation:

Bevel is representation of the slope of an object. It is the distance of vertical/horizontal with respect to 1’-0 (or)
12 inches.

A / B = 12 / x Where, A= Vertical distance

B = Horizontal distance

X = Rise value for 1’-0 (or) 12”

Pitch:

Pitch is the inclination / slope of an object with 1’-0 (or) 12” as a base.

Representation of bevel:

Calculation of slope by percentage:

What does the 7% mean- 7% is the slope of the road. It means the road drops 7 feet vertically for every 100 feet
horizontally.

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Practice Question:

1. Calculate value of X, Y & Z.

2. A right triangle with sides 3 cm, 4 cm and 5 cm is rotated the side of 3 cm to form a cone. The
volume of the cone so formed is:
3. The angle of elevation of a ladder leaning against a wall is 60° and the foot of the ladder is 4.6
m away from the wall. What is the length of the ladder?
4. Calculate the value of third angle of a triangle, where Value of first angle = 10% of 60º + 90% of 30º
+ 30% of 50 & Second angle is right angle.
5. Area of a circle is equal to area of a rectangle, where value of pi (∏) = 3, Radius of circle = 2 X (5/16
+ 1/8 + 3/4 + 1/2 – 11/16), Length of a side of rectangle= 1% of 333 – 1% of 33. Calculate length of
diagonal of the rectangle
6. The ratio between the length and the breadth of a rectangular park is 3 : 2. If a man can cycling along
the boundary of the park at the speed of 12 Km/ H completes one round in 8 minutes. What is the
area of the park (in Square Meter).
7. Calculate the slope of a ramp in percentage with run of 51’- 0” and raise of 1’- 6”.
8. Calculate the slope of a ramp in percentage with run of 40’- 0” and raise of 1’- 2”.
9. Calculate the slope of a ramp in bevel with run of 51’- 0” and raise of 1’- 6”.
10. Calculate the slope of a ramp in bevel with run of 40’- 0” and raise of 1’- 2”.
11. Calculate area of the below figure in mm.

12. Calculate length of the arc AB. Diameter of circle is 7.5 cm for above figure.

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3 Basic of Engineering Drawing
Refer Engineering Drawing or Engineering Graphic book to study and practice following topics.

1. Basic Shapes
2. Line Types: Visible, Dimension and Extension, Hidden, Centre, Dotted, Break Line.
3. Dimensioning Method
• Continuous or Chain Dimensioning
• Parallel or Progressive Dimensioning
4. Projection:
• Orthographic Projection: 1st Angle & 3rd Angle Projection.
• Isometric Projection
5. Views:
• Principal views: Top, Bottom, Front, Rear, Left-Hand & Right-Hand views.
• Representation of cutting plane lines
• Section View
• Enlarged View

Scale:

The proportion by which the drawing of an object is enlarged or reduced is called the scale of the drawing. A
scale is defined as the ratio of the linear dimensions of the object as represented in a drawing to the actual
dimensions of the same. Drawings drawn with the same size as the objects are called full scale drawing. A
drawing has one scale. Sections & details may have different scale.

Types of scale: Reducing scale, Enlarging scale and Full scale (1:1).

Representative Factor:

In Imperial system, Scales are represented always with reference to 1’-0.

Example for reducing scale Example for enlarging scales

1⁄4”: 1’-0 1’- 0 : 1”

1⁄8”:1’-0 1’- 0 : 3”

3⁄8”: 1’-0 1’- 0 : 6”

1⁄2”: 1’-0

1” : 1’-0

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4. Shapes & Grades.
Structural Shapes:

1. Wide Flange

2. Channel

3. Angle

4. Structural Tee

5. Hollow Structural Section

6. Pipe

7. Plate Products

8. Raised Pattern Floor Plate

Structural Grade:

Grade helps to know the strength of the material. These are decided by ASTM depending on material chemical
composition. Different grade to be used depending upon the requirement of project. Material grade information for
a project is available in:

• General Notes in Contract Drawings

• Project Specification

• Typical Details and Section in Structural & Architectural Drawings (If UNO mentioned in General Notes)

Refer attached data sheet and following link for Structural Steel Dimensioning Tool for more details.

https://www.aisc.org/publications/detailing-resources3/dimensioningtool/
Practice Question:

1. Draw front view, top view & side view of following shape having length 6 inch.

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2. Draw front view, top view & side view of following shape having length 6 inch.

3. Draw front view, top view & side view of following shape having length 6 inch.

4. Draw front view, top view & side view of following angels having length 6 inch each.

5. Draw front view, top view & side view of following shape having length 6 inch each.

6. Draw front view, top view & side view of following shape having length 6 inch each.

7. Draw front view, top view & side view of following shape having length 6 inch.

8. Refer AISC Quiz session for practice.

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5. Conventional Steel Detailing Process.
A Steel detailer is a person who produces detailed drawings for steel fabricators and steel erectors. The detailer
prepares detailed plans, drawings and other documents for the manufacture and erection of steel members
(columns, beams, braces, trusses, stairs, handrails, ladders, joists, metal decking etc.) used in the construction of
building, bridges, industrial plans and non-building structures. A steel detailer’s projects are usually commercial,
residential, public industrial or municipal; low-rise residential projects. A steel detailer prepares two primary
types of drawings:

A. Shop/ Fabrication drawings

B. Field/ Erection drawings

Shop drawings:

Shop drawings, also called as a detail drawing, are used to specify the exact detailing requirements for
fabricating each and individual member (or “piece”) of a structure and are used by the steel fabricator to
fabricate these members. Complete shop drawings show material specifications, member sizes, all required
dimensions, welding, bolting, and surface preparation and painting requirements, and any other information
required to describe each completed member. The shop drawings are intended for use by the fabrication shop,
and thus contain little or no information about the erection and installation of the steel members they depict; this
information belongs in the erection drawings.

Erection drawing:

Erection drawing are used to guide the steel erector on the construction site (“in the field”). As to where and how
to erect the fabricated steel members. These drawings usually show dimensioned plans to locate the steel
members, and they often also show details with specific information and requirements, including all work that
must be done in the field (such as bolting, welding or installing wedge anchors). Since the erection drawings are
intended for use in the field, they contain very little specific information about the fabrication of any individual
steel member; members should already be completed by the time of erection drawings are used.

Refer following link for Conventional Steel Detailing Process (Module-1 to 10) for more detail.

https://www.aisc.org/publications/detailing-resources3/detailer-training-series-online-course/

Refer AISC drawing and following questions for practice.

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Document No- TM/PM/001_V1.0_30-11-2018