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ASI, News

Dealer Profile – Ron Clark of Texoma TNT in Witchita Falls, Texas

There is a saying in marketing that goes, “Good conversation will drive traffic”. Nothing could be truer when it comes to Ron Clark of Texoma TNT of Wichita Falls, Texas. Ron is great to talk to, then combine that with the fact that he knows the product inside and out and you have a top-notch buying experience. Ron takes great satisfaction in the fact that American Steel buildings are high quality at an affordable price and has enjoyed partnering up with them.  When I asked him why a customer should choose him, he quickly answered, “I have knowledge”. That was also the advice he had for future dealers; knowledge of product from top to bottom. He pointed out that by ordering from him you can be assured to have someone in your corner the whole time.

As a final question, I always like to ask, what concert would they want to see.  Well, Ron first responded he wouldn’t. Then, remembered the time when he was younger and drove a bunch of friends to Dallas to see a concert. Only he stayed outside in the bed of the truck listening to the music and drinking cold beer.     

We are proud to have Ron on board as a dealer for us and can assure that he will take perfect care of you.

Find Ron’s dealership information below:

TEXOMA AMERICAN STEEL

(800) 313-2046

Website: 
www.texomatnt.com

Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/texomatnt/

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2019-08-23 13:28:442020-08-06 18:55:00Dealer Profile – Ron Clark of Texoma TNT in Witchita Falls, Texas
ASI, Events, News

In the crucial moments…

In the crucial moments of a fight, the here and now is important but more important is the time, focus and due diligence that went into the preparation. The same applies for us and the installation of the building process. From the Sales to scheduler to installers and everywhere in between it is paramount that all cylinders are clicking, and everything is in line. The correlation between what we do and what a boxer does is why we are closely align to the sport.

We had the honor of having up and coming boxers Rafael ‘Listo’ Gaitan and Ramiro Martinez stop by the office for a meet and greet. It’s an honor to be a sponsor for these young men and it was great to see them interact and show the other side of their personalities.

Let’s look at the stats:

 


Ramiro Martinez is from Veracruz, Mexico he has an amateur record of 24-2 and won nationals in 2016 and Golden Gloves in 2015.

Rafael ‘Listo’ Gaitan is from Grand Prairie, he is 4-0 as a pro with 2 knockouts and a 68-3 overall record, 4 time national champion, 7 time Golden Glove Champion, U.S.A. National team in 2015, 2016 and 2017, Texas state champ in 2017, MO state champ in 2016 and Ranked 4th in the world in 2015.
Up next for the Grand Prairie, Texas native Listo Gaitan is a huge fight on July 13th in Irving, Texas. It will be Listo’s first fight since being signed by Team Garcia Promotions, the event will be at Southern Junction Nightclub located at 101 N Rogers road, Irving, Texas. This Is the 5th pro fight for Listo and is considered to have one of the brightest futures in boxing. Bring the whole family out for a great night of entertainment.

American Steel Carports is your trusted source for customize metal buildings, we make our buildings to go all 12 rounds and stand victorious. From the moment you speak with our sales staff we will protect you from any unseen Punches and keep you cruising to victory. Please reach out to us with any questions you may have at (866)730-9865 or AmericansSteelInc.com

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2019-05-28 16:08:392020-08-06 18:55:01In the crucial moments…
ASI, Blog, Lifestyle, News, Spotlight, Steel Structures

Happy Holidays from American Steel Carports!

Another year has gone by and American Steel Carports is honored to have serviced our dear customers, working with our great staff, and dealers who have helped us throughout 2018. As a company, we’re very appreciative for these 20 years in business. The reason why we are still standing strong is because of you, all our customers, and followers!

In gratitude, we wish to show our appreciation by doing a FREE giveaway. A lucky contestant in our great state of TEXAS will be the winner of an 18’W x 21’L x 7’H Standard carport 14-Gauge valued at $1,418.08 You heard me right folks! A FREE metal carport for your needs! Did we mention we offer 13 different colors to choose from at no additional cost?

It grabbed your attention huh? Here are the rules:

  • Share the Facebook Post [click here]
  • Comment “#StrongLikeTexas“
  • Like our FB Page [click here]

Ya’ll have until January 30th, 2019 to participate. We will randomly select and announce the winner on February 1st via our Facebook page.

If you would like to upgrade once you have won, the carport – no worries! We’ll honor you the discount of the carport’s value at $1,418.08.

 

*Please note only our Texas service area qualifies to win. Our offices will be closed from December 22nd – January 6th. Feel free to participate throughout that time. We will answer any lingering questions upon our return. *

 

Good luck and Happy Holidays from the ASCI Family!

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2018-12-19 22:33:552020-08-06 18:55:59Happy Holidays from American Steel Carports!
ASI, Blog, Informative, News, Steel Structures

Cut off Times

We are entering that time of the year again when the weather starts dropping, the snow starts coming and we make our cut off dates.

What are cut off dates?

They are the time frame where we will be halting delivery on units in certain regions.

Why cut off dates?

Because although we would love to take care of customers 365 days a year, it’s highly unlikely due to the weather variables that are far beyond our control.

When do we start delivering again?

We will start up in full steam in the spring delivering and installing new units.

What states have been cut off for 2018?

October 15 – Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and New Jersey.

September 27 – New York

No longer servicing Massachusetts as of 9/21/2018

November 19 – Wisconsin, Minnesota, Upper Michigan

 

We can’t wait to get started installing your buildings in the spring. Take care, everyone!

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2018-10-23 13:05:322020-08-06 18:56:00Cut off Times
ASI, Blog, Events, News, News/Press, Spotlight

Texas Motor Speedway

Who’s ready for the upcoming NASCAR playoffs? American Steel Carports sure is! Join us this November 1st in the Fan Zone at Texas Motor Speedway. Look for the white tent with our big logo on it! We’ll be happy to assist you with any questions you might have regarding our metal buildings, and we’ll be giving out freebies! If you’re planning to join the NASCAR playoff, here’s the schedule of the races:

Thursday, November 1st: The green flag flies on a triple-header NASCAR Playoff weekend with Camping World Truck Series Practice.

Friday, November 2nd: Salute to Veterans Qualifying Fueled by Texas Lottery for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series, leading up to the JAG Metals 350.

Saturday, November 3rd: Salute to Veterans Qualifying Fueled by Texas Lottery for the XFINITY Series plus the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 XFINITY race.

Sunday, November 4th: Features the weekend’s main event, the AAA Texas 500, the 8th race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

Don’t forget to stop by and say hi!

 

Credit: http://www.texasmotorspeedway.com/events/

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2018-10-18 19:05:332020-08-06 18:56:01Texas Motor Speedway
ASI, Blog, Informative, Lifestyle, News, Questions

Protecting your Investments Year-Round

In the summer months they are all over the highway, weaving in and out of lanes, onto the shoulders, across the center lines, and nearly into the ditch. Clearly, many people sitting behind wheels of large recreational vehicles are not used to driving 40-foot boxes on wheels, even without wind. Their poor driving skills are most obvious when they try to negotiate the most basic right and left turns.

Driving skills aside, have you ever wondered how much those gas-guzzling behemoths cost, especially since the average price of a passenger car has surpassed $31,000? In 2018, the average cost of a new recreation vehicle is around $135,500. Depending on the options, prices can range into the millions.

It’s unfortunate that having money to burn doesn’t mean having the skill to actually drive an RV safely! Regardless of this, given the size of their investments, owners of RVs want them to look good as long as possible, hopefully until they’re paid off. After all, who wants to drive around in a vehicle that looks like it belongs to Cousin Eddie? Not driving it would defeat its purpose, but owners at least want assurance that they can keep their six-wheeled monstrosities safe when they’re off the road.

Most people don’t own barns or garages large enough to house a 40- or 50-foot RV, so the most practical way to protect it from the elements is with a prefabricated metal building or metal RV carport. Although steel buildings are colloquially referred to as metal carports, they are available in sizes large enough to accommodate the biggest RVs. It’s also good to know that these carports are affordable. This makes them excellent options for owners of boats, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles who don’t want to pay for offsite storage. The bottom line is that anyone looking to shelter their expensive vehicles from snow, ice, rain, and sun can get durable protection without spending thousands of dollars.

Although metal carport prices vary, even the largest, most deluxe metal RV port will be considerably cheaper than rented storage space. Owners will know be happier knowing that their vehicles are safe and sound on their own premises.

f you live in an area with lots of adverse and unpredictable weather conditions, then you know how important it is to plan ahead and protect your vehicles during the winter months. If you haven’t made these preparations yet, you might want to buy a carport.

For example, hail, which is often not covered by car insurance, can be especially damaging to cars. In more than half the cases in which hail destroys the structural integrity of a car, the damages are not repaired. With the help of carport installers, however, you can ensure that your vehicle is not harmed by Mother Nature.

In particular, metal carports made of galvanized steel can be effective in multiple environments, from industrial settings to coastal areas. People who specifically near the ocean and own boats will find that these structures can protect their property well throughout the year.

An additional benefit of a steel carport is that it can be recycled in perpetuity without losing its strength or sustainability over the years. You can protect your prized possessions while being environmentally responsible.

When you choose a company to help you install your carport, you will want to base your decision on who can get the job done in a timely manner with the highest-quality materials. When it comes to protecting your property from the elements, it’s important to make sure that you have peace of mind and can go about your day during a nasty storm without worrying about the physical state of your vehicle.

 

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2018-10-02 08:12:202020-08-06 18:56:01Protecting your Investments Year-Round
A-Frame Horizontal, A-Frame Vertical, Agricultural, ASI, Barn, Blog, Buildings, Carports, Custom, Customer Builds, Garage, Informative, Lifestyle, News, Questions, RV Carports, Spotlight, Standard, Steel Structures, Workshop

Lighting & Metal Buildings

Are you worried that your metal building might attract lightning? We’ve all been there. Fortunately, I’ve got good news and great news.

Here’s the deal:

The common myth is that out of all types of structures, metal buildings are the most prone to lightning strikes. In other words, metal buildings and metal roofs are basically lightning magnets. Makes sense, right?

Wrong.

A ton of other crazy myths are also still floating around—including that being outside in a lightning storm is safe as long as you’re not wearing metal jewelry and that wearing metal cleats or carrying something with metal makes you more prone to getting struck by lightning.

Also wrong.

I bet you’re thinking, “OK, but then what is lightning really attracted to?”

Long story short, lightning is not actually attracted to specific materials. Lightning can strike anything. Overall, “lightning occurs on too large of a scale to be influenced by small objects on the ground, including metal objects.”

That’s the good news.

Ready for the great news?

Because metal buildings are not especially prone to lightning strikes, you can easily take precautions to ensure that you and your steel structures are safe!

Most people know that counting the seconds between the flash of lightning and the following crash of thunder gives the approximate number of miles between you and the storm.

So, instead of worrying that lightning may have it in for you or your building, here’s what you need to know:

As it turns out, steel is not a lightning magnet! Lightning does not care about the small amount of metal that you might be wearing or carrying.

Instead, lightning is most attracted to targets that are higher off of the ground.

On the slight chance that a steel building or roof is struck by lightning, both are less likely than other types of building and roofing materials to spark a fire. A metal building and roof will usually survive a lightning strike with minimal damage.

In fact, a properly grounded metal building actually creates a more secure way for lightning to travel. Should your metal roof or building be grounded? The answer is a definite yes!

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2018-09-27 13:50:362020-08-06 18:57:15Lighting & Metal Buildings
ASI, Blog, Informative, Lifestyle, News

The History and Future of Steel

Steel is the world’s most trusted material, so it’s no wonder so many buildings and infrastructures are built with it.

That’s right: most steel goes into the construction industry, mainly because steel structures are strong, sustainable, and can be built quickly at a low price.

Steel’s flexibility and versatility also means that designers, developers, and architects can use it in any number of ways to turn their visions into a reality. This has been the case for centuries, although the ways in which we use steel have changed over time—and the future will be no different as the construction industry is disrupted by new technology and evolves.

Here, I’ll detail the past and present of steel’s use in construction and outline what the industry’s future could mean for our product.

 

A History of Steel Buildings

Although iron has been around for centuries, its use in construction is more modern than you might think. It began around the Industrial Revolution, which was characterized by mass production and the development of new materials, modern steel included.

One of the first major uses of steel for construction purposes was in train stations. After its use there proved profitable, it began to be used in churches, private buildings, and more. In the late 1800s, the first steel-framed buildings and skyscrapers were built.

Steel building became popular in the early 20th century and became widespread around WWII, when steel was used for military shelters and oil storage. After the war, steel was more readily available and became the universal standard. Some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, like the Empire State Building, were erected with steel as a main construction element.

At the end of the 20th century, advanced steel production enabled railroad construction across the world, expanding new frontiers in remote locations.

 

Steel in Construction Today

If you have ever been in construction or have decided to build your own home, you may have noticed just how many steel products go into a residential building. Steel is used in the foundation, HVAC, electrical panels, appliances, decking, and hardware/brackets, just to name a few. There are many different uses for steel in a residential home alone—so you can imagine how many other types of steel products go into a commercial application.

That is why steel has reigned supreme in construction for over a century. It is used today for every building application imaginable and has become even more versatile in usage. It can be combined with other construction materials, like glass or cold-rolled and galvanized flat products that have high-elastic limits, toughness, and weldability.

Things have changed in the industry over time. For one, making steel is no longer labor-intensive, which initially resulted in cuts in the workforce. International markets are also more competitive, with a majority of steel being produced in China, Japan, and India.

As it is 100% recyclable, yesterday’s steel buildings have been used to build the structures of today, while today’s steel buildings will almost certainly be recycled into the buildings of tomorrow. That said, given the durability of steel structures and the efficacy of future-proofing methodologies, it could take a while before tomorrow arrives.

 

Steel’s Future in Construction

At Pacesetter, we are always taking emerging trends into account as we continue to produce and distribute quality flat-rolled steel products. It is our belief that steel’s longevity, versatility, and sustainability will only lead to more applications in construction, not less.

That said, there are several exciting new trends in the construction industry that will likely impact the steel market in some capacity. Due to the emerging era of tech and connectivity, for example, the steel industry has already begun adopting novel steel modular frame systems for use in construction sites.

Ultimately, steel is well-suited for modular construction, which will become more common as new technology spurs the advancement of building information modeling. Newer materials like graphene, though fascinating, are unlikely to eclipse steel soon.

Assuming that human aspirations continue on their current trajectory, the need for steel in construction will only increase as the continued need for solid infrastructure does. With populations growing and cities expanding, demand will only continue to climb.

 

Sources: Chad Fellabaum

:Pacesetter

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2018-09-18 09:57:212020-08-06 18:57:16The History and Future of Steel
ASI, Blog, News, Questions, Spotlight

Seismic Research

Which of these two historical dates, March 22, 1957, or January 17, 1994, was significant for changes to seismic design in the United States?

The correct answer is January 17, 1994, when Northridge, California was hit with a magnitude-6.6 earthquake. But if you answered March 22, 1957, you get partial credit: that’s when Elvis Presley’s hit “All Shook Up” was released.

A 6.6 earthquake isn’t a monster temblor. This one was what seismologists call a shallow-origin thrust fault event, but one that happened to produce very high ground accelerations. The seismic engineering community was surprised to discover as a result that certain welded steel connections typically used in mid- and high-rise buildings, and thought to have excellent seismic resistance, were in fact susceptible to cracking. There weren’t any catastrophic failures, but an unprecedented federally sponsored research effort was launched to determine the cause of the cracks and to recommend new design practices. As a result, significant changes were eventually adopted to building codes that affected the seismic design of steel moment frames.

Metal building systems use steel moment frames in the transverse direction, perpendicular to the ridge. However, metal buildings use bolted end-plate connections instead of the welded steel connections that were found to have problems in Northridge. Despite this significant difference in connections, though, the building code changes were sweeping and affected all steel moment frames. Initially, the metal building industry focused on adapting to the changes, and the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) contributed by developing a seismic design guide for metal buildings, published by the International Code Council, to help engineers and plan checkers apply the new seismic requirements to metal buildings.

However, as the new seismic design requirements and their philosophical basis came to be better understood, the industry took a closer look at their applicability to metal buildings. This article will discuss the objectives and status of the MBMA seismic research program that began in 2005 to address some of the post-Northridge code revisions and the associated limitations that were placed on light single-story frames.

Seismic Design of Buildings Using Steel Moment Frames

Modern seismic design focuses on providing structures with enough ductility to absorb and dissipate the massive energy produced by an earthquake. Ductility is a measure of how much rotation, or drift, a building can tolerate before starting to fail. There are three steel moment frame systems currently defined and permitted in the building codes for resisting seismic lateral loads. Each has a different design rule that specifies the anticipated amount of ductility, based primarily on the rotation expected at the beam-column connections.

The transverse steel moment frames used in metal building systems differ from the prototype steel frames evaluated in the post-Northridge research program. Metal building system frames are optimized to provide the strength required at each location on the frame. Therefore, the frames are composed of welded plates that are commonly web tapered, with the web thickness and flange size selected to optimize material along the length. The members are slenderer, with thinner flanges and webs than the hot-rolled steel shapes that are typically used in multi-tiered conventional steel construction. Metal building systems are primarily single-story gable frames and are either clear-span or use interior columns.

All the structural systems defined in the building code for carrying seismic lateral loads are assigned design rules. These rules, including the maximum building height, depend on the seismic design category, which includes the seismic hazard at that location and the inherent ductility that each system embodies. One of the motivating factors for MBMA to initiate this research effort was the height limits imposed in higher seismic areas. For example, the steel moment frames that are designed for the lowest ductility, called “ordinary moment frames,” are not permitted in higher seismic areas. However, an exception that was included specifically for metal buildings, which permits buildings with lighter roofs and walls to be used up to a height of 35 feet or 65 feet, depending on the weights and seismic risk. Metal buildings can comply in other ways by using a structural system other than an ordinary moment frame that has higher height limits, but these are not always economical solutions.

Until recently, these design rules were based on engineering judgment and experience, but the refinements made after the Northridge earthquake require a rigorous analysis based on a sophisticated evaluation of the predicted collapse of a suite of buildings when subjected to predefined earthquake ground motions. This analysis is known as FEMA P695, based on the report and recommendation developed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

In fact, metal building frames show little conventional ductility. A hot-rolled shape in a multi-tiered moment frame provides ductility by forming a plastic hinge at the location of highest stress—typically in a beam near the connection to a column. However, a more slender, built-up tapered member frame is governed by the buckling of a flange or web, or both, before a conventional plastic hinge is achieved. The location of the buckle is also typically away from the column in a metal building gable frame.

This research led to a design strategy that was seemed more appropriate for metal building frames. Instead of the ductile fuse concept, the design could be focused on making sure the moment frame remained elastic during the design earthquake. That is, an appropriate factor of safety would be used to verify that the stresses remained below the level that would produce inelastic behavior or buckles. This design philosophy was feasible for typical metal buildings with lighter steel-clad walls, but it would produce unreasonably heavy frames for metal buildings with mezzanines or heavier walls of concrete masonry or pre-cast tilt-up concrete, in which larger seismic forces are introduced due to their mass.

It is important to note that there are different approaches that can achieve the building code’s seismic performance objective, which is to prevent the collapse of a building during a design-level earthquake. The buckled flange or web is not considered a failure in seismic design as long as overall stability is maintained, but it is an indicator of the beginning of inelastic behavior.

The next phase of the research was undertaken to learn more about metal building performance using a full-scale shake table simulation. This is just as it sounds: a full-scale structure is erected on a base table that can be accelerated by large hydraulic rams programmed to shake exactly as the ground would during an actual earthquake. This testing was conducted at UCSD on the largest outdoor shake table facility in the world, as part of a government–industry partnership. Three metal buildings were tested that incorporated metal sidewalls, heavy concrete walls, and a heavily loaded mezzanine on one half of a building with a heavy concrete wall on the opposite side. The roofs were loaded with steel plates to represent additional weight used in the seismic design of each building.

The tests were quite revealing. Shake table tests of this nature are intended to reveal what magnitude of earthquake is needed to collapse a building; which, again, is what the codes are intended to prevent. The maximum considered earthquake (MCE) for this collapse-prevention requirement is defined in the code for specific sites as an earthquake that is expected to occur once in approximately 2,500 years. The MCE applied to each of the three metal building specimens could not collapse any of them, even the ones with heavy walls and a heavily loaded mezzanine. The building with lighter metal walls actually withstood an earthquake of twice the MCE magnitude, after which the tests were suspended because the capacity of the shake table hydraulics was reached.

The shake table results demonstrated that the three metal building specimens were capable of satisfying the code’s performance requirement of remaining standing through the MCE. As was discussed above, buckling was permissible as long as stability was maintained, and in fact buckling was witnessed in the tests; this was the mechanism that dissipated the energy of the earthquake, as opposed to the formation of plastic hinges.

It was determined that more cyclic loading tests of tapered members would be prudent, as that was a key to how the frames buckled during the shake table tests. The better we could understand how this buckling occurs under cyclic loading, the greater our confidence would be in the P695 evaluation and results. Therefore, a series of tests were performed at UCSD subjecting a partial frame of tapered members to a cyclic load in order to observe the buckling behavior.

Ten specimens were tested that included many construction details common to metal building systems, including flange splices, flange bolt holes, taper changes, and holes in the web.  It was found that the tapered members can undergo large cycles of loading of lateral torsional buckling without brittle failures, and that the common detailing in metal buildings does not negatively affect their behavior. These results were useful for calibrating the computer model that would be developed.

Computer Modeling of Shake Table Tests

The next step was to conduct the computer simulations required by the FEMA P695 protocol. This involves hundreds of metal buildings to encompass the range of sizes and configurations anticipated, and considers geographic locations where higher wind loads could govern building design, among other things. This is the stage at which one would include buildings of greater heights than the current limits in order to evaluate that important constraint. The computer simulations were based on our best understanding of the behavior of metal building frames, including what was learned during the shake table tests.

As mentioned above, the P695 procedure determines what earthquakes can cause the collapse of the building being evaluated. As with the hydraulic limitations preventing the actual collapse of the metal buildings on the shake table, modeling limitations prevented the UCSD researchers from collapsing a building in a computer simulation. In this case, the model used in the P695 analysis was too simple to capture the complex behaviors associated with various forms of buckling and inelasticity. In other words, we need a better analysis model that can go far beyond any of the existing models used in the evaluation of currently recognized seismic systems. That fact was known at the outset, but this was the only practical tool available. “Collapse” was restricted to and defined as the initiation of buckling: that is, flange local buckling, web local buckling, or lateral torsional buckling.

These modeling limitations would produce seismic design rules that were overly conservative and not consistent with the P695 protocol based on real collapse. The P695 studies were put on hold until more sophisticated modeling capabilities could be developed.

It became obvious that more sophisticated computer models would need to be developed in order to come closer to predicting the actual collapse of a metal building for a more advanced P695 evaluation. These would have to include the ability to predict the inelastic behavior—the nonlinear behavior beyond the first buckle. We know that metal building frames continue to carry increasing load after the first buckle appears, on the basis of the shake table tests, so we have to be able to accurately capture that in a computer simulation.

Dr. Ben Schafer and Dr. Cris Moen, at Johns Hopkins and Virginia Tech University respectively, are leading the effort to develop the most sophisticated computer model ever attempted of a metal building. They are using advanced finite element modeling to represent every piece of a metal building. This essentially means representing every member, brace, sheeting, bolt, etc. by a mathematical element (See Figure 1). These elements are defined with respect to both their material properties and their structural behavior at a basic level. Then they are all tied together with the appropriate glue and springs, or boundary conditions. The mass of all of the elements together is also included, so that when accelerations are imposed on the model to represent actual ground motions, the forces are generated just as they would be in an actual earthquake. Inelastic properties are included so that when a flange starts to buckle, the model is automatically updated to reflect the accompanying change in geometry and stiffness. The analysis then proceeds in an incremental fashion.

Other modeling considerations include initial imperfections and residual stresses. Initial imperfections need to be built into the model to reflect the fact that not all members are fabricated and erected perfectly. Conventional design assumes imperfections, and they are built into the design equations. However, finite element modeling has to address imperfections directly and build reasonable assumptions into the model. Residual stresses are stresses that are locked into members as a result of the steel production process, welding, or other constraints and need to be included in the overall evaluation of stresses in the members. Welds are also directly modeled as elements connecting, for example, flanges to webs.

The generation of all of the finite elements in a model of this fidelity—defining the properties and the location of every element in the model—could be a monumental task. Keep in mind that a single purlin might be defined by hundreds of elements representing the web, flanges, and lips segmented along the length (See Figure 2). The researchers have developed a way to automatically generate all the elements by inputting material information and the basic geometric layout of the building and members. This will be necessary as the P695 moves forward and hundreds of building models need to be generated and evaluated.

Modeling Progress

The finite element modeling has made great strides over the past twelve months. The automatic generators are simplifying the process of building the models. The first step in validating the finite element models was to try to replicate the cyclic test results of the tapered member frame sections. This verified that the model is capturing the nonlinear inelastic behavior of the tapered frame members with slender flanges and webs, which is essential to representing the entire moment frame action (See Photo 5).

The next step was to try to simulate the first shake table test of a metal building with light metal walls. This involved a dynamic analysis in which the finite element model is in motion, matching the deflections and accelerations imposed on the building by the shake table. The model did an excellent job in replicating the behavior of the actual building subjected to earthquake ground motion.

Work is almost complete on the verification of the model to the second shake table building, which had heavy concrete tilt-up walls. The third shake table building will be modeled to complete the verification process. The third building was unique with respect to the energy dissipation mechanism. Instead of a flange or lateral torsional buckle, the panel zone at the connection of the rafter to the column exhibited flexing and buckling. It will be important to demonstrate that the finite element model correlates well with this different type of initial failure.

The purpose of this major seismic research effort is to develop appropriate design rules for a typical metal building that uses tapered frame members. This would include height limitations based on the buildings evaluated to develop the rules, keeping in mind that no height limit might be appropriate for certain metal buildings in high seismic areas.

The shake table tests completed at UCSD provided invaluable data and observations on the actual behavior of three distinctly different metal buildings. The buildings performed exceptionally well, exceeding everyone’s expectations.

However, the task at hand is to develop a sophisticated computer model that can reproduce the behavior of those three tests. The building code and standards bodies require that a suite of metal buildings called archetypes, representing all the important parameters that can affect seismic behavior, be evaluated using FEMA P695. Design assumptions will be made to develop metal building archetypes, which will then be modeled. The computer models will be subjected to a predefined series of ground motions to see if they collapse. The procedure is iterative, so that a collapse will result in changes to the design rules, and the process will then be repeated.

MBMA and AISI are supporting this research effort, which began in 2005. We have had excellent researchers working with us on this journey. The completion of the P695 study and development of the design rules is the aim of the research, but it is only the beginning in terms of gaining acceptance and approval in the codes and standards. That process will be assisted by the inclusion of a peer review panel. We are fortunate to have had top academics and consultants serve on our peer review panel and provide reviews and guidance (See sidebar).

The fruits of this research will not only address the immediate need to develop appropriate seismic design rules for metal buildings, they will advance the state-of-the-art advanced finite element modeling in our industry. As computer power continues to evolve, we may expect advanced models to one day bridge the gap between research and the everyday design tools to take advantage of the inelastic reserve strength that we know is available and can now quantify.

  1. Lee Shoemaker, Ph.D., P.E., is director of research and engineering for the Metal Building Manufacturers Association, a position he has held for more than twenty years. He is responsible for the development and administration of the metal building industry’s research programs. To learn more, visit www.mbma.com.

Five academics and consultants have served as a peer review panel for the P695 study being undertaken by MBMA and AISI. They are:

Dr. Michael Engelhardt, University of Texas

Dr. Greg Deierlein, Stanford University

Dr. Tom Sabol, UCLA and Englelkirk & Sabol, Consulting Structural Engineers, Los Angeles

Dr. Don White, Georgia Tech University

Mark Saunders, Rutherford + Chekene, Consulting Engineers, San Francisco

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2018-08-29 22:11:232020-08-06 18:57:16Seismic Research
ASI, Blog, News, News/Press

New Tariff on Steel

It looks like the price of steel will be going up more and more here in the United States within the next few months. As such, we highly suggest that you purchase your metal carport or building prior to the tariff on steel imports goes into effect. Due to this nationwide increase in the cost of steel, we and many other carport companies will be increasing the prices of most of our buildings.
On March 8th, 2018, in hopes of reviving our domestic steel industry by opening closed mills and reducing the need to rely on foreign producers of steel products, President Trump signed Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to impose a 25% tariff on steel imports from all countries except Mexico and Canada. According to the president, this new tariff will also provide a form of national security.

Although our company makes it a mission to purchase all American-made materials, we will still feel the strain of steel prices increasing. American Steel Carports, Inc. and American Carports, Inc. will work hard to keep our prices as low as possible while still providing the best in steel carports and buildings nationwide. We still suggest placing your orders within the next few months to ensure that you receive the lowest price possible. Remember that we have an excellent sales team who will work with you to design the perfect metal building for your needs. Give us a call and ask to speak with one of our representatives, and don’t forget that we offer financing.

References

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-proclamation-adjusting-imports-steel-united-states/
https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2018/03/us-department-commerce-announces-steel-and-aluminum-tariff-exclusion

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2018-08-20 22:11:162020-08-06 18:57:16New Tariff on Steel
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