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A-Frame Vertical, ASI, Blog, Buildings, Custom, Customer Builds, Garage, Our Specialty, Spotlight, Steel Structures, Workshop

30’ x 51’ x 12’ Metal Garage/Workshop

When it comes to buying a metal garage or workshop, you’ll come across many options in the steel market. If you’re on a budget, a steel structure is definitely your smartest choice. Aside from the lower price, compared to other materials, steel offers the ultimate strength and protection for all of your belongings. As of matter of fact, buying a garage or workshop has never been a bad decision. This type of unit can help you protect and accommodate your belongings, but also provide enough space for you to work. Whether you’re looking to protect your vehicles or use the metal building as a storage space or place to repair your cars, our large selection of metal buildings is versatile and can accommodate your special needs.

Take this 30’W x 51’L x 12’H metal garage/workshop as a live example:

  • 12-Gauge Galvanized Tubing
  • (2) 10′ x 10′ Roll-up doors
  • 36″ x 80″ Walk-In Door

This garage/workshop comes fully equipped with a vertical roof and horizontal sides and ends. This can be perfect to store farm or lawn equipment. Remember that you can place your order with only 10% down and pay the remaining balance at the time of installation.

American Steel Carports gives you the freedom to select your favorite colors at NO additional cost. Want to add additional features to your metal building? No problem! Make sure to check our features tab to learn more about the different products we offer.

What exactly am I getting when I purchase from American Steel Carports?

  • 1-year workmanship warranty
  • 20 years of rust-through of framing warranty on our 12-gauge units
  • An engineer-certified structure
  • Delivery and installation INCLUDED in the price
  • All of the recommended bracing INCLUDED in the price

Call us now and let one of our experts answer your questions! The building that you’re looking for might be just one call away!

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2019-02-26 14:33:422020-08-06 18:55:0330’ x 51’ x 12’ Metal Garage/Workshop
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!
A-Frame Vertical, ASI, Blog, Buildings, Custom, Customer Builds, Informative, Spotlight, Steel Structures

37’ x 31’ x 14’/12’3” Custom Metal Unit

Throughout the year, we’ve been talking about and posting on metal units, most of them pretty standard and nothing out of the ordinary. You will always see our typical carports, RV covers, and metal garages up to 3 bays—that is, the basics. And if we want to throw in some other units, we can show off our barns, which are similar to the main custom units due to the lean-tos. Overall, there are plenty of choices that you can add to your metal building to customize it however you want.

Now, you might be wondering, what about the pricing on a custom unit? Well, the price will depend on the number of features you want to add and how big you want your metal building to be. Remember that wider units tend to run higher, as do units taller than 12’. Let us tease you a little bit: especially when we refer to “custom” metal buildings, this might not be something that you see frequently in our website or on social media.

  • (Main Unit) 30’W x 31’L x 14’H
  • 12-Gauge Galvanized Tubing
  • Fully Vertical
  • 18’x10′ Roll-Up Door (on the side)
  • 38″x82.5″ Frame-Out
  • 2 – Windows
  • (Lean-To) 7’W x 31’L x 14’/12’3″H
  • Gable Ends

A very interesting building, huh? Is this something you’ve seen before in a metal building? If we’re being honest, this is one of the first times we’ve seen something like this. But the outcome of this project turned out to be beautiful!

So, this is just a little preview of what it is possible to do when you choose American Steel Carports as your metal building provider. There are endless ways for you to start working on your custom project. All we need from you is to help us visualize your project by getting started on a FREE custom quote. Remember that we want to work with your special needs and specifications; we will make sure to meet your expectations and help you in the process of purchasing the metal unit of your dreams. Please note that, due to the customization of this metal building, it’s best for us if you give us a call!

Let’s get you started! Call us now at (866) 730-9865 to speak with one of our experts.

 

*DISCLAIMER: Pricing varies by state. Local codes and regulations may affect pricing.

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2018-11-12 21:27:332020-08-06 18:56:0037’ x 31’ x 14’/12’3” Custom Metal Unit
ASI, Blog, Informative, Lifestyle, Spotlight, Steel Structures

Generic vs. Specific Plans & Calculations:

So you’ve decided on the perfect carport/metal building and you’re ready to place an order. What should you do next? American Steel Carports recommends that ALL customers or future customers get familiar with their city codes. You wouldn’t want to install a building only to have it tagged for noncompliance or for not pulling a permit. Although not all cities and counties require permitting, you should always check to be 100% sure that your building will be allowed. Sometimes the requirements are simple (being a certain distance from a fence or a certain size). Some permitting could require you to meet wind or snow loads, though.

The following will explain the types of plans/drawings that some counties or cities might require before installation:

Generic Plans are available for certain areas and certain sizes of buildings (ask your sales rep. to see if your building qualifies) at no additional cost. Generic plans are specific to width size only and will not state the name or address of the installation. These plans can be requested after the order is placed and take 7-10 business days to be sent out AFTER the order is received.

Site-Specific Plans are made per order at an additional cost. These plans include the name and address of installation for your future building as well as snow and wind requirements and info on how the material is installed and its construction elements. Specific plans must be paid for when the order is placed. They take between 10-14 business days to be sent out AFTER the order is received. Specific plans can be requested (but are not always required) with our Calculations, which also come at an additional cost. Calculations include the stress and strains or forces and displacements of your metal structure. Specific plans can be requested on their own, but Calculations can only be requested as an addition to Specific Plans.

Make sure you ask for or purchase the correct set when placing your order.

https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png 0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2018-10-25 15:17:292020-08-06 18:56:00Generic vs. Specific Plans & Calculations:
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, Spotlight, Steel Structures

Steel or Wood for Livestock?

Most farmers have become used to having wooden livestock houses on their lands. They’re one of the most familiar sights on a farm. This might be because wood is the traditional building material. It’s also perceived as cheaper than other options. However, do wooden livestock houses really cost less than their steel counterparts?

The use of steel buildings for livestock houses has gained popularity. It’s becoming more common to see them used for storage—and there’s no reason they can’t be used for livestock as well. If you’re not convinced, here are a few myths about wooden farm buildings to help you understand why steel is the better choice.

 

Steel costs less overall.

Some claim that a wooden livestock house will cost less. According to them, by using wood instead of steel, they are saving money. What they’re forgetting is that the cost of having a building does not only include what you pay upfront. There’s also the ongoing maintenance to consider, which depends on the material used.

For example, with a wooden building, you will have to constantly manage the insects and pests that may be eating into the wood. You may need to replace falling walls and ceilings every so often. However, if you choose to go with steel, this isn’t going to be necessary. A steel livestock building is made of sturdy material that cannot be infested by insects and will not rot. It may seem like you’re spending more on the structure, but since it’s practically maintenance-free, you’re actually saving money.

 

You’ll have all the space you need.

Every farm owner must maximize the space available. When you use wood to build, floor space can be an issue. Poles and columns need to be placed inside the structure to support its weight. This can take up valuable space that could’ve been put to better use.

This is not an issue with a steel building. A steel livestock house doesn’t need to have any columns taking up space inside the structure. You’ll have full use of the maximum available area, with no need to plan around columns. And if you ever need even more space in the future, the building can easily be expanded.

 

A steel livestock house can add value to the farmland.

You may not be interested in selling your land, but it’s always a good idea to make it as valuable as possible. The types of structures you have on the land will greatly influence its value. If you have an old wooden livestock house, it can be viewed as becoming a burden. No one wants to take on a building they must constantly repair. If you were to appraise the property, a battered, rotting building would hurt the assessment.

On the other hand, American Steel livestock houses will be viewed as a plus. There’s no need to worry about safety, since steel does not decay over time. The structure will remain standing for decades without any issues, ready for whatever use you may have. It adds not just appraisal value, but practical and useful value as well.

If it’s time to upgrade your livestock house, the choice is clear. A steel building will meet all of your needs without the disadvantages of wood. Check out the different models that American Steel Carports has to offer to find the perfect one for you.

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2018-10-09 08:06:322020-08-06 18:56:01Steel or Wood for Livestock?
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, 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, Informative, Spotlight

5 Things to Consider When Buying a Carport

Since their initial appearance back in the early 1900’s, carports have had a substantial high demand in the market. Because the industry has grown a little more complex, consumers have to put more thought into who and what they are buying from, especially with the abundant number of carport businesses sprawled across the nation. From car coverage and protection to workshop areas, the uses of these metal buildings are limitless. However, there are a few things customers should consider before buying their own carport, from quality to the work ethic of the business.

 

The process of purchasing a product should run smoothly and be an excellent experience from the sale representatives and the manufacturer to the customer service and installation process. We want you to be satisfied with your decision. That’s why we’ve created a list of important things to consider when buying a carport.

 

1. You must decide if you want to purchase your building from a local or online dealer. Although some business do not sell directly to customers. Many of our clients buy our carports from local dealerships, which are surrounded by one or more of our demo displays, which give you an up and personal glimpse. However, you can also contact us directly by calling our shops located in Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio, which service more than half the states of the nation.

2. Take note on what you are looking for. Perhaps you simply need space to park your car or need a larger building to store large capacity vehicles. We offer different roof and carport styles that will better suit your needs and satisfactions.  Our knowledge staff can give you suggestions if you have any doubts regarding your choices.

3. Prior to choosing a carport location, check your local code specifications. It is important to consider your area’s building permit laws: you might need a permit to have a building on your property. The geographical of your structure location should be elevated. Prior to installation make sure you have the flooring prepared-whether it’d be concrete, wood, or plain ground.

 4. Clients should also consider who they are purchasing from. With the multitude of carport manufacturers across the country, there are various to choose from. However, not all are reliable and trustworthy. Often times businesses repeatedly run the wrong order or continuously run late, thus delaying customer installation delivery dates. American Steel strives to make the process a smooth one- from the moment we receive your call all the way through installation. We strive to keep our customers satisfied and try to quickly resolve issues, if any.

5. Consider investing in any additional add-ons. We offer skylights that allow the sun to shine through your structure, dismissing the hassle of electric costs and hassle. Depending on the flooring we also provide concrete, asphalt, and wood anchors for extra reinforcement that will maintain your carport secure.

 

We aim to keep our clients satisfied and content before, during, and after installation day. If you order a product from our company, you will receive engineered certified steel structures and free shipping and installation. With these services included in the deal you won’t have to worry about transportation issues or construction. Our buildings will last for years, so we know you need a company who will be there for you, who will support the product you purchased and who will stand behind it. This is what sets us different from the rest. Choose your carport manufacturer wisely.

 

0 0 clickgiant https://americansteelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ASCI-Logo-Text_s-300x74.png clickgiant2015-10-09 22:58:402020-08-06 18:58:075 Things to Consider When Buying a Carport

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