Material and geometric properties of structural steel for use in design

Abstract

This paper establishes an up-to-date measure of the variability of the material and geometric properties of commercial quality structural steel. A comprehensive set of measurements (over 7000 samples) was obtained and collated. The large data set was sufficient to evaluate the type of probability distribution characterising variability. The results provide the detailed statistical evidence essential for reliability analyses of the type needed to underpin the selection and calibration of new design rules for structural steel components. The statistical data reported are compared with the measures of variability assumed during the calibration of Eurocode 3 (EC3) partial safety factors; it is shown that some of these may safely be reduced.<br/>