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Aluminium Design and Construction John Dwight

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1. Elastic design. The structure is analysed under working load, <strong>and</strong><br />

stress levels are determined. These must not exceed an allowable<br />

stress, which is obtained by dividing the material strength (usually<br />

the yield or proof stress) by a factor of safety (FS). For slender members,<br />

the allowable stress is reduced to allow for buckling.<br />

2. Limit state design. The structure is assumed to be acted on by factored<br />

(up) loading, equal to working loads each multiplied by a loading<br />

factor. It is analysed in this condition <strong>and</strong> a value obtained for the<br />

resulting ‘action-effect’ (i.e. axial force, moment, shear force, etc.)<br />

arising in its various components. In any component, the actioneffect,<br />

thus found, must not exceed the factored (down) resistance<br />

for that component, equal to its calculated resistance divided by the<br />

material factor. By ‘calculated resistance’ is meant the estimated<br />

magnitude of the relevant action-effect necessary to cause failure of<br />

that component.<br />

What really matters to the user of a structure is its actual safety against<br />

collapse. How much overload can it take above the working load before<br />

it fails? Safety may be expressed in terms of the quantity LFC. A sensible<br />

code is one providing a consistent value of LFC. Too high an LFC is oversafe,<br />

<strong>and</strong> means loss of economy. Too low an LFC is undersafe. By the very<br />

way it is formulated limit state design produces a consistent LFC. Elastic<br />

Figure 5.1 Static strength: (a) elastic design (S1=material strength, S2=allowable stress,<br />

S3=stress arising at nominal working load); (b) limit state design.<br />

Copyright 1999 by Taylor & Francis Group. All Rights Reserved.

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