Design spreadsheets and structural steel database

Although structural engineers typically use a wide range of advanced computer software for calculations and structural analysis and design, classical easy-to-use tools, such as design charts and tables, are still preferable in the industry. These design charts and tables are section properties-related and; therefore, it is clear that design charts, tables, and section properties should be made electronically available to practicing structural engineers. While all of these computer programs have evolved, little has happened to improve the data interchange between the structural analysis and design programs and the easy-to-use design charts and tables. Microsoft Visual Basic offers users the ability to create forms that can be used for different steel sections and their properties. To illustrate this concept, an application was developed to produce steel section properties provided in the AISC and CISC Manuals of Steel Construction and needed in the design charts. This paper describes how this application was developed and presents some real-world examples to illustrate its powerful capabilities over current practice. Recommendations pertaining to future developments in the field are then given in the conclusions.