RHS Section Properties Calculator

Rectangular Hollow Sections

Rectangular hollow sections (RHS) are commonly used in all types of construction, particularly in steel frame buildings. Rectangular hollow sections are also commonly used in aluminium design and other materials.

Rectangular hollow sections have a number of advantages over other shaped sections. Firstly the hollow shape helps the section to take advantage of the lever arm effect. This multiplier makes hollow sections much more efficient at resisting bending than the equivalent solid rectangular shaped section. This allows the same quantity of material in a large rectangular hollow section to be much more effective at resisting bending than the same amount of material in a smaller solid rectangular section.

Rectangular hollow sections are more resistant to torsion than equivalent open sections such as I shape, T shape, C shaped or L shaped angle sections. Rectangular hollow sections also tend to have a better resistance to bending in both directions compared to the equivalent open section. This is because the rectangular hollow section includes material at the edges of all four sides, making the section resistant to bending in both planes. Open sections tend to include material in the centre or on one side only in the minor axis. They are designed specifically to resist bending in one direction, whereas rectangular hollow sections are good at resisting bending in either direction.

One disadvantage with rectangular hollow sections is that they are a closed section. This can make installing connections difficult or even impossible for bolted connections to be installed in the middle of a long closed rectangular hollow section beam.

Another disadvantage is the fact that the rectangular hollow section beam includes two web sections which do not contribute to bending resistance. For this reason I shaped beams are more efficient at resisting bending in the primary axis. Where bending is expected only in the primary axis, I shaped beams are more efficient and cost effective. However as stated above rectangular hollow sections can be more efficient when significant bending moments need to be resisted in the secondary axis.

CivilWeb RHS Section Properties Calculator - Section Properties Included

The CivilWeb Rectangular Hollow Section Properties Calculator includes all the published section information for standard sized rectangular hollow sections included in the US (AISC), European, UK and Indian steel standards. The HSS Section Properties Calculator Spreadsheet also includes historic rectangular hollow section information from US and UK standards going back over 100 years.

The spreadsheet includes the following published design section properties;

• All Geometric Properties
• Corner Radii (Internal & External)
• Mass and Length per Tonne
• Area of Section
• Surface Area per Metre or per Tonne
• Second Moment of Area ( Moment of Inertia) for y-y and z-z axis
• Radius of Gyration for y-y and z-z axis
• Elastic and Plastic Section Modulus for y-y and z-z axis
• Torsional Constant of Inertia
• Torsional Constant Modulus

The CivilWeb RHS Section Properties Calculator also comes with a spreadsheet for calculating the design section properties for non-standard rectangular hollow sections. The designer simply enters the relevant dimensions and the spreadsheet calculates all the information required for the design of this particular section. This is critical when the designer wishes to use a bespoke, non-standard or fabricated rectangular hollow section in their design. This information is also critical when analysing existing structures where non-standard sections sizes have been used.

The CivilWeb Rectangular Hollow Section Properties Calculator includes the following calculators for user specified sections;

• Cross Sectional Area
• Centre of Gravity
• Moment of Inertia of Hollow Rectangular Section Calculator (Second Moment of Area) for both y-y and z-z axis
• Radius of Gyration for both y-y and z-z axis
• Elastic Section Modulus for both y-y and z-z axis
• Plastic Section Modulus for both y-y and z-z axis
• Torsional Constant of Inertia

CivilWeb RHS Section Properties Calculator

The CivilWeb RHS Section Properties Calculator is a critically important tool for any designer working with rectangular hollow sections, particularly in steel design. The spreadsheet includes up to date design information from the US (AISC), Europe, UK and India covering the majority of steel rectangular hollow sections used worldwide. The spreadsheet also includes a powerful set of section property calculators which can be used to determine the design information required for non-standard rectangular hollow sections of any dimensions.

Buy the CivilWeb RHS Section Properties Calculator now for only £9.99.