SHS Section Properties Calculator

Square Hollow Sections

Square hollow sections are very commonly used in all types of steel framed buildings and also in aluminium and other constructions. Square hollow sections can also be considered as symmetrical rectangular hollow sections with similar properties and uses.

Square hollow sections are often used in situations where the advantages of the section shape are required. The symmetrical shape of the square hollow section allows it to enjoy equal resistance to bending in both directions. This makes the square hollow section ideal in cases where the beam must resist similar bending resistances in both directions. Alternatives such as the I shaped beam are much less resistant to bending in the secondary plane making them less efficient in these cases. This is because they do not contain any material at the edges in the secondary plane, they are designed specifically to resist bending in the primary direction, not the secondary direction.

Square hollow sections are also generally more resistant to torsion forces than similar sized open sections such as I shaped beams, C shaped channels and L shaped angle sections.

The disadvantages with square hollow sections and other closed sections is that connections installed to these beams can be much more difficult. This is because the beam is closed in that there is no easy access to the inner side of any of the section sides. It can be difficult or even impossible to install simple bolted connections to the closed square hollow section beams, especially after installation. This is one reason why open sections are often preferred as the main sections in steel frame construction.

The other main disadvantage is that the symmetrical square hollow section shape includes two steel sections in the secondary plane. As stated above this gives the square hollow section excellent bending resistance in the secondary plane, however this is a disadvantage in the majority of cases where the secondary bending resistance does not need to be anywhere near the primary bending resistance. In these cases the square hollow section includes more material than is necessary, making I shaped beams more efficient and cost effective.

CivilWeb SHS Section Properties Calculator - Section Properties Included

The CivilWeb SHS Section Properties Calculator comes pre-installed with all the latest published square hollow section information from US (AISC), European, UK and Indian national steel standards. The spreadsheet also includes historical information from superseded US and UK standards.

The spreadsheet includes the following published design section properties;

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

As well as all the published square hollow section information, the spreadsheet also includes a powerful set of calculator tools which the designer can use to determine all the design section information required for the design of non-standard square hollow sections of any dimensions. This design information is critical when the designer needs to use non-standard or fabricated sections, or where existing structures with non-standard sections need to be analysed.

The CivilWeb SHS 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)
• Radius of Gyration
• Elastic and Plastic Section Modulus
• Torsional Constant of Inertia

CivilWeb SHS Section Properties Calculator

The CivilWeb SHS Section Properties Calculator is a vital tool for any designer wanting to design structures including square hollow sections, in any material but particularly in steel. The spreadsheet includes all the latest standard square hollow section design information from the US, Europe, UK and India. The spreadsheet also includes a unique collection of section square hollow section property calculators which can be used to determine all the design information for non-standard sized sections of any dimensions.

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

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