PREFACE 



The aim in writing this book has been to give data, details and tables for the design and 

 construction of steel bridges and buildings. The book is written for the structural engineer and 

 for the student or engineer who has had a thorough course in applied mechanics and the calcu- 

 lation of stresses in structures. To this end data and tables that will be of service to the designing 

 and constructing engineer have been given, rather than predigested data and designs that might 

 be used by the untrained. The book is intended as a working manual for the engineer, draftsman 

 and student and covers data, details and tables for the design of the structures ordinarily met 

 with. Swing and movable bridges, cantilever and suspension bridges require special treatment 

 and have not been considered. As the book is intended to supplement the present books on 

 stresses the calculation of stresses in bridges and buildings has been only briefly considered. 

 The calculation of stresses' in retaining walls, bins, stand-pipes, and other structures not ordinarily 

 covered in text-books on stresses have been given in compact form. Great care has been used 

 to give examples of structures that represent standard practice. With a few exceptions the draw- 

 ings of details of structures have been especially prepared for this book from actual working plans. 

 The book is a source book and is not a treatise, and is intended to furnish data and details that 

 are available only to a few engineers; and standard specifications for tnatcrialsand workmanship 

 that are available only in transactions of societies and in special treatises. 



The tables giving properties of columns, top chords, plate girders and struts have bi 

 culated especially for this book, and are original in material and arrangement. In calculating 

 the tables only those sections which comply with standard specifications have been given. The 

 tables have been calculated by the use of calculating machines and have been checked with great 

 care. The values will be found to be correct to one unit in the last place given. Properties of 

 Carnegie and Bethlehem sections are given in a compact form for easy reference. The tangents 

 of the angle of the axis giving the least radius of gyration, given in the tables giving properties 

 of Carnegie angles, were taken from Cambria Steel. With the exception of a few special I beams 

 and channels the tables may be used for Cambria, Pcncoyd and Jones & Laughlin angles, 1 beams 

 and channels. The American Bridge Company standards for eye-bars, loop-bars, clevises, pins, 

 and other structural details are given. Tables of logarithms, function of angles and tables that 

 are easily available have not been included. 



The size of the book and the size of the type page were selected for the reasons that they give 

 a book of standard size with a type page large enough so that each table can come squarely on one 

 page, and large enough so that complete plans of structures can be given. A large clear type was 

 selected for both the text and for the tables. The paper has been selected with the idea of dear* 

 ness of the printed page. 



This book is a result of many years' work, during which time the author has written four 

 books on structural engineering. In writing this book the author has drawn n his other books. 

 although much of the material given on steel mill buildings and highway bridges is new, and the 

 Structural Engineers' Handbook supplements the author's other books. 



Data and details have been obtained from many sources, to which credit has been gi\ 

 the body of the book. The author is under special obligation to many engineers, to whkh special 

 acknowledgment cannot be made on account of lack ol space. 



