This section presents general information regarding the implementation of the Norwegian codes of practice for structural steel design. This manual describes the procedures and theory used for both NS and NPD.

In general NS is used for all cross sections and shapes listed in section 1 of this manual. An exception is the treatment and check of pipe members in framed structures. NS does not give specific details about the treatment of pipes. Section 3.4 explains how this is adopted when NS is selected for code checking.

The NPD however have a more thorough check of pipe members, and consider the effect of local buckling of the pipe wall in conjunction with the stability check. In addition, the NPD code gives joint capacity formulae for brace to chord connections for pipe members.

The design philosophy and procedural logistics are based on the principles of elastic analysis and ultimate limit state design. Two major failure modes are recognized:

• failure by overstressing
• failure by stability considerations

The following sections describe the salient features of the design approach. Members are proportioned to resist the design loads without exceeding the characteristic stresses or capacities and the most economic section is selected on the basis of the least weight criteria. It is generally assumed that the user will take care of the detailing requirements like the provision of stiffeners and check the local effects like flange buckling, web crippling, etc.

You are allowed complete control over the design process through the use of the parameters listed in Table 2.1. Default values of parameters will yield reasonable results in most circumstances. However, the user should control the design and verify results through the use of the design parameters.