Load Factor Design of Steel Buildings

SINCE THE EARLY 1950's there have been an increasing
number of articles and books in the structural engineering
literature on the application of probability and statistics in
the design of structures. Since 1965 the rate of development
on the subject has increased greatly. A sizeable group of
experts and researchers are now working on various facets of
the problem. One may be somewhat confused by all these
activities, and not quite see where all this is leading. This is
not at all surprising, since some of the research is only now
reaching fruition and there is much activity which has not yet
shaken down with respect to method or terminology. Enough
work has been done, however, to justify a look at what is
happening and to relate this to the present state of steel
design as exemplified by the 1969 AISC Specification. This
paper will attempt to give a brief review of the activities,
explain some basic ideas, and examine the possibilities of
these principles being applied to steel building design. The
paper is not written for the experts in probability and
statistics; rather, it is addressed to the structural engineer
who wants to become familiar with developments on the
subject.
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