HSS Tube Calculator, AISC 360-16

What it checks

The module designs rectangular, square, or round HSS tubes and standard pipes subjected to axial compression and flexure. It applies the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) method using factored demands for axial force and bending moments. The engine evaluates the member against AISC 360-16 Chapter E for compression and Chapter F for flexure, distinguishing between rectangular and round section behaviors. The sequence of checks begins with the determination of section properties and the slenderness classification of the wall. The module then performs the compression check per E3 and the flexure check per F7 for rectangular HSS or F8 for round HSS and pipes. Finally, it calculates the combined axial-flexure interaction per H1 to verify the member’s capacity under simultaneous loading.

Inputs

Geometry - Outside width (in), outside depth (in), and design wall thickness (in). For round sections, the width and depth represent the outside diameter.
Material - Yield strength Fy (ksi) and modulus of elasticity E (ksi). Typical values include 46 ksi for A500-B rectangular and 42 ksi for A500-B round.
Member Properties - Unbraced member length (ft) and effective length factor K, typically ranging from 0.5 to 2.0.
Loads - Required factored axial compression Pu (kips), strong-axis moment Mux (kip-ft), and weak-axis moment Muy (kip-ft).
Stability - Lateral-torsional buckling modifier Cb, where a value of 1.0 is conservative for closed sections.

What it reports

Section Properties - Calculated geometric properties for the specified HSS or pipe section.
Slenderness Classification - The classification of the wall as compact, noncompact, or slender, which dictates the applicable design provisions.
Compression Check - The result of the axial compression capacity check per AISC 360-16 E3.
Flexure Check - The bending capacity result per F7 for rectangular HSS or F8 for round HSS and pipes.
Interaction Check - The combined axial-flexure interaction verdict per H1, comparing the factored demands against the member’s combined capacity.

Code references

The engine cites AISC 360-16 Chapter E for compression and Chapter F for flexure. Specific clauses referenced in the documentation include E3 for the compression check, F7 for rectangular HSS flexure, F8 for round HSS and pipe flexure, and H1 for the combined axial-flexure interaction.

Limits

The module assumes the user provides the correct section type and material properties. It does not calculate the slenderness classification automatically from raw dimensions without the specified inputs; the user is expected to pass the necessary parameters. The Cb modifier is noted as conservative for closed sections when set to 1.0. Results are engineering aids; the engineer of record is responsible for the design.

This module ships in the desktop app

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