Advisory Desk Note 538 In-plane member buckling lengths for portal frames

Publication Year

2025

Document Status

Current

Abstract

This SCI Advisory Note (AD 538) provides clarification on the provision of joint design information from structural engineers to steelwork contractors. It emphasises that forces, moments, and their combinations must be clearly communicated, preferably as factored design values on drawings, to ensure accurate and safe connection detailing. The note reinforces that for nominally pinned joints, tying forces should be supplied separately and warns that significant axial forces may invalidate "pinned" assumptions. It highlights the importance of force equilibrium in complex joints and encourages early collaboration between engineers and contractors to understand joint behaviour and define critical load cases.

Document History

January 2025 edition.

Publisher Information