RECENT MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN STRUCTURAL STEEL RESEARCH

Over the past number of years the author has conducted an extensive data collection and evaluation of steel structures research projects in all areas of the world. The paper focuses on subject matter as well as trends, discerning major directions for steel construction insofar as materials, members, systems and analysis techniques are concerned. Fabrication and construction issues are also addressed, in as much as the research efforts tie together theories of analysis and design. Design philosophy developments are particularly important, especially for appropriate limit states treatment, performance demands and extreme loading conditions. All of these subject feed directly into the design codes that are under continuous development. In that respect the design results are remarkably similar in all geographical regions, save for certain unique characteristics that are usually dictated by engineering preferences and environmental needs. Based on a large number of papers that have been prepared by the author as part of his data collection, selected research project topics are provided within each of the segments of the paper, including names of institutions and lead researchers, whenever available.