Present and Future Developments in Steel Design Codes

Steel structures design codes with load and resistance factors (or 'partial factors') which are based on first-order probabilistic concepts are now in use in many parts of the world. This paper will look first at the current design codes and their level of reliability and economy. Special emphasis will be on codes used in the USA. Following this, the current and planned code-development activity is discussed and the impact on the future methods of structural design is explored. Finally, some needed research for a better rationalization of the steel design codes is presented.