University Programs

Structural Steel Textbooks

Steel educators need to stay updated on current textbooks available and those available in the near future on the topics related to the structural steel construction industry.  AISC has compiled a list below on textbooks updated to the 16th Edition AISC Steel Construction Manual along with a brief description of each book. This page will be updated as new editions become available.

UPDATED FOR THE AISC STEEL CONSTRUCTION MANUAL, 16TH EDITION

Steel Design (7th Edition), William T. Segui and Sayed M. Soleimani, Cengage Learning

Available January 1, 2025

This textbook (available from Cengage) stands out by focusing on the design of individual members and their connections, rather than the integrated design of buildings. Its unique approach offers the flexibility to teach either LRFD (Load and Resistance Factor Design), ASD (Allowable Stress Design) or both, depending on your schedule. The text also includes both SI and US Customary units and empowers the students to apply fundamental design principles through practical procedures, while reinforcing a strong theoretical foundation. This best-seller is perfect for junior and senior engineering students, with advanced chapters suitable for graduate-level courses. Practicing engineers will also find it a valuable reference for staying updated with current standards.

Unified Design of Steel Structures (4th Edition), Lou Geschwindner, Judy Liu and Charlie Carter

Available now.

This textbook is available through the authors' website, www.steelstuff.com, printed on demand and sent directly to the student. Because of the economics of publishing this way, we are happy to present this edition as a 2023 Book at a 1987 Price of $50.

The book is also available through print on demand at amazon.com. There is also Kindle version of the book for $2.99. (In both cases, please be sure that the correct version of the book is ordered since the 3rd edition is still available in the Amazon marketplace.)

In addition to updating for the new Specification and Manual, several topics have been added or expanded, and 290 new or revised homework problems have been included. A review of the changes in the text, by chapter, can be found here.

Instructor resources will include a complete set of homework solutions, textbook figures in PowerPoint files, the Integrated Design Project RAM Structural Model, and a guide to the RAM model with discussion of the relevant features of RAM, all obtained through the AISC Educator Forum (coming soon). Please reach out to universityprograms@aisc.org with any questions about access.

On the website, you can join the e-mail list for notifications of updates (e.g., errata, availability of the Solutions Manual, and other instructor and student resources). You also can ask us questions or make comments. We hope you find that this new edition meets your class needs and look forward to your adoption of our book for Fall 2023 and beyond.

For the 15th Edition MANUAL

A Beginner’s Guide to the Steel Construction Manual, 15th Edition (3rd Edition), T. Bart Quimby

This is the third edition of this free online steel textbook which receives over 30,000 unique visitors per month. Find it at bgstructuralengineering.com. Hard copy option is being evaluated since the hard copy sales are dropping off as more people are comfortable with the online version.


Updates for the 16th Edition Steel Construction Manual expected to be available in late fall 2023.

Build With Steel (2nd Edition), Paul Richards

BUILD WITH STEEL introduces beginners to load and resistance factor design (LRFD) for steel buildings. The book covers the topics encountered in undergraduate steel design courses and on national exams (FE and PE). The full color layout is rich with photos, illustrations, and examples. It carefully explains the basis and application of the tables and specifications found in the AISC Steel Construction Manual.


Updates for the 16th Edition Steel Construction Manual expected to be available in late fall 2023.

Steel Design (6th Edition), William Segui, Cengage Learning

STEEL DESIGN covers the fundamentals of structural steel design with an emphasis on the design of members and their connections, rather than the integrated design of buildings. The book is designed so that instructors can easily teach LRFD, ASD, or both, time-permitting. The application of fundamental principles is encouraged for design procedures as well as for practical design, but a theoretical approach is also provided to enhance student development. While the book is intended for junior-and senior-level engineering students, some of the later chapters can be used in graduate courses and practicing engineers will find this text to be an essential reference tool for reviewing current practices.

Structural Steel Design (6th Edition), J.C. McCormac and S.F. Csernak, Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2017

This book is written for students just beginning the study of structural steel design. The material is prepared primarily for an introductory course in the junior or senior year but the last several chapters may be used for a graduate class.  To many of us in the structural field, the design of steel structures is a fascinating topic. It is hoped that many of the users of this book will be as attracted to the subject as we are.  A practical approach to the fundamentals of designing steel structures is presented so that the material is appropriate for not only civil engineering students but also for those in architecture and building science.  Steel structures are used all over the world. The reader is encouraged to go out of his or her way to observe these structures and endeavor to see how the members are arranged, erected and connected.

This edition conforms to updated American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) resources, including the 2016 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (ANSI/AISC 360-16) and the 15th edition of the AISC Steel Construction Manual, published in 2017.


Updates for the 16th Edition Steel Construction Manual expected to be available in fall 2023.

Structural Steel Design (3rd Edition), Abi O. Aghayere and Jason Vigil

Structural Steel Design, Third Edition is a simple, practical, and concise guide to structural steel design – using the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) and the Allowable Strength Design (ASD) methods -- that equips the reader with the necessary skills for designing real-world structures. Civil, structural, and architectural engineering students intending to pursue careers in structural design and consulting engineering, and practicing structural engineers will find the text useful because of the holistic, project-based learning approach that bridges the gap between engineering education and professional practice. The design of each building component is presented in a way such that the reader can see how each element fits into the entire building design and construction process. Structural details and practical example exercises that realistically mirror what obtains in professional design practice are presented.

Features:

  • Includes updated content/example exercises that conform to the current codes (ASCE 7, ANSI/AISC 360-16, and IBC)
  • Adds coverage to ASD and examples with ASD to parallel those that are done LRFD
  • Follows a holistic approach to structural steel design that considers the design of individual steel framing members in the context of a complete structure.

Unified Design of Steel Structures (3rd Edition), Lou Geschwindner, Judy Liu and Charlie Carter

This textbook is available from barnesandnoble.com, printed on demand, and sent directly to the student. Because of the economics of publishing this way, we are happy to present this edition as a 2017 Book at a 1987 Price of $50.

This third edition is an update and expansion of the second edition. Overall, changes implemented in the 2016 Specification have been incorporated, new examples have been added, and new homework problems have been provided. You are encouraged to visit the website for more details, view selected chapter previews, or to buy the book. A Kindle version is also available at amazon.com.

www.steelstuff.com

On the website, you can join the e-mail list for notifications of updates (e.g., errata, availability of the Solutions Manual and other instructor and student resources). You also can ask us questions or make comments. We hope you find that this new edition meets your class needs and look forward to your adoption of our book for Fall 2017 and beyond.

Others

Ductile Design of Steel Structures (2nd Edition), Michel Bruneau, Chia-Ming Uang and Rafael Sabelli, McGraw-Hill, 2011

Ductile Design of Steel Structures, Second Edition, covers steel material, cross-section, component, and system response for applications in plastic and seismic design, and provides practical guidance on how to incorporate these principles into structural design.  Self-study problems at the end of each chapter help reinforce the concepts presented. Written by experts in earthquake-resistant design who are active in the development of seismic guidelines, this is an invaluable resource for students and professionals involved in earthquake engineering or other areas related to the analysis and design of steel structures.

Guide to Stability Design Criteria for Metal Structures (6th Edition), R.D. Ziemian (ed.), Structural Stability Research Council (SSRC), Wiley, 2010

The Guide to Stability Design Criteria for Metal Structures is often described as an invaluable reference for practicing structural engineers and researchers. For generations of engineers and architects, the Guide has served as the definitive work on designing steel and aluminum structures for stability.