Eurocode 3

(Summary of Chapter I - Introduction)

1.1 Scope of Application

1.1.1 Scope of Application of EC3

The EC3 applies to projects of buildings and civil engineering works in steel.
This only addresses the requirements for resistance, usability, and durability of the
structures, not considering other requirements, such as thermal insulation
and/or acoustic.
The provisions presented, related to execution and labor
should be considered as minimum requirements, being able to be
complemented, in the case of buildings or civil engineering works.
The EC3 does not cover the special project requirements related to the action of
earthquakes (are defined in EC8).
The numerical values of the shares to be considered in the building project and of
civil engineering works are not indicated in EC3 (they are defined in EC1 and
applied to all types of construction.

1.1.2 Scope of Application of Part 1.1 of EC3

Part 1.1 of EC3 establishes a general basis for the design of buildings and
civil engineering works in steel. This part also presents rules
detailed that mainly applies to current buildings, considering that
the applicability of these rules may be limited for reasons of order
practical or due to simplifications.
It is noteworthy that both chapter 1 and chapter 2 are common to all
Eurocodes, with the exception of some additional clauses, specific to
each Eurocode.

Constitution of Part 1.1 of EC3:

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Project Basis
Chapter 3 Materials
Chapter 4 Limit states of use
Chapter 5 Ultimate limit states
Chapter 6 Connections subject to static actions
Chapter 7 Execution and assembly
Chapter 8 Sizing based on tests
Chapter 9 Fatigue
Annex B Reference norms Regulatory
Annex C Sizing against brittle failure Informative
Annex E Curvature length of a compressed element Informative
Annex F Bending Informative
Annex J Connections between beams and columns Regulatory
Annex K Connections of reticulated beams with tubular section profiles Regulatory
Annex L Bases of the pillars Regulatory
Annex M Alternative method for angle welds Regulatory
Annex Y Guidelines for load tests Informative
Annex D Use of steel type Fe E 460 Waiting
approval
Annex K Connections of reticulated beams with tubular section profiles - Version Awaiting
magazine including us multipolar approval
Annex Z Determination of design resistance from tests Awaiting
approval
Annex G Dimensioning for torsional resistance In the future
included
Annex H Modeling of building structures for analysis In the future
included
Annex J Connections of beams to columns - expanded version In the future
included
Annex N Openings in souls In the future
included
Annex S Use of stainless steel In the future
included

NOTE: Part 1.1 of EC3 does not cover: fire resistance; aspects
particularities of special types of buildings; particular aspects of types
specials of civil engineering works (bridges, masts, towers or platforms)
"offshore"); cases in which special measures may be necessary for
limit the consequences of accidents.

1.1.3 Other Parties of the EC3

Part 1.1 of EC3 will be complemented with other parts, which will complete it.
and they will adapt it to address specific aspects of special types of
buildings and civil engineering works.

Future parts of EC3:

Part 1.2 Fire resistance

Part 1.3 Elements and thin sheets formed cold
Part 2 Bridges and laminar structures
Part 3 Towers, masts, and chimneys
Part 4 Deposits, silos, and pipelines
Part 5 Stakes
Part 6 Lifting device structures
Part 7 Naval and marine structures
Part 8 Agricultural structures

1.2 Distinction Between Principles and Rules of Application

The principles encompass:

general statements and definitions for which there is no possibility of

alternative, as well as requirements and analytical models for which there are no
Any alternative is allowed unless stated otherwise.
The application rules are well-established and accepted rules that follow
the principles and meet their requirements. The use of rules is allowed
of sizing alternatives, as long as it is demonstrated that such rules
are in accordance with the corresponding principles and are equivalent in
regarding the resistance, use, and durability of the structure.

1.3 Assumptions
The assumptions on which EC3 is based are as follows:
the structures are designed by qualified and experienced technicians;
adequate quality control and supervision are ensured;
the construction is carried out by qualified and experienced personnel;
the materials used are in accordance with the specifications since
Eurocode or with specifications appropriate to the materials or
products used;
the works are subject to proper maintenance;
the works have a use according to what was planned.

In addition to this, it is considered that the sizing methods are only

valid if the requirements related to quality are also met
execution (Chapter 7).

1.4 Definições

1.4.1 Common Terms for All Eurocodes

Construction: Everything that is built or results from work
construction, both of buildings and civil engineering works,
both in terms of structural elements and in terms of
non-structural elements.
Execution: The activity of creating a building or work of
civil engineering. The term encompasses work on the construction site, well
like the assembly on site.
Structure: Organized combination of connected parts, designed
to provide rigidity.
Type of building or civil engineering works: Type of
construction designated for the intended purpose.
Structural form: Structural type designated to the arrangement of
structural elements.
Construction material: A material used in construction projects.
construction.
Type of construction: Indication of the main structural material.
Construction process: The way the construction will be executed.
Structural system: The load-bearing elements of a building or
of a civil engineering project and the way these elements
will work for modeling purposes.
NOTE: The terms can be found in Table 1.1 on page 25 of EC3.
equivalents to those presented above, in different languages.

1.4.2 Special Terms Used in Section 1.1 of the EC3

Reticulated structure: Part of a structure, encompassing a
set of structural elements directly linked,
sized to work together in order to resist
loads. This term encompasses flat reticulated structures and the
three-dimensional structures.
Sub-structure: A reticulated structure that is part of a
larger structure, but it is treated as a separate structure in a
structural analysis.
Type of construction model: Terms used to distinguish
among reticulated structures, which can be: semi-
continuous, continuous and simple.
Global analysis: Determination of a consistent distribution of
forces in a structure that is in equilibrium with a
a determined set of actions on the structure.
Length of the system: Distance between two contiguous points
in which a piece is braced in relation to the
lateral displacement in a given plane, or between one of these points
and the end of the piece.
Curvature length: System length of
a similar piece articulated at the ends, that has the
same resistance to bending as the given part.
Project manager: Person with the necessary qualifications and experience,
responsible for the structural project.

1.5 SI Units
Forces and charges {"kN":"kN","kN/m":"kN/m","kN/m":"kN/m"}2

Density kg/m3
Bulk weight kN/m3
Tensions and resistances N/mm2(MPa)
Moments kN.m

1.6 Symbols Used in Part 1.1 of EC3

1.6.1 Latin Uppercase Letters 1.6.3 Latin Lowercase Letters
A Accidental action a Distância; Propriedades geométricas
A Area a Thickness of a weld
B Force in screws a List of areas
C Capacidade; Valor fixado; Coeficiente b Width
D Damage c Distância; Saliência
E Modulus of elasticity d Diâmetro; Profundidade; Comprimento de diagonal
E Effect of an action e Eccentricity; Deviation from the neutral axis
F Action e Distância ao bordo; Distância ao topo
F Strength f Resistance
G Permanent action g Width of a traction strip; Spacing
G Distortion Module h Height
H Total horizontal load or reaction i Radius of gyration; Integer
I Moment of inertia k Coeficiente; Factor
K Stiffness coefficient l Comprimento; Vão; Comprimento encurvadura
L Comprimento; Vão; Comprimento do sistema n Relation of normal stresses or tensions
M Moment in general n Number of ...
M Bending moment p Separation; Spacing
N Normal effort q Uniformly distributed force
Q Variable action r Ray
R Resistência; Reacção s Quincunx spacing distribution; Distance
S Efforts t Thickness
S Rigidity uu Main axis of maximum inertia
T Torsion moment; Temperature vv Principal axis of minimum inertia
V Transverse effort xx Rectangular axes
W Bending modulus yy Rectangular axes
X Value of a property of a material zz Rectangular axes

1.6.2 Uppercase Greek Letters 1.6.4 Greek Lowercase Letters

Delta Difference in ... alpha Ângulo; Relação; Coeficiente
alpha Linear thermal expansion coefficient
beta Ângulo; Relação; Coeficiente
gamma Partial safety coefficient; Relation
delta ["Displacement","Arrow","Deformation"]
Epsilon Deformation; Coefficient = (235/fy)0.5
eta Coefficient (Annex E)
theta Ângulo; Inclinação
lambda Slenderness coefficient; Ratio
mu Coefficient of friction; Coefficient
nu Poisson's coefficient
rho Coeficiente de redução; Massa volúmica
sigma Normal tension
tau Tangential tension
Phi (fi) Rotação; Inclinação; Relação
chi Reduction coefficient (curvature)
psi Relationship between tensions; Reduction coefficients

1.6.5 Indexes
A Acidental; Área name Nominal
a average (Tension yield o Furo; Initial; Exterior
a, b ... First, second ... o Local curvature
b basic (Yield strength) o Point of null moment
b Apoio; Encurvadura ov Overlap
b Parafuso; Viga; Travessa p ["Cap; Joint; Joint cover"]
 C Capacidade; Consequências p Pre-Effort
c Cross section pl Plastic
c Concrete; Column Q Variable action
com Compression R Resistance
cr Critical r Bite; Restriction
d Sizing; Diagonal rep Representative
dst Destabilizing S Effort
E Effect of actions s Tensile stress
E Euler s Slippery; Floor
eff Cash s Rígido; Reforço
e Cash to be Usage
the Elastic stb Stabilizer
ext External sup Superior; Higher
f Banzo; Connector t (or ten) Traction
g Gross t (or tor) Twist
G Permanent action u Main axis of maximum inertia of
cross section
h Height; Upper u Last (Tensile strength)
h Horizontal ult Last (Limit state)
i Interior V Transverse effort
inf Inferior; Lower v Cut; Vertical
i, j, k Indices v Main axis of minimum inertia of the
cross section
j He vec Vector effects
k Characteristic w Soul; Welding; Warping
l Lower x Axis along the piece; Extension
L Long y Cession
LT Lateral (Lateral curvature) y Transversal axis of the section
M Material z Transversal axis of the section
M Bending moment σ Normal tension
m The flexion; Average τ Tangential tension
max Maximum ‗ Parallel
min Minimum ┴ Perpendicular
N Normal effort
n Normal
net Useful

1.6.6 Use of indexes in Part 1.1 of EC3

The resistance and properties of steel materials are values
nominal, treated as characteristic values (the k of
characteristic is omitted:

fyyield stress
fuultimate resistance
E - modulus of elasticity

In cases where symbols with multiple indices are needed,

these are organized in the following sequence:

Main parameter;
2) Type of variant;
3) Sense;
4) Location;
 Nature;
6) Level;
Index.

Points are used to separate indices in pairs of characters.

except when: indices with more than one character are not
sub-divided; combinations like Rd and Sd are not sub-
divided.

In cases where two variant type indexes are required

to describe a parameter, these indices can be
separated by a comma.

1.6.7 Convention for the axes of the elements

In general, the convention for the axes is:

xx - throughout the play;

yy - axis of the cross-section;
3) zz - axis of the cross-section.

For steels, in a general way:

1) yy - axis of the cross-section parallel to the flanges;

zz - axis of the cross section perpendicular to the
beans;

For the corners:

yy - axis parallel to the smaller flange;
zz - axis perpendicular to the shorter flap;

Whenever necessary:

1) uu - main axis of maximum inertia (in cases where

does not coincide with the yy axis);
2) vv - principal axis of minimum inertia (in the cases that
does not coincide with the zz axis);

NOTE: The convention used regarding the indicated indices is: 'Use the
axis around which the moment acts.