Australian HSS Section Properties — CHS, RHS, SHS Table
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Reference for hollow structural section (HSS) properties per AS/NZS 1163:2016. Cold-formed CHS, RHS, and SHS in Grade C350L0 and C450L0 for AS 4100:2020 design.
CHS — Circular Hollow Sections
| Designation | Mass kg/m | d mm | t mm | A mm² | I ×10⁶ mm⁴ | Z ×10³ mm³ | r mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHS 33.7×3.2 | 2.39 | 33.7 | 3.2 | 304 | 0.039 | 2.30 | 11.3 |
| CHS 48.3×3.2 | 3.55 | 48.3 | 3.2 | 452 | 0.118 | 4.88 | 16.2 |
| CHS 60.3×3.6 | 5.03 | 60.3 | 3.6 | 642 | 0.265 | 8.78 | 20.3 |
| CHS 76.1×3.6 | 6.44 | 76.1 | 3.6 | 820 | 0.549 | 14.4 | 25.9 |
| CHS 88.9×4.0 | 8.36 | 88.9 | 4.0 | 1066 | 0.974 | 21.9 | 30.2 |
| CHS 114.3×4.8 | 12.9 | 114.3 | 4.8 | 1650 | 2.49 | 43.5 | 38.8 |
| CHS 139.7×4.8 | 15.9 | 139.7 | 4.8 | 2030 | 4.68 | 67.1 | 47.9 |
| CHS 168.3×6.4 | 25.4 | 168.3 | 6.4 | 3240 | 10.7 | 127 | 57.5 |
| CHS 219.1×8.2 | 42.4 | 219.1 | 8.2 | 5400 | 29.9 | 273 | 74.4 |
SHS — Square Hollow Sections
| Designation | Mass kg/m | d mm | t mm | A mm² | I ×10⁶ mm⁴ | Z ×10³ mm³ | r mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHS 50×50×3.0 | 4.23 | 50 | 3.0 | 539 | 0.194 | 7.76 | 18.9 |
| SHS 75×75×3.0 | 6.55 | 75 | 3.0 | 834 | 0.707 | 18.9 | 29.1 |
| SHS 100×100×5.0 | 14.2 | 100 | 5.0 | 1810 | 2.66 | 53.2 | 38.3 |
| SHS 150×150×6.0 | 26.3 | 150 | 6.0 | 3350 | 11.5 | 153 | 58.6 |
| SHS 200×200×8.0 | 46.6 | 200 | 8.0 | 5940 | 35.9 | 359 | 77.7 |
| SHS 250×250×9.0 | 65.4 | 250 | 9.0 | 8340 | 78.4 | 627 | 97.0 |
RHS — Rectangular Hollow Sections
| Designation | Mass | d×b mm | t | Ix ×10⁶ | Zx ×10³ | Iy ×10⁶ | Zy ×10³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHS 100×50×3.0 | 6.55 | 100×50 | 3.0 | 0.857 | 17.1 | 0.283 | 11.3 |
| RHS 150×100×4.0 | 14.7 | 150×100 | 4.0 | 4.49 | 59.9 | 2.32 | 46.4 |
| RHS 200×100×5.0 | 22.2 | 200×100 | 5.0 | 12.5 | 125 | 4.06 | 81.2 |
| RHS 250×150×6.0 | 35.4 | 250×150 | 6.0 | 30.6 | 245 | 13.1 | 175 |
| RHS 300×200×8.0 | 58.4 | 300×200 | 8.0 | 74.2 | 495 | 39.5 | 395 |
| RHS 400×200×10 | 87.6 | 400×200 | 10 | 189 | 945 | 63.1 | 631 |
Grade C450L0 Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum yield (t≤6mm) | fy=450 MPa |
| Minimum yield (t>6mm) | fy=430 MPa |
| Minimum tensile | fu=500 MPa |
| Design capacity factor φ | 0.90 |
| Charpy | 27 J at 0°C (L0) |
Design Resources
- [[Australian Steel Grades|/reference/australian-steel-grades/]] | [[Australian Steel Properties|/reference/australian-steel-properties/]] | [[Australian Beam Sizes|/reference/au-beam-sizes/]] | [[Australian Bolt Capacity|/reference/australian-bolt-capacity/]] | [[AS 4100 Beam Design|/reference/as4100-beam-design-example/]] | [[All Australian References|/reference/]]
FAQ
What are common Australian HSS grades? C350L0 (fy=350 MPa) and C450L0 (fy=450 MPa) per AS/NZS 1163. C450L0 is dominant for structural applications.
What is the difference between CHS, SHS and RHS? CHS=circular (pipe), SHS=square, RHS=rectangular. All cold-formed per AS/NZS 1163. RHS offers different strong/weak axis properties.
What Charpy designation for HSS? Standard is L0 (27 J at 0°C). The L0 designation is part of the grade name (e.g., C450L0).
Educational Use Only — This reference is for educational and preliminary design purposes only. All structural designs must be independently verified by a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or Structural Engineer (SE) in accordance with AS 4100:2020 and all applicable Australian Standards. Results are not for construction.
Design Applications
Common Design Scenarios
This reference covers structural design scenarios commonly encountered in Australian steel design practice:
- Strength verification: Check member or connection capacity against factored loads per the applicable design code
- Serviceability checks: Verify deflections, vibrations, and other serviceability criteria
- Code compliance: Ensure design meets all provisions of the governing standard
- Connection detailing: Verify weld sizes, bolt quantities, and edge distances
Related Design Considerations
- System behavior: consider the interaction between members and connections
- Load paths: verify that forces can be transferred through the structure to the foundations
- Constructability: check that the design can be fabricated and erected practically
- Cost optimization: evaluate alternative sections or connection types for economy
Worked Example
Problem: Verify a Grade 300 member for the following conditions:
Typical span: 6.0 m | Load: service loads per applicable code | Section: common section in this category
Design Check:
- Determine governing load combination (LRFD or ASD per applicable code)
- Calculate maximum internal forces (moment, shear, axial)
- Compute nominal capacity per code provisions
- Apply resistance/safety factors
- Verify interaction if combined forces exist
Result: Use the results from the Steel Calculator tool to verify design adequacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Australian Standard governs structural steel design?
AS 4100-2020 (Steel Structures) is the primary standard for structural steel design in Australia. It covers all aspects of design including member capacity, connections, serviceability, and fire resistance. The standard uses a limit states design philosophy with resistance factors (φ) applied to nominal capacities. Companion standards include AS/NZS 3679.1 for hot-rolled sections, AS/NZS 1554 for welding, and AS/NZS 4600 for cold-formed steel.
What are the common steel grades used in Australian construction?
The most common steel grades for Australian construction are Grade 300 and Grade 350 per AS/NZS 3679.1. Grade 300 (minimum yield 300 MPa for sections > 12 mm thick) is the standard for general structural applications. Grade 350 (minimum yield 340 MPa for sections > 12 mm) is used where higher strength reduces weight. Grade 400 and Grade 450 are available for specialized applications requiring higher strength-to-weight ratios.
How does AS 4100 compare to AISC 360?
Both AS 4100 and AISC 360 use limit states design (LRFD) principles. Key differences include: AS 4100 uses a single "capacity factor" φ approach rather than separate φ for different failure modes; AS 4100 specifies distinct buckling curves for hot-rolled and welded sections; the moment capacity formula in AS 4100 uses αm factor directly rather than Cb; and AS 4100 has more detailed provisions for slender sections and combined actions. Despite philosophical differences, both codes produce similar results for typical members.