Analysis of contemporary steel structures

From past to the present, the most important factor for the space design is the structural systems. Cast iron transformed to today?s structural steel as a result of industrial revolution. Structural steel is used as a structural material in the applications intensively. The development of technology together with the types of structural system are the most important inputs of design to build contemporary buildings. Original architectural forms and the most suitable structural system choice for the form are two basic components satisfying to each other.This thesis aims to investigate the types of steel structural systems, and then, to look over some original, aesthetic structural designs and their technologies from international mostly wide span applications about architectural form and structural efficiency.The First Chapter presents the purpose and scope of this study.Information about steel material production; development of wide span buildings and buildings function regarding the location in the city are presented in the Second Chapter.In the Third Chapter, information about the structural system elements of wide span buildings are given, structural types are classified in six sections and some special aesthetic building applications in the world are examined.The Fourth Chapter includes information and 3d computer drawings about eight special buildings built in different countries to enhance the comprehension, from design to construction.Fifth Chapter evaluates the structural system development since 1930.In the Sixth Chapter, results of this thesis are discussed and suggestions are proposed.