“JOIST” — STEEL JOIST ANALYSIS
Program Description:
“JOIST” is a spreadsheet program written in MS-Excel for the purpose of analysis of steel joists considered as
simple-span beams subjected to virtually any type of loading configuration. Specifically, beam end reactions as well
as the maximum moments and deflections are calculated. Plots of both the shear and moment diagrams are
produced, as well as a tabulation of the shear, moment, slope, and deflection for the joist span. There are two
worksheets for selecting K-series and LH-series joists, and 2 worksheets which are the SJI Standard Load Tables.
This program is a workbook consisting of eight (8) worksheets, described as follows:
Worksheet Name Description
Doc This documentation sheet
General Joist Analysis General standard joist analysis for steel joists for non-standard loads
K-Joist Analysis Analysis for typical, standard loaded, open-web K-series steel joists
K-Joist Table Standard (SJI) load table for open-web K-series steel joists
KCS-Joist Analysis Analysis for non-standard loaded, open-web KCS-series steel joists
KCS-Joist Table Load table for open-web KCS-series steel joists
LH-Joist Analysis Analysis for typical, standard loaded, longspan LH-series steel joists
LH-Joist Table Standard (SJI) load table for longspan LH-series steel joists
Program Assumptions and Limitations:
- For the “General Joist Analysis” worksheet, the following reference was used in the development of this program:
“Modern Formulas for Statics and Dynamics, A Stress-and-Strain Approach”
by Walter D. Pilkey and Pin Yu Chang, McGraw-Hill Book Company (1978), pages 11 to 21. - The “General Joist Analysis” worksheet on the joist span will handle a full length uniform load and up to eight (8)
partial uniform, triangular, or trapezoidal loads, up to fifteen (15) point loads, and up to four (4) applied moments. - The “General Joist Analysis” worksheet will calculate the joist end vertical reactions, the maximum positive
moment and negative moment (if applicable), and the maximum negative deflection and positive deflection (if
applicable). The calculated values for the end reactions and maximum moments and deflections are determined
from dividing the joist into fifty (50) equal segments with fifty-one (51) points, and including all of the point load
and applied moment locations as well. (Note: the actual point of maximum moment occurs where the shear = 0,
or passes through zero, while the actual point of maximum deflection is where the slope = 0.) - In the “General Joist Analysis” worksheet the user is given the ability to input two (2) specific locations from the
left end of the joist to calculate the shear, moment, slope, deflection, as well as the stress ratios for shear and
moment. This should be utilized when the maximum moment does not occur at the start or end of a segment. - In the “General Joist Analysis” worksheet, the plots of the shear and moment diagrams as well as the displayed
tabulation of shear, moment, slope, and deflection are based on the joist span being divided up into fifty (50)
equal segments with-one (51) points. - The “General Joist Analysis” worksheet will enable the user to either analyze an existing joist for new loads or
determine the required total equivalent uniform load to be used to size a new joist. - The “General Joist Analysis” worksheet only analyzes the joist “as a whole” and does not perform checks on the
individual components. - In the “General Joist Analysis” worksheet, the deflections calculated include a 15% increase above the values
calculated using traditional “simple-beam” flexure to more closely match actual test results obtained by SJI. - For the “K-Joist Analysis” and “LH-Joist Analysis” worksheets, the Steel Joist Institute (SJI) Standard Load Table
as well the “Recommended Code of Standard Practice for Steel Joists and Joist Girders” are used. The
Standard Load Tables are built into each of these two analysis worksheets. The two worksheets will evaluate a
user selected joist size, as well as display up to a maximum of 15 of the lightest joist sizes that are satisfactory
for the loading and deflection criteria specified by the user. The bridging requirements are also determined. - This program contains numerous “comment boxes” which contain a wide variety of information including
explanations of input or output items, equations used, data tables, etc. (Note: presence of a “comment box”
is denoted by a “red triangle” in the upper right-hand corner of a cell. Merely move the mouse pointer to the
desired cell to view the contents of that particular “comment box”.)
