Aisc 325 Steel Construction Manual Official

Software excels at frame analysis but struggles with connection design—especially bolted and welded moment connections. Part 9 of the AISC 325 manual (Design of Connections) provides step-by-step design procedures, all pre-qualified by decades of research. No commercial software can replace the manual’s tables for weld groups, bolt capacities, and prying action.

AISC 325 is the designation for the 15th edition of the Steel Construction Manual, published by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

It supersedes AISC 360 (14th edition, 2011). The “AISC 360” refers to the Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, which is included within the manual. aisc 325 steel construction manual

The AISC 325 Steel Construction Manual is more than a book; it is a rite of passage. From your first undergraduate steel design class through the final years of a seasoned career, it remains the single most trusted reference for safe, economical, and constructible steel structures.

Whether you are preparing for the PE, checking a complex moment connection, or simply looking up the radius of gyration for a double-angle brace, the answer is inside the AISC 325. Treat it well, tab its pages, and never guess when you can look it up. Software excels at frame analysis but struggles with

Final Action Step: If you haven’t already, order a current copy (either the 15th or 16th edition) today. Spend an hour flipping through the Parts. Locate Table 3-2, Table 4-1, and the bolt tables in Part 7. You will quickly realize why generations of engineers call it simply, “The Manual.”

Need more guidance on steel design or the AISC 325? Subscribe to our newsletter for monthly deep-dives into structural engineering references and exam strategies. It supersedes AISC 360 (14th edition, 2011)

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This is the "grocery list" of steel shapes. It provides: