Reuse System of Building Steel Structures - Structural Performance of Reusable Members and Practical Examples

Abstract

Longevity, reuse and recycle can be effective in reducing environmental burden in the life cycle of building steel structures. Longevity is the most crucial element in reducing the environmental burden of building steel structures. Nevertheless, there are always a number of buildings that need to be demolished for physical, architectural, economic, and social reasons. When such building steel structures have been demolished in the past, their structural members have been scrapped for recycling. Steel, by nature, is the only type of structural member that can be fabricated. Even without special joints that facilitate demolition work, steel members can be reused after minor fabrication procedures such as cutting, drilling, and welding. In this paper we discuss structural performance of reusable members and practical examples using reusable members.