ABSTRACT
Presently, ASTM A992 steel grade, whose yield point must be between 350 and 450 MPa, and the code permitted maximum yield-to-ultimate strength ratio of 0.85, is widely used in North American steel construction projects. In some instances, steels such as HPS-485 W, HSLA 80 steel, and ASTM A913 Gr: 60 exhibit yield-to-ultimate strength values of more than 0.85 (Dexter et al., 2002). Application of various current international code provisions related flange holes to the above referenced steel grades indicate that the 15% exemption rule is more restrictive for steel grades having the yieldto-ultimate strength of less than 0.85, whereas it is inadequate and inappropriate for the high strength steels with yield-to-ultimate strength ratio of more than 0.85 (Arasaratnam 2008).
