Chapter 4

Design of Beam-columns
 Beam-columns
 Most columns in buildings are subjected to bending in
addition to the axial load.
 When significant bending is present in addition to an axial
load in a member, the member is termed as a beam-
column.
 The bending moments on a column may be due to any of
the following effects.
a) Eccentricity of axial force
b) Building frame action: In a multi-storey building, usually
columns support beams which have similar identical connection
eccentricities at each floor level. In a rigid frame building
construction, the columns carry the building load axially as well
as end moments from the girders that frame into them.

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 2

 Beam-columns
c) Portal or gable frame action: Another common example of a
column with bending moments occurs in a portal frame where
the columns and rafters are subjected to relatively light axial
loads combined with bending.
d) Load from brackets: In industrial buildings, column brackets may
be used to carry gantry girders on which the cranes move. The
resulting eccentricity produces bending moments in addition to
the axial loads in the columns. In this case, the column moment
is not at the column ends
e) Transverse loads: due to wind pressure on long vertical
members may produce bending moments. Similarly earthquakes
also produce bending in the columns. Purlins placed between
panel joints of a rafter of roof trusses will produce bending in
rafters

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CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 4
 Beam-columns
f) Fixed base condition: If the base of the column is fixed due to
piles, rafts, or grillage foundation, bending moments will be
present at the base of the columns, even though their top ends
may be hinged.
 Beam columns in steel structures are often subjected to
biaxial bending moments, acting in two principal planes,
due to the space action of the framing system.
 The column cross section is usually oriented in such a way
to resist significant bending about the major axis of the
member. When I-shaped cross sections are used for the
columns, the minor axis bending may also become
significant, since the minor axis bending resistance of I-
section is small compared to the major axis bending
resistance.
CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 5
 Beam-columns
Steel beam-columns
− Building columns with moment connections
− Exposed columns subject to wind
− Columns with eccentric loads
− Beams subject to axial forces and moments
Over-all behavior of beam-columns
− Interaction formula
− Cross-sectional strength
− Moment amplification factor
− In-plane bending
− Out-of-plane behavior
− Special provisions
CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 6
Members subject to combined axial force
and bending

The design approach for members subject to combined

axial (compression) force and bending recommended in
ES 3 is based on the equivalent moment factor method,
which necessitates that the following ultimate limit states
are checked:
(1) Resistance of cross-sections to the combined effects
(2) Buckling resistance of member to the combined effects.

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 7

Resistance of cross-sections – bending and axial
force (Section 6.2.9, ES EN 1993)
1. Classes 1 and 2 cross-sections.
 For class 1 and 2 cross-sections subject to an axial force
and uniaxial bending the criterion to be satisfied in the
absence of shear force is

where MN,Rd is the design plastic moment resistance reduced due to

the axial force NEd.

 For a rectangular solid section without fastener holes MN,Rd

should be taken as:
MN,Rd = Mpl,Rd[1- (NEd / Npl,Rd)2]
CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 8
 Cont’d
 For doubly symmetrical I- and H-sections or other flanges
sections, allowance need not be made for the effect of the
axial force on the plastic resistance moment about the y-y
axis when both the following criteria are satisfied:
N Ed  0.25N pl , Rd
0.5hwtw f y
N Ed 
M0
 For doubly symmetrical I- and H-sections, allowance need
not be made for the effect of the axial force on the plastic
resistance moment about the z-z axis when:
hwtw f y
N Ed 
M0
CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 9
 Cont’d
 For cross-sections where fastener holes are not to be
accounted for, the following approximations may be
used for standard rolled I or H sections and for welded
I or H sections with equal flanges:

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 10

 Cont’d
 For cross-sections where fastener holes are not to be
accounted for, the following approximations may be
used for rectangular structural hollow sections of
uniform thickness and for welded box sections with
equal flanges and equal webs:

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 11

 Cont’d
 For bi-axial bending the following criterion may be
used:

in which α and β are constants, which may conservatively be taken

as unity, otherwise as follows:

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 12

 Cont’d
2. Class 3 cross-sections
In the absence of a shear force, class 3 cross-sections will be
satisfactory if the maximum longitudinal stress does not
exceed the design yield strength, i.e.

where 𝜎x,Ed is the design value of the local longitudinal stress due
to moment and axial force taking account of fastener holes where
relevant

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 13

 Cont’d
 For cross-sections without fastener holes, this becomes
(section 6.2.4 and 6.2.5)

3. Class 4 cross-sections.
In the absence of shear force, for Class 4 cross-sections
the maximum longitudinal stress σx,Ed calculated using
the effective cross sections (see 5.5.2(2)) should satisfy
the criterion:

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 14

 Cont’d
 As an alternative to the above criterion, the following
simplified criterion may be used:
N Ed M y , Ed  N Ed eNy M z , Ed  N Ed eNz
  1
Aeff f y Weff ,min f y Weff ,min f y
 Mo  Mo  Mo
where Aeff is the effective area of the cross-section when subjected
to uniform compression
Weff,min is the effective section modulus (corresponding to the
fibre with the maximum elastic stress) of the cross-section
when subjected only to moment about the relevant axis
eN is the shift of the relevant centroidal axis when the cross-
section is subjected to compression only, see 6.2.2.5(4)
CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 15
Buckling resistance of members combined bending
and axial compression (Section 6.3.3, ES EN 1993)
 Members which are subjected to combined bending and
axial load should satisfy the following

N Ed M y , Ed  M y , Ed M z , Ed  M z , Ed
 k yy  k yz 1
 y N Rk M y , Rk M z , Rk
 LT
 M1  M1  M1

N Ed M y , Ed  M y , ED M z , Ed  M z , Ed
 k zy  k zz 1
 z N Rk M y , Rk M z , Rk
 LT
 M1  M1  M1

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CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 17
 Interaction factors
Two alternative methods for calculating values of the
interaction factors are presented in EC 3. Both methods are
based on second-order in-plane elastic stability theory.
 The expression relevant to the design of classes 1 and
2 rolled sections, susceptible to torsional deformation,
are as follows: Refer Table B.1 and B.2 ESEN 1993

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 18

 Equivalent uniform moment factors, Cm
Cmy, Cmz and Cm,LT are the equivalent uniform moment factors account for
the shape of the bending moment diagram between the relevant points
of restraint. Refer table B.3 ES EN 1993

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 Design of column base plates[EC 3]
Generally, column base plates should be checked to
ensure
(1) the bearing pressure does not exceed the design
bearing strength of the foundations
(2) the bending moment in the compression or tension
region of the base plate does not exceed the resistance
moment.
1. Bearing pressure and strength
The aim of design is to ensure that the bearing pressure does
not exceed the bearing strength of the concrete, fj, i.e.

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 20

 Cont’d

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 21

 Cont’d
 Figure below shows the effective bearing areas under
axially loaded column base plates. The additional bearing
width x is given by:

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 22

Area in compression under base plate: (a) general case; (b) short
projection; (c) large projection (Fig. L. 1, ENV EC3).
CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 23
 Cont’d
2. Resistant moment
To prevent bending failure, the bending moment in the baseplate,
msd, must not exceed the resistance moment, mRd:

msd  mRd
The bending moment in the base plate is given by
( x2 2) N sd
msd 
Aeff
The resistance moment is given by
t2 fy
mRd 
6 M 0
CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 24
 Example 1
305 × 305 × 137 UC section extends through a height of 3.5
m and is pinned at both ends. Check whether this member is
suitable to support a design axial permanent load of 600 kN
together with a major axis variable bending moment of 300
kNm applied at the top of the element. Assume S275 steel is
to be used and that all effective length factors are unity.
Solution
Axial permanent action  600 kN
Axial variable action  0 kN
Permanent bending action  0 kN
Variable bending action  300 kNm
Grade S275 steel
Effective length factors for both axial and lateral torsional buckling
are unity
CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 25
 Example 1
1. Actions
Factored axial load is
NEd = 600 × 1.35 = 810 kN
Factored bending moments at top, middle and bottom of
column are

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 26

 Example 1
2. Section classification
c 132.25
  6.09  9  9  0.92  8.28
tf 21.7
c* d w 246.6
   17.87  33  30.36
tw tw 13.8

Hence section belongs to class 1.

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 27

 Example 1
3. Resistance of cross-sections: bending and axial
force
Since cross-section is class 1 check

Hence, allowance needs to be made for the effect of axial load

on the plastic moment of resistance moment about the y–y
axis.
CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 28
 Example 1

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 29

 Example 1
4. Resistance of member: combined bending and
axial compression

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 30

 Example 1

Hence for buckling about y–y axis buckling curve b is appropriate

and α = 0.34.

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 31

 Example 1

For buckling about z–z axis use buckling curve c and α = 0.49.

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 32

 Example 1
5. Member buckling resistance in bending

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 33

 Example 1

From above, h/b = 1.04 < 2 and tf = 21.7 mm. Hence buckling
curve a is appropriate ⇒ αLT = 0.21

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 34

 Example 1

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 35

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 36
 Example 1

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 37

 Example 2
Check that the column baseplate shown below is suitable to
resist an axial design load, NEd, of 2200 kN. Assume that the
foundations are of concrete of compressive cylinder strength,
fck, of 30 N mm2 and that the baseplate is made of S275 steel.

Solution
1. Effective area
Since the plate is between 16–40 mm thick and is made of S275
steel, fy  275 N/mm2. Additional bearing width, x, is

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 38

 Example 2

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 39

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 40
 Exercise
A 4.2 m column fixed at the base and pinned at the top
supports a beam with a reaction of 110 kN permanent
action and 220 variable load. Assuming the beam
reaction to be applied 80 mm from the face of the
flange. Check the adequacy of a 203 x 203 x 46 UC
grade Of S275 steel profile.

CENG 5112 STEEL AND TIMBER STRUCTURES 41