By Dr Noor Sheena Herayani Harith

11 March 2019
EC 3 requirements in column design
• (i) compression members;
• (ii) members resisting combined axial load and bending;
• (iii) columns in simple construction;
• (iv) simple column baseplates.
 Compression Members
• Compression members (i.e. struts)
should be checked for
• (1) resistance to compression
• (2) resistance to buckling

• Short steel compression members fail by squashing at the yield stress

• Long steel (slender) compression members fail by buckling
Compression resistance of cross-sections
(Cl. 6.2.4., EC 3)
• For members in axial compression,
the design value of the compression • (a) the design plastic resistance of
force NEd at each cross section the gross cross-section (for class 1,
should satisfy 2, and 3 cross-sections)
𝐴𝑓𝑦
𝑁𝐸𝑑 𝑁𝑐,𝑅𝑑 =
≤ 1.0 𝛾𝑀0
𝑁𝑐,𝑅𝑑 • (b) the design local buckling
resistance of the effective cross-
• where Nc,Rd is the design section (for class 4 cross-sections)
𝐴𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝑓𝑦
compression resistance of the cross- 𝑁𝑐,𝑅𝑑 =
section, taken as 𝛾𝑀0
• where Aeff is the effective area of
section.
Compression member
• Flexural buckling is in general the buckling mode, which govern the
design of a member in pure compression.
• For this mode in a pinned column, the elastic critical load Ncr,
defined as the maximum load supported by the column, free from
any type of imperfections, is given by the well known Euler’s formula:
Critical Load and Euler Theory
3. The Euler theory is established by a Swedish
mathematician, Leonard Euler at year 1757 to
analyse critical load of a column. The
assumption made in the theory is:
a) The column is straight.
b) Cross-section is uniform.
c) The compressive force is acting on the
centroid of the cross-section( or at the
cross axis transverse and longitudinal
cross-section).
d) The change in shape of the column is
small.
 Critical Load and Euler Theory
• In specific cases (e.g. members with cruciform
cross sections) buckling may occur in other
modes: torsional buckling or flexural-torsional
buckling.
Effective Length of Column
• Actually, the L value taken
depends on the condition of both
ends of the column.
• Some of connection conditions at
the ends of the column to
determine the effective length, 𝐿𝑒
Buckling Theory

• Imperfections or real columns (geometrical

imperfections and material imperfections).
 Buckling resistance of members (Cl. 6.3, EC 3)
• A compression member should be verified against buckling as follows:
𝑁𝐸𝑑
≤ 1.0
𝑁𝑏,𝑅𝑑
• Where - NEd is the design value of the compression force
- Nb,Rd is the design buckling resistance of the compression
member
• The design buckling resistance of a compression member should
be taken as for class 1, 2 and 3 cross-sections:
𝜒𝐴𝑓𝑦
𝑁𝑏,𝑅𝑑 =
𝛾𝑀1
Buckling resistance of members
(Cl. 6.3.1, EC 3-1-1) (Con’t)
• for class 4 cross-sections;
𝜒𝐴𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑦
𝑁𝑏,𝑅𝑑 =
𝛾𝑀1
• Where ; χ is the reduction factor for the relevant buckling mode, given by:
1
𝜒= ≤ 1.0
Φ+ Φ2−𝜆2
• In which;
Φ = 0.5[1 + 𝛼 𝜆 − 0.2 + 𝜆2]
• Where, α is an imperfection factor from Table 9.11.
• Table 9.12 indicates which of the buckling curves is to be used.
Buckling resistance of members
(Cl. 6.3, EC 3) (Con’t)

• Neglect BUCKLING if:

𝜆 ≤ 0.2 or 𝑁𝐸𝑑 /𝑁𝑐𝑟 ≤ 0.04
Buckling resistance of members (Cl. 6.3, EC 3) (Con’t)
DESIGN OF COLUMNS: Example 1
DESIGN OF COLUMNS: Example 1 (Con’t)
• i) The inner column E-3 represented in the figure, at base level, is
selected.
• This member has a length of 4.335 m and is composed by a section
HEB 340 in steel S 355.
• In this column the bending moments (and the shear force) may be
neglected; the design axial force (compression) obtained from the
previous analysis is given by NEd = 3326.0 kN.
 DESIGN OF COLUMNS: Example 1 (Con’t)
• ii) Cross section classification – section HEB 340 in pure
compression.
• Geometric characteristics: A = 170.9 cm2, b = 300 mm, h =
340 mm, tf = 21.5 mm, tw = 12 mm, r = 27 mm, Iy = 36660
cm4, iy = 14.65 cm, Iz = 9690 cm4, iz = 7.53 cm.
• Mechanical properties of the steel: fy = 355 MPa and E =
210 GPa.
DESIGN OF COLUMNS: Example 1 (Con’t)
DESIGN OF COLUMNS: Example 1 (Con’t)
DESIGN OF COLUMNS: Example 1 (Con’t)
DESIGN OF COLUMNS: Example 1 (Con’t)
By Dr Noor Sheena Herayani Harith
13rd March 2017
Members Subject to Combined Axial Force
and Bending
• The design approach for members subject to combined axial
(compression) force and bending recommended in EC 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.
Resistance of cross-sections – bending and
axial force (Cl. 6.2.9, EC 3)
• Classes 1 and 2 cross-sections. For class 1 and 2 cross-sections
subject to an axial force
• Uniaxial bending the criterion to be satisfied in the absence of shear
force is
𝑀𝐸𝑑
≤1
𝑀𝑁,𝑅𝑑
• where MN,Rd is the reduced design plastic resistance moment allowing
for the axial force, NEd.
Resistance of cross-sections – bending and
axial force (Cl. 6.2.9, EC 3) (Con’t)
• For bending about the y–y axis no reduction is necessary provided
that the axial force does not exceed half the plastic tension resistance
of the web;
0.5ℎ𝑤𝑡𝑤𝑓𝑦
𝛾𝑀0
• or a quarter of the plastic tension resistance of the whole cross-
section, whichever is the smaller.
0.25𝑁𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑
Resistance of cross-sections – bending and
axial force (Cl. 6.2.9, EC 3) (Con’t)
• For larger axial loads the following approximations can be used for
standard rolled I and H sections
(1−𝑛)
𝑀𝑁,𝑦,𝑅𝑑 = 𝑀𝑝𝑙,𝑦,𝑅𝑑 ≤ 𝑀𝑝𝑙,𝑦,𝑅𝑑
(1−0.5𝑎)
• For 𝑛 ≤ 𝑎: 𝑀𝑁,𝑧,𝑅𝑑 = 𝑀𝑝𝑙,𝑧,𝑅𝑑
𝑛−𝑎 2
• For 𝑛 > 𝑎: 𝑀𝑁,𝑧,𝑅𝑑 = 𝑀𝑝𝑙,𝑧,𝑅𝑑 1 −
1−𝑎
• Where; 𝑛 = 𝑁𝐸𝑑/ 𝑁𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑
𝑎 = (𝐴 − 2𝑏𝑡𝑓 /𝐴 ≤ 0.5
Resistance of cross-sections – bending and
axial force (Cl. 6.2.9, EC 3) (Con’t)
• For bi-axial bending, the • As a further conservative
following approximate criterion approximation for class 1, 2 and 3
can be used: cross-sections the following may
𝑀𝑦,𝐸𝑑
𝛼
𝑀𝑧,𝐸𝑑
𝛽 be used (clause 6.2.1(7)):
+ ≤1 𝑁𝐸𝑑 𝑀𝑦,𝐸𝑑 𝑀𝑧,𝐸𝑑
𝑀𝑁,𝑦,𝑅𝑑 𝑀𝑁,𝑧,𝑅𝑑 + + ≤1
𝑁𝑅𝑑 𝑀𝑦,𝑅𝑑 𝑀𝑧,𝑅𝑑
• where for I and H sections α = 2
and β = 5n but β ≥ 1 • Where; NRd = Afy /γM0
• My,Rd = Wy fy /γM0
• Mz,Rd = Wz fy /γM0
Resistance of cross-sections – bending and
axial force (Cl. 6.2.9, EC 3) (Con’t)
• 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.
𝑓𝑦
𝛼𝑥,𝐸𝑑 ≤
𝛾𝑀0
• For cross-sections without fastener holes, this becomes (clauses 6.2.4 and
6.2.5)
𝑁𝐸𝑑 𝑀𝑦,𝐸𝑑 𝑀𝑧,𝐸𝑑
+ + ≤1
𝐴𝑓𝑦/𝛾𝑀0 𝑊𝑒𝑙,𝑦𝑓𝑦/𝛾𝑀0 𝑊𝑒𝑙,𝑧 𝑓𝑦/𝛾𝑀0
• Class 4 cross-sections. For class 4 cross-sections the above approach
should also be used, but calculated using effective, rather than actual,
widths of compression elements (Cl. 6.2.9.3(2)).
Buckling resistance of members –combined
bending and axial compression (Cl. 6.3.3, EC 3)
• Again this is presented in a rather cumbersome manner in EC 3. We
will confine our remarks to class 1 and 2 members. Members which
are subjected to combined bending and axial load should satisfy the
following;
𝑁𝐸𝑑 𝑀𝑦,𝐸𝑑 𝑀𝑧,𝐸𝑑
• + 𝑘𝑦𝑦 + 𝑘𝑦𝑧 ≤1
𝜒𝑦 𝑁𝑅𝑘 /𝛾𝑀1 𝜒𝐿𝑇 𝑀𝑦,𝑅𝑘 /𝛾𝑀1 𝑀𝑧,𝑅𝑘 /𝛾𝑀1
𝑁𝐸𝑑 𝑀𝑦,𝐸𝑑 𝑀𝑧,𝐸𝑑
• + 𝑘𝑧𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧𝑧 ≤1
𝜒𝑧 𝑁𝑅𝑘 /𝛾𝑀1 𝜒𝐿𝑇 𝑀𝑦,𝑅𝑘 /𝛾𝑀1 𝑀𝑧,𝑅𝑘 /𝛾𝑀1
Buckling resistance of members –combined bending
and axial compression (Cl. 6.3.3, EC 3) (Con’t)
Interaction factors
• The expressions relevant to the design of classes 1 and 2 rolled sections,
susceptible to torsional deformation, are as follows
𝑁𝐸𝑑 𝑁𝐸𝑑
• 𝑘𝑦𝑦 = 𝐶𝑚𝑦 1 + 𝜆𝑦 − 0.2 ≤ 𝐶𝑚𝑦 1 + 0.8
𝜒𝑦 𝑁𝑅𝑘/𝛾𝑀1 𝜒𝑦𝑁𝑅𝑘 /𝛾𝑀1
• 𝑘𝑦𝑦 = 0.6𝑘𝑧𝑧
0.1𝜆𝑧 𝑁𝐸𝑑 0.1
• 𝑘𝑧𝑦 = 1− × 𝜒𝑦𝑁𝑅𝑘 ≥1−
𝐶𝑚𝐿𝑇−0.25 𝜒𝑧 𝑁𝑅𝑘/𝛾𝑀1
𝛾𝑀1
𝑁𝐸𝑑 𝑁𝐸𝑑
• 𝑘𝑧𝑧 = 𝐶𝑚𝑧 − 1 + 2𝜆𝑧 − 0.6 ≤ 𝐶𝑚𝑧 1 + 1.4
𝜒𝑧 𝑁𝑅𝑘/𝛾𝑀1 𝜒𝑧 𝑁𝑅𝑘/𝛾𝑀1
 Buckling resistance of members –combined bending
and axial compression (Cl. 6.3.3, EC 3) (Con’t)
• Where; Cmy, Cmz and Cm,LT
are the equivalent
uniform moment factors
determined from Table
9.13 and account for the
shape of the bending
moment diagram
between the relevant
points of restraint.
Buckling resistance of members –combined bending
and axial compression (Cl. 6.3.3, EC 3) (Con’t)
• The complexity of the above expressions largely arises from the fact
that they model beam-column behavior presented in EC 3 with regard
to:
• 1. torsional effects
• 2. buckling effects
• 3. instability effects.
Columns in Simple Construction
• A simplified conservative approach to the design of columns in simple
construction has been developed by the Steel Construction Institute
(SN 048b) which avoids the calculation of the interaction factors
discussed above. It is suitable for classes 1–3, hot rolled UB and UC
sections and involves checking the following expression is satisfied
𝑁𝐸𝑑 𝑀𝑦,𝐸𝑑 𝑀𝑧,𝐸𝑑
+ + 1.5 ≤1
𝑁𝑏,𝑧,𝑅𝑑 𝑀𝑏,𝑅𝑑 𝑀𝑧,𝑅𝑑
• Where; 𝑀𝑏,𝑅𝑑 = 𝜒𝐿𝑇 𝑊𝑦 𝑓𝑦 /𝛾𝑀1
𝑀𝑧,𝑅𝑑 = 𝑊𝑝𝑙,𝑧 𝑓𝑦 /𝛾𝑀1
𝜒𝑧 𝐴𝑓𝑦
𝑁𝑏,𝑧,𝑅𝑑 = 𝛾𝑀1
DESIGN OF COLUMN BASE PLATES (L.1, 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.
Bearing pressure
• The aim of design is to ensure that the bearing pressure does not
exceed the bearing strength of the concrete, fj,
𝑁𝐸𝑑
bearing pressure = ≤ 𝑓𝑗
𝐴𝑒𝑓𝑓
• where
• NEd is the design axial force on column Aeff is the area in compression
under the base plate.
Bearing strength
• The bearing strength of concrete foundations can be determined
using
𝑓𝑗 = 𝛽𝑗 𝑘𝑗 𝑓𝑐𝑑
• where
• fcd is the design value of the concrete cylinder compressive strength of
the foundation determined in conformity with Eurocode 2 = αcc fck/γC
• βj is the joint (concrete) coefficient which may generally be taken as
2/3
• kj is the concentration factor which may generally be taken as 1.0.
Bearing pressure and strength
(Con’t)

• Figure 9.7 shows the effective bearing

areas under axially loaded column base
plates.
• The additional bearing width x is given by
1/2
𝑓𝑦
𝑥=𝑡
3𝑓𝑗 𝛾𝑀0
• t is the thickness of the base plate
• fy is the yield strength of base plate
material
• fj is the bearing strength of the Fig. 9.7 Area in compression under base plate:
foundations. (a) general case; (b) short projection; (c) large
projection (Fig. L. 1, ENV EC3).
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
𝑁𝑆𝑑
2
𝑚𝑠𝑑 =
𝐴𝑒𝑓𝑓
• The resistance moment is given by;
𝑡 2 𝑓𝑦
𝑚𝑅𝑑 =
6𝛾𝑀0