CIVL473-Chapter4 9/26/2011

CIVL473
Fundamentals of Steel Design
CHAPTER 4
Design of Columns-
Members with Axial Loads and Moments

4.1 Braced Multistorey Buildings - Combined tension and Moments

F
Eqn 1
Ae p y
Interaction curves for strength under Eqn 2
combined loading

Mx My
M cx M cy
The furthest point on any of the axes from the origin represent the member ‘s capacity under that form
of Loading acting singly. Any point falling within one of the surfaces represents a load combination that
can safely be carried.
BS 5950 uses the linear approximation shown in the above figure by the full lines and given by

F Mx My
  1 Eqn 1
Ae p y M cx M cy
Ae /py = axial capacity
Mcx, Mcy= moment capacity about major and minor axes

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CIVL473-Chapter4 9/26/2011

More sophisticated analysis of this problem using the principles of plastic theory has shown that for
compact cross-sections Equation 1 may be replaced by

z2
M 
z
 Mx 
1

    y  1 Eqn 2
M 
 M rx   ry 
in which
Mrx, Mry are the reduced moment capacities about the major and minor axes respectively in the
presence of the axial load F
z1 2.0 for I- and H-sections, solid or hollow circular sections
5/3 for solid or hollow rectangular sections
1.0 in all other cases
z2 1.0 for all sections except solid or hollow circular sections
2.0 solid or hollow circular sections
5/3 for solid or hollow rectangular sections

The values of Mrx, Mry can be obtained from the SCI’s Blue Book. Alternatively the
following equations can be used to calculate reduced moments.

Srx = (1- 2.5n2)Sx for n<0.2

Srx = 1.125(1-n)Sx for n>0.2

Sry = (1- 0.5n2)Sy for n<0.447

Sry = 1.125(1-n2)Sy for n>0.447

Srx, Sry= reduced plastic modulus in the presence of axial load F

Sx , Sy = plastic modulus for zero axial load
n = F/Apy
Mrx, Mry should not exceed 1.2pyZx and 1.2pyZy respectively

Slenderness ratio, , should not exceed the following:

 for members resisting loads other than wind loads 180

 for members resisting self-weight and wind loads only 250
 for any member normally acting as a tie but subject to
reversal of stress resulting from the action of the wind 350

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CIVL473-Chapter4 9/26/2011

4.2 Braced Multistorey Buildings - Compression and Bending

Condition I: Columns braced in both directions and subject only to nominal moments
applicable to simple construction.

Condition II: Columns braced in both directions and subject applied moments other than
nominal moments.

Use iterative process to select and check a trial

section.
When subject to compressive loading the member’s strength may be limited by either of the two
conditions:

• local capacity at the most heavily loaded cross- section

• overall buckling

In the most general case, the beam-column is subject to compression plus moments about both
axes.

a) Loading and/or the beam arrangement is different at different levels, so the moments will not
be the same at both ends
b) If some beams are absent or when similar beams on opposite sides of the column carry
identical loads then the moments will balance and the loading may reduce to a simpler form

Three distinct cases may be identified as:

Case 1: interaction between column buckling and simple uniaxial beam bending.
Case 2: interaction between column buckling and beam buckling.
Case 3: interaction between column buckling and biaxial beam bending.

F Fy
ex
Case 3 is the most general case
Fx
1. The load is applied with an eccentricity about the minor
axis. Member will collapse by excessive deformation in
this plane.
ey
2. The load is applied with an eccentricity about the major
axis. Member fails by a combination of bending about
the weak axis and twisting, i.e. similar to beam lateral
torsional buckling.
3. The load is applied with an eccentricity about both
axes. Member will collapse by combined bending and
twisting.

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Table 24. Nominal effective length, LE, for a strut (BS 5950:Part 1:1990)

Effective
Conditions of restraints at ends (in plane under consideration)
Length, LE

Effectively held in Restrained in direction at both ends 0.7L

position at both ends Partially restraint in direction at both ends 0.85L

Restrained in direction at one end 0.85L

NOT restrained in direction at either end 1.0L

One end Other end
Effectively held in Effectively restrained in
Not held in position 1.2L
position and restrained direction
in direction Partially restrainewd in
1.5L
direction
NOT restrained in
2.0L
direction

Effective Lengths of Struts

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CIVL473-Chapter4 9/26/2011

The BS 5950 Compressive Strength Tables (Table 27 a, b, c and d)

They are the combination of

• the original Perry Robertson curve of BS 449
• the inclusion of section shape variation
• the allowance of residual stresses
• the allowance of stocky column effect

Compressive strength curves for

different values of α

Note. Stocky columns take

loads in excess of the
theoretical (yield stress x
area).

The curves from which Table

27 are tabulated are shown in
the figure with the empirically
modified values 0.001y/r
coefficient (residual stresses)

Condition I- Design Procedure-Compression Members With Nominal Moments

1) Calculate the factored beam reactions = 1.6 LL + 1.4 DL from the beam bearing
onto the column from each axis at the level considered. It may also be necessary
to calculate the reactions for different load factors for different load combinations.
2) Calculate the factored axial load F on the column at level being considered.
3) Choose a section for the lowest column length from the following:
203 UC for buildings up to 3 storeys high
254 UC for buildings up to 5 storeys high
305 UC for buildings up to 8 storeys high
356 UC for buildings from 8 to 12 storeys high

Otherwise use UB sections from Table 16 (Manual) and use the alternative design
procedure given at point g)
4) Calculate the nominal moments applied to the column. Factored beam reactions
multiplied by the distance from the center of the beam + 100 mm
5) Obtain Mx and My applied to each length of the column above and below the beam
connections according to the stiffness I/L of each length. When the ratio does not
exceed 1.5 the moment may be divided equally.

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6) Choose a trial section and grade of steel such that the following equation is satisfied

Fc Mx My
  1
Ag p c M bs pyZ y
Fc = factored axial load on the column
pc = compressive strength
Ag = gross cross-sectional area
Mx, My = nominal moment about major and minor axis
Mbs= buckling resistance moment for simple columns
Zy = elastic modulus about minor axis
py = design strength

Alternative design procedure for calculation of Pc

Pc of a column may be obtained from:
Pc = Ag x pc

Ag= gross cross sectional area of the trial section

pc = compressive strength

a) Choose a trial section avoiding slender UB sections and obtain py.

b) Calculate the slenderness, , LE/ry
c) Determine pc from Table 27.
d) Calculate Pc = Ag x pc

I-section D>1.2 x B H-section D< 1.2 x B

Alternative design procedure for calculation of Mbs

Buckling resistance moment capacity

Mbs = pbSx (Table 11)

LT = 0.5 x L/ry

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CIVL473-Chapter4 9/26/2011

Condition II- Design Procedure - Compression Members Subject to Applied Moments other
than Nominal Moments.

1) Calculate the factored beam reactions = 1.6 LL + 1.4 DL from the beam bearing
onto the column from each axis at the level considered. It may also be necessary
to calculate the axial load using different load factors for different load
combinations.
2) Calculate the factored moments Mx and My from the most unfavourable
combination of dead and imposed loads using the load factors and load
combinations from Table 1 (Manual).
3) Calculate the ratios  of the moments applied about both axes at each end of the
column, and then determine the equivalent uniform moment factor mx and my
from Table 9 (Manual).
4) Choose a trial section avoiding ‘slender’ UB sections. If the mx and my are equal
to 1.0 then no need to carry out the local capacity check.

Local capacity check: Check to be carried out at the location of the greatest bending moment and
axial load.

1. Determine the design strength py from Table 2

2. Calculate F/Agpy
3. Calculate the b/t ratio for the flange outstand and d/t ratio for the web. (t is the thickness
of the element concerned. If the b/t ratio exceeds 15 or the d/t ratio exceeds 39  where 
= (275/py)1/2. Use strength reduction from BS 5950.
4. If a new section has been chosen then recalculate F/Agpy
5. Obtain moment capacities Mcx and Mcy from the blue book and then calculate using the
above formulae.
6. Finally, check that Fc  M x  M y 
1
Ag pyc M cx Mcy
Overall buckling check:

Fc = factored axial compressive load on the column

pc = compressive strength
Fc  M x  M y 
1
Ag = gross cross-sectional area Ag pc M bx pyZy
Mx, My = equivalent uniform moment-major and minor axis
Mbx= buckling resistance moment Mb, as in beam condition III & IV, Mb< py Zy
Zx, Zy = elastic modulus about major and minor axis
py = design strength
for Mx m is the greater of mLT and mx
for My m = my [Table 9]