Design of Compression Member -struts

CENG 417
Types of compression members
● Compression members are described by the terms ‘columns’ or ‘struts’ .

● Columns are vertical members supporting floors, roofs and cranes in buildings,
most columns are subjected to axial load and moment.

● Strut is often used to describe other compression members such as those

in trusses, lattice girders or bracing. Struts are subjected to axial load

● Trusses and lattice girders are dealt with in this Chapter and building
columns will be discussed in chapter 4.
The compression resistance of members is determined by
three properties:
1. Material strength
2. Section classification
3. Member slenderness
Failure modes of compression member due to load

The response of a compression member to a nominally

axially applied load depends upon a number of factors,

1- length and cross-sectional shape,

2- The characteristics of the material from which it is made

3- The conditions of support provided at its ends.

4- the method used for its manufacture.

 local buckling and section classification
Buckling is a phenomenon that affects all thin materials when
subjected to a compressive force. In structural members
that comprise wide, thin plate elements local buckling of
those elements can occur before the member
develops the full material strength
(i.e. its yield strength
Local buckling depend upon a number of parameters.

1) Width to thickness ratio of the element. This is often termed the aspect ratio.
Support condition. This is dependent upon the edge restraint to the element.
2) Yield strength of the material. The higher the yield strength of the material the
greater is the likelihood of local buckling before yield is reached.
3) Residual stresses in rolled or welded sections.

All of these factors are included in the classification and design provisions of BS
5950-Part 1.
Standard introduces four classes of cross-section which are defined below..

Class 1. Plastic cross sections are those in which all elements

subject to compression are relatively stocky (small width to
thickness ratios) and can sustain high strains without local buckling.
Class 2. Compact cross sections contain
elements which are less stocky, although
the cross section can develop the full
plastic moment capacity. However local
buckling of the section will prevent development
of a plastic hinge. Class 2 (compact) sections
can be used without restriction except that they
may not be used in plastic design.
Class 3. Semi-compact sections are those in which
all elements subject to compression can reach the design
strength at the extreme fibres but local buckling may prevent
the development of full plastic moment. Class 3 (semi-compact)
sections are subject to limitations on their moment capacity
which are given in clauses 3.5.6, 4.2 and 4.3.

Class 4. Slender sections are those which contain slender elements when subject to
compression due to moment or axial load. Local buckling will prevent the stress in a
slender section from reaching the design strength. Design of class 4 (slender)
sections is considered in section 3.6 "Class 4 (slender) cross-sections”.
The classification of cross-sections is carried out according to the limiting values
provided in Tables 11 and 12 of BS 5950-1:2000. If the b/t or the d/t limit for a
Class 3 semi-compact element is exceeded, then the element is Class 4 slender.
Compressive resistance
The axial load-carrying capacity is a function of its slenderness,
its material strength, cross-sectional shape and method of
manufacture. Using BS 5950: Part 1, the compression resistance,
Pc, is given by clause 4.7.4

Pc = Ag pc
Ag is the gross area and
pc is the compressive strength.

Values of pc in terms of slenderness l and material design strength py are given in T. 24.
Slender struts will fail by buckling.
For elastic slender struts pinned at each end, the ‘Euler load’,

When a slender member is subjected to an axial compressive load, it may fail by a condition called BUCKLING.
Buckling is not so much a failure of the material (as is yielding and fracture), but an instability caused by system
geometry.
 The ‘Euler load’

Where, and
Note: Details of the formula is given in the
appendix.compressive strength, pc, which
is given by
for stocky struts, pc = Py/Ag
for slender strut, pc = PE / Ag

then pc can be plotted against l as

shown in the figure above.
Table.24 of BS 5950.
Effective length

As mentioned in section 3.3, the compressive strength of struts is primarily

related to their slenderness ratio. The slenderness ratio, λ, is given by

λ=LE/r
Where, LE effective length of the member = k L
r radius of gyration can be obtained from steel section properties
tables

The effective length is simply a function of the actual length of the member
and the restraint at the member ends. In reality each end of the strut may be
free, pinned, partially fixed, or fully fixed (rotationally).
From Table 22 of BS 5950
This is from table 22
Design of Angle, Channel and T section under compressive
force (Cl. 4.7.10)

1- The failure criteria of Angle, channel and T section under compressive force
are local buckling, overall buckling and crushing.

2- Struts composed of angles, channels or T-sections may be treated as axially

loaded, neglecting the eccentricity of normal end connections, provided that the criteria
given in 4.7.10.2, 4.7.10.3, 4.7.10.4 and 4.7.10.5 are satisfied.

3- The length L should be taken as the distance between the intersection of

centroidal axes or the intersections of the setting out lines of the bolts, and r is the
radius of gyration about the relevant axis. Axes are defined in the following table.25
of BS 5950.
Table11. Limiting
width-to-thickness ratios
For sections other than
CHS and RHS. (BS 5950)
Design procedure for axially loaded
angle, Channel and T section:

• Determine ultimate axial load.

• Determine effective length from BS 5950 Table 22 or Annex D.
• Select a trial section.
• Check for local buckling using Table 11
• Calculate slenderness ratio, λ using table 22
• Using BS 5950 Table 23, determine suitable strut curve, for angle
strut curve is ‘c’
• Using BS 5950 Table 24(c), determine compressive strength, pc.
• Calculate axial load capacity or compression resistance, Pc.
• Check against applied ultimate load.
Example 1. Design, in grade S 275 steel, a discontinuous angle strut with
single bolted connections to carry a factored load of 62 kN. Effective
length = actual length = 2 m.

Solution:

Try 70 x 70 x 7 angle.
From properties table, Leg lengths =70 mm, thickness, t =7 mm, x-sectional area, Ag =940 mm2
rx = ry = 2.12 cm =21.2 mm; rv = 13.6 mm and ru = 26.7 mm

As the steel is grade S 275 and the thickness t=7 mm < 16mm
the design strength is taken as py= 275 N/mm2. Table 9
Section classification

These are within the limits for a semi-compact cross-section

(Table 11, BS 5950 on page 109); therefore local buckling will not be a
problem
The maximum slenderness ratio (λ) will be taken as the greater of
Cl. 4.7.10.2 (c)
where:
v is the axis of the minimum radius of gyration (rv= 1.36 cm=13.6 mm)
A is the axis parallel to the connecting plate (ra =rx= 2.12 cm=21.2 mm)
B is the axis at right angles to the connecting plate (rb=ry 2.12 cm=21.2
mm).
The design slenderness ratio, (λ) is the greater of: Cl. 4.7.10.2 (c)
In case of angle, Table 23 of BS 5950 refers to Table 24(c) for
the compressive strength, pc. Using λ = 147.06 (the highest),
pc = 70.35 N/mm2 from BS 5950 Table 24(c).

Compressive strength, Pc =pcAg Cl. 4.7.4(a)

= 70.35 x 940 = 66.13´103 N
= 66.13 kN
Because there is only one bolt at each end, this is reduced to 0.8 of the capacity to give
0.8 x 66.13 = 52.9 kN. Cl. 4.7.10.2 (c)

The capacity, Pc =52.9 kN < ultimate load 62 kN

The section is not satisfactory. Need to select higher section

Try with 75 x 75 x 8 angle.

**[If we do the same calculation using 75x75x8 angle, the capacity will be, Pc =72 kN > 62 kN,
therefore the section is satisfactory.]
Therefore local buckling
will not be a problem
Load is factored
Section classification