Classification of Cross-Section

Introduction

• To determine strength of the structural steel component, it requires the

designer to consider the cross-sectional behaviour and the overall
member behaviour.
• Purpose of classification : to identify the extent to which the resistance
and rotation capacity of cross sections is limited by its local buckling
resistance.
• Clause 5.5.1 and 6.2 cover the cross-sectional aspects of the design
process
• In EC3, cross-sections are placed into one of four behavioural classes
depending upon the material yield strength, the width to thickness ratios
(b/tf or d/tw) of the individual compression parts (e.g. web and flanges)
within the cross-section and the loading arrangement.
• Local buckling
– Local buckling exhibit local deformation of outstand
• E.g. a flange of I beam
– Local buckling occurs when the flange outstand to thickness ratio (b/tf)
is high
• Called flange buckling
– The web is also subjected to compressive stresses from bending with a
limiting to d/tw ratio beyond which web will buckle even though the
axis of the axis remain straight
• Called web buckling
 Definition of classes

• EC3 classified four classes

– Class 1 = cross-sections are those which can form a plastic
hinge with the rotation capacity required from
plastic analysis without reduction of the resistance.
– Class 2 = cross-section are those which can develop their
plastic moment resistance but have limited
rotation capacity because of local buckling.
– Class 3 = cross-section are those in which the elastically
calculated stress in the extreme compression fibre
of the steel member assuming an elastic
distribution of stress can reach the yield strength
but local buckling is liable to prevent the
development of plastic moment resistance
– Class 4 = cross-section are those in which local buckling will
occur before the attainment of yield stress in one
or more parts of the cross-section
• In hot rolled design the majority of standard cross-section will be class 1, 2
or 3.
• The four behavioural classes of cross-section defined by EC3
 Assessment of Individual parts
• Each compressed (or partially compressed) element is assessed
individually against the limiting width to thickness ratios for Class 1,2 and
3 elements as defined in Table 5.2 of EN 1993-1-1.
• An element that fails to meet the class 3 limits should be taken as Class 4.
• The limiting width to thickness ratios are modified by a factor ε that is
depend upon material yield strength
• Where fy is the nominal yield strength of steel
• *The section classification based upon the weaker element

Definition of compression
width c for common cases a)
outstand flanges b) internal
compression parts
 Overall Cross-Section Classification

• EC3 allows the overall cross-section classification to be defined in one or

two ways:
– The overall classification is taken as the highest ( least favourable )
class of its component parts, with the exceptions that
• Cross-sections with class 3 webs and class 1 or 2 flanges may be
classified as Class 2 cross-sections with an effective web ( Clause
6.2.2.4 of EC3-1-1)
• In the case where the web I assumed to carry shear force only
(and not to contribute to the bending or axial resistance of the
cross-section, the classification may be based on that of the
flanges ( not allow for class 1)
– The overall classification is defined by quoting both the flange and
web classification.
 Class 4 cross-section

• Class 4 sections contain slender elements that are susceptible to local

buckling in the elastic material range
• Allowance for the reduction in resistance of Class 4 cross-section as a
result of local buckling is made by assigning effective width to the class 4
compression element.
• Calculation not include in Part 1-1, instead is directed to Part 1.3 for cold
form sections, to Part 1.5 for hot-rolled and fabricated sections and to Part
1.6 for circular hollow section.
 Example 2.1

Cross section classification

Q Determine the classifications and resistance Nc,Rd for a 254 x 254 x 73 UC
in pure compression, assuming grade S355 steel
A Outstand flanges (Table 5.2, sheet 2)
cf = (b-tw-2r)/2=110.3mm
cf/tf = 110.3/14.2 = 7.77
Limit for class 2 flange 10ε = 10 x 0.81 = 8.14 > 7.77
Hence flanges are Class 2

Web-internal compression part (Table 5.2)

cw = (h-2tf-2r) =200.3 mm
cw/tw = 200.3/8.6 = 23.29
Limit for Class 1 web, 33ε = 26.85 > 23.29
Hence web are class 1
\ Overall cross-section classification is therefore Class 2
Classification under combined bending and axial
force

• Should be classified based on the actual stress distribution of the

combined loadings
– For simplicity , initial check carried out under the severe loading
condition of pure axial compression.
• If the section classified as Class 1 or 2, nothing to be gained by conducting
additional calculations with the actual pattern of stress
• If the classification is Class 3 or 4, it is advisable for economy to conduct a
more precise classification under combined loading
 Example 2.2

Cross-section classification under combined bending and compression

Q A member is to be designed to carry combined bending and axial load. In
the presence of a major axis (y-y) bending moment and an axial force of
300kN, determine the cross-section classification of a 406 x 178 x 54 UB in
grade S275 steel
2. Cross-section classification (Clause 5.5.2)
e = 235 / f y = 235 / 275 = 0.92
Outstand flanges (Table 5.2, Sheet 2)

c = (b - t w - 2r ) / 2 = 74.8mm
c / t f = 74.8 / 10.9 = 6.86
Limit for class 1 flange = 9ε = 8.32
8.32>6.86 flanges are class 1

Web internal compression part (Table 5.2,Sheet 1)

c = h - 2t f - 2r = 360.4mm
c / t w = 360.4 / 7.7 = 46.81
Limit for Class 3 web = 42ε = 38.8
38.8 > 46.81 web is Class 4
Overall cross-section classification is therefore Class 4.
More precise approach (cross section classification under combined
loading)- clause 5.5.2
Flange classification remains as Class 1.
Web- internal part in bending and compression (Table 5.2 sheet 1)
From Table 5.5 (sheet 1), for a class 2 cross-section:
c 456e
when a > 0.5 : £
t 13a - 1
c 41.5e
when a £ 0.5 : £
t a
where α may be determined from equation below, for I and H section
where the neutral axis lies within the web.
1æh 1N ö
a = çç + Ed
- (t f + r ) ÷ £ 1
÷
c è 2 2 tw f y ø
1 æ 402.6 1 300000 ö
a= ç + - (10.9 + 10.2) ÷
360.4 è 2 2 7.7 ´ 275 ø
a = 0.70
\limit for a class 2 web = 456ε/13α-1 = 52.33
52.33 > 46.81 \web is class 2

Overall cross section classification under the combined loading is

therefore Class 2.
Conclusion:
For this section, a maximum axial force of 411 kN may be sustained in
combination with a major axis bending moment, whilst remaining within
the limits of a Class 2 section
 Tutorial 1

Q A welded I section is to be designed in bending. Determine the

classification for a welded section with 200 x 20 mm flanges and a 600 x 6
mm web. Assuming grade S275 steel