King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

DESIGN OF STEEL
STRUCTURES
CE-523 Behavior and Design of Steel Strcutures

First Semester 2020-2021 (202)

Lecture Week-4
Compression Members

Dr. Muhammad Kalimur

LOADS ON STRUCTURAL
MEMBERS

https://www.tec-science.com/material-science/material
-
testing/non-destructive-material-testing-ndt/
COMPRESSION MEMBERS UNDER AXIAL LOAD
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS UNDER CONCENTRIC AXIAL LOAD
The longer a column becomes for the same cross section, the greater
becomes its tendency to buckle and the smaller becomes the load it will
support.
The tendency of a member to buckle is usually measured by its
slenderness ratio, which has previously the ratio of the length of
the member to its least radius of gyration.
Loads that are exactly centered over a column are referred to as axial,
or concentric loads.
The dead loads may or may not be concentrically placed over aninterior
building column, and the live loads may never be centered.
For an outside column, the load situation is probably even more
eccentric, as the center of gravity of the loads will often fall well on
the inner side of the column.
it is doubtful that a perfect axially loaded column will ever
be encountered in practice.
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS UNDER CONCENTRIC AXIAL LOAD
There are three general modes by which axially loaded columns can
fail.
These are flexural buckling, local buckling, and torsional buckling.
Flexural buckling (also called Euler buckling) is the primary type of
buckling. Members are subject to flexure, or bending, when they
become unstable.
Local buckling occurs when some part or parts of the cross section of a
column are so thin that they buckle locally in compression before the
other modes of buckling can occur.
The susceptibility of a column to local buckling is measured by the
width–thickness ratios of the parts of its cross section
Flexural torsional buckling may occur in columns that have certain
cross sectional configurations. These columns fail by twisting (torsion)
or by a combination of torsional and flexural buckling
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS UNDER CONCENTRIC AXIAL LOAD
 Long slender columns will buckle elastically, also called Euler buckling.
 Very short columns or pedestals will fail by due to yielding of the entire cross‐section.
 Columns of intermediate slenderness will fail due to inelastic buckling in which some
of
the cross‐section has yielded.
Compression member COMPRESSION
MEMBERS UNDER
AXIAL LOAD

ASCE Paper
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS – FLEXURAL BUCKLING
Flexural buckling - The member bends globally between lateral
supports and buckles about its weaker axis (i.e., the axis with
the larger slenderness ratio) due to the axial compression
load.
This limit state is usually applicable to compression
members comprised of non-slender elements
The failure mode can be either elastic buckling or inelastic
buckling depending on the slenderness ratio of the
member.
This flexural buckling limit state is covered in AISC
Specification
Section E3.
 EULER CRITICAL BUCKLING LOAD
Pin-ended column, with a length L, subjected to a concentric
axial load, P
The column is assumed to be made of a linearly elastic and
homogeneous material and is perfectly straight.
As the load, P, on this column is increased, the column remains
straight until it fails either by crushing or yielding of the
member (material failure) or by buckling (outward bending of
the member) or by a combination of these failure mechanisms.
For a long or slender columns, failure will occur by buckling.
At the moment of buckling, the lateral deflection of the
column
is y at a distance, x, from the origin at point A.
EULER CRITICAL BUCKLING LOAD

Boundary conditions pin-ended column

At x = 0, the deflection, y = 0
At x = L, the deflection, y = 0

Pe = Euler critical buckling load, lb,

E = Modulus of elasticity (for steel, E = 29 × 106 psi),
I = Moment of inertia, in4, and
L = Length of the column between lateral supports
or
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS – FLEXURAL BUCKLING
An ideal pin-ended column with an applied axial load causing flexural buckling in
the elastic range, fails at a critical stress given by the Euler expression as

where L is length of the column and r is governing

radius of gyration.

where L/r = slenderness ratio

Fe represents is the average compressive stress at which member will buckle
elastically This expression indicates that the buckling stress is directly proportional to
the modulus of elasticity of the material and is independent of the yield stress.
The slenderness ratio has a pronounced effect on the critical stress and should
preferably
be limited
This tocritical
is elastic a maximum
stressrecommended
for value of 200
Assumes that there are no
pin-pin end columns. slender elements in the
compression member and thus
precludes any local buckling.
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS - EFFECTIVE LENGTH
Effective Length
The effective length factor K converts the actual column length L to
an
equivalent pin ended column of length KL.
The factor accounts for the influence of restraint conditions on the
behavior of the column and KL represents the length over which
the column actually buckles.
The effective length factor is determined in accordance with AISC
360 Commentary App. 7 and two methods are presented:
Tabulated factors for stand-alone columns with well-defined support
conditions.
Alignment charts for columns in a rigid framed structure.

As per AISC the effective length KL is designated as Lc

 EFFECTIVE LENGTH AND SLENDERNESS RATIO
AISC 360 Table C-A-7.1 specifies effective length factors for well-defined, standard
conditions of restraint and these are illustrated below for sway and nonsway columns.

The values for ideal end conditions

are indicated and also recommended
values that allow for practical site
conditions
COMPRESSION MEMBERS – LONG, INTERMEDIATE AND
SHORT
Long Columns
The Euler formula predicts very well the strength of long columns where the axial buckling stress
remains below the proportional limit. Such columns will buckle elastically.

Short Columns
For very short columns, the failure stress will equal the yield stress and no buckling will occur.
(For a column to fall into this class, it would have to be so short as to have no practical
application.

Intermediate Columns
For intermediate columns, some of the fibers will reach the yield stress and some will not.
The members will fail by both yielding and buckling, and their behavior is said to be inelastic.
Most columns fall into this range. (For the Euler formula to be applicable to such columns, it
would have to be modified according to the reduced modulus concept or the tangent modulus
concept to account for the presence of residual stresses.)
 IMPERFECTIONS AND EULER CRITICAL STRESS

In practice, several factors tend to cause buckling at a stress less than

the Euler critical stress and these include
 Initial out-of-straightness of the column causes bending stresses.
 Residual stresses in the column produce higher than anticipated
stresses on the section.
 Eccentricity of the applied load causes flexural stresses in the column.
 Actual column end restraints differ from the assumed criteria.
 P-delta effects produce additional stress in the column.
IMPERFECTIONS AND EULER CRITICAL STRESS
Flexural buckling stress (Fcr) as function of slenderness ratio (KL/r) and
elastic buckling stress (Fe)

Inelastic buckling stress

Elastic buckling stress

AISC APPROACH FOR FLEXURAL BUCKLING OF MEMBERS
 SLENDERNESS RATIO

Although this slenderness ratio limit is not mandatory (AISCM Section

E2), it should be adhered to, because the load capacity equations in
the AISC specifications were obtained empirically, and KL/r or Lc/r =
200 is also the cutoff point for the AISCM design tables for
compression members.
The KL/r limit of 200 was based on the assumption that in the fabrication
and erection of steel members, they are handled with care so as not to
induce any unintended damage or imperfections in the member.
The poor handling of a steel member during fabrication, delivery and
erection could induce unintended imperfections that could further
reduce the axial load capacity of the column section, hence the need to
adhere to the KL/r limit of 200.
EFFECTIVE LENGTHS WITH LATERAL BRACINGS
 ANALYSIS PROCEDURES FOR COMPRESSION
MethodMEMBERS
1: Using slenderness ratios and the AISC equations
Use equations below using the larger of Lcx/rx (or KxLx/rx) and Lcy/ry (or KyLy/ry)
to determine the critical buckling stress
 ANALYSIS PROCEDURES FOR COMPRESSION
MEMBERS
Method 2: Using slenderness ratios Lcx/rx (or KxLx/rx) and Lcy/ry (or KyLy/ry)
and AISC Available Critical Stress Tables (AISCM, Table 4-14)
 ANALYSIS PROCEDURES FOR COMPRESSION
MEMBERS
Method 2: Using slenderness ratios Lcx/rx (or KxLx/rx) and Lcy/ry (or KyLy/ry)
and AISC Available Critical Stress Tables (AISCM, Table 4-14)
 ANALYSIS PROCEDURES FOR COMPRESSION
Method MEMBERS
3 :AISCM Available Strength in Axial Compression Tables (AISCM Tables 4-
1 through 4-12) – also known as the column load capacity tables.
 ANALYSIS PROCEDURES FOR COMPRESSION
Method MEMBERS
3 :AISCM Available Strength in Axial Compression Tables (AISCM Tables 4-
1 through 4-12) – also known as the column load capacity tables.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – AXIALLY LOADED
COLUMNS
 EXAMPLE PROBLEM – AXIALLY LOADED
COLUMNS
Method-I
 EXAMPLE PROBLEM – AXIALLY LOADED
COLUMNS
Method-2

Method-3: Section 8x21 not listed

 STIFFENED AND UNSTIFFENED ELEMENTS
 Previously our focus was on only the overall stability of members
 The thin flanges or webs of a column or beam can buckle locally in compression well
before the calculated buckling strength of the member is reached.
 When thin plates are used to carry compressive stresses, they are susceptible
to buckling about their weak axes due to the small moments of inertia.
 The AISC Specification (Section B4) provides limiting values for the width–
thickness (b/t) ratios of the individual parts of compression members and for the
parts of beams in their compression regions

 For establishing b/t ratio limits for the

elements of compression members, the
AISC Specification divides members
into three classifications:
 compact sections,
 noncompact sections, and
 slender compression elements.
 These classifications affect the
design compression stresses to be
used for columns
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS - SLENDER ELEMENTS
 If local buckling of the individual plate elements occurs, then the column may not
be
able to develop its buckling strength.
 Therefore, the local buckling limit state must be prevented from controlling
the column strength.
 Local buckling depends on the slenderness (width-to-thickness b/t ratio) of the
plate element and the yield stress (Fy) of the material.
 Each plate element must be stocky enough, i.e., have a b/t ratio that prevents local
buckling from governing the column strength.
 The AISC specification provides slenderness limit (λr) for the local buckling of
plate elements.
 If the slenderness ratio (b/t) for flange or (d/tw) for web is greater than λr then it
is
slender. It will locally buckle in the elastic range before reaching Fy
 If the slenderness ratio (b/t) of the plate element is less than λr, then it iss
non- slender. It will not locally buckle in elastic range before reaching Fy
 If any one plate element is slender, then the cross-section is slender.
Width-to-Thickness Ratios: Compression Elements in Members Subject to Axial Compression
Width-to-Thickness Ratios: Compression Elements in Members Subject to Axial Compression
 Classification of Compression Sections for Local Buckling
Compression sections are classified as either a nonslender element or a
slender element.
A nonslender element when width-to-thickness of its compression
elements does not exceed λr, from Table B4.1a of the AISC
Specification.
If width-to-thickness ratio > λr, the section is defined as a slender-
element
Almost all of the W and HP shapes listed in the AISC Manual are
nonslender
for 50 ksi yield stress steels. A few of them are slender (Indicated)
Values reflect the reduced design stresses available for slender sections.
If the member is defined as a nonslender element compression member,
refer to Section E3 of the AISC Specification.
The nominal compressive strength is then determined based only on the
limit state of flexural buckling.
When the member is defined as a slender element compression member,
the nominal compressive strength shall be taken as the lowest value
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – TEXT BOOK McCormac

EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 5.2 McCormac

EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 5.3 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 5.4 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 5.5 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – TEXT BOOK McCormac

REVIEW
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 6.1 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 6.2 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 6.3 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 6.4 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 6.5 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 6.6 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 6.7 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 6.8 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 6.9 McCormac
 BRACED AND UNBRACED FRAMES

 Braced Frame: Since the building is braced by diagonal braces and shear walls, the K value
for all columns in the building is assumed to be 1.0
 Unbraced Frames (Moment Frame with Pinned Column Bases): Since the bottom ends of
the ground floor columns are pinned, the effective length factor, K, for each column at
this level in the moment frame is 2.4
 Unbraced Frames (Moment Frame with Fixed Column Bases) Since the bottom ends of the
ground floor columns are fixed, the effective length factor, K, for each column at this level
in the moment frame is 1.2
 EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF COLUMNS IN FRAMES
 If information is known, however, about the size and length of
members framing into the ends of the column, or (equivalently) about
the values for the end condition coefficients GA and GB, then we can
determine K from the alignment charts as per App. 7 of the AISC
Commentary.
 The chart is for frames in which sidesway is inhibited (braced
frame, K ≤ 1.0).
 The second alignment chart, Fig. C-A-7.2, is for frames in
which sidesway is uninhibited (moment frames, K > 1.0).
EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF COLUMNS IN FRAMES
EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF COLUMNS IN FRAMES
 FRAMES NOT MEETING ALIGNMENT CHART ASSUMPTIONS
AS TO JOINT ROTATIONS
Frames whose joint rotations (and thus their beam stiffnesses) are not
in agreement with the assumptions made for developing the Jackson
and Moreland charts.
 COLUMN IN FRAMES – REDUCED STIFFNESS OF COLUMNS

The alignment charts were developed according to a set of

idealized conditions
The column behavior is purely elastic, all columns buckle
simultaneously, all members have constant cross sections, all joints are
rigid, and so on.
If the actual conditions are different from these assumptions,
unrealistically high K factors may be obtained from the charts, and
over conservative designs may result.
In the elastic range, the stiffness of a column is proportional to EI,
where in the inelastic range, its stiffness is more accurately proportional
to ETI, where ET is a reduced or tangent modulus.
The buckling strength of columns in framed structures is shown in the
alignment charts to be related to
 COLUMN IN FRAMES – REDUCED STIFFNESS OF COLUMNS

If the columns behave elastically,

the modulus of elasticity will be
canceled from the preceding
expression for G. If the column
behavior is inelastic, however,
the column stiffness factor will be
smaller and the K factor selected
from the chart will be smaller.
Though the alignment charts
were developed for elastic
column action, they may be used
for an inelastic column situation if
the G value is multiplied by a
correction factor, .
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – TEXT BOOK McCormac

REVIEW
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 7.1 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 7.2 McCormac
EXAMPLE PROBLEM – 7.3 McCormac
 FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
 Symmetrical members such as W sections are generally used as columns.
 Torsion will not occur if lines of action of the load pass through their shear
centers.
 The shear center is that point in the cross section of a member through which
the resultant of the transverse loads must pass so that no torsion will occur.
 The shear centers of doubly symmetrical sections occur at their centroids.
 This is not necessarily the case for other sections such as channels and angles.
 The coordinates x0 and y0 for the shear center of each section with respect to its
centroid are shown below
 These values are needed to solve the flexural-torsional formulas
 FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
 Even though loads pass through shear centers, torsional buckling still
may occur.
 If load passes through its shear center, no torsion will occur, but
one still needs to compute the torsional buckling
 Axially loaded compression members can theoretically fail in four
different fashions:
 local buckling of elements that form the cross section,
 by flexural buckling,
 torsional buckling, or
 by flexural-torsional buckling.
 Because torsional buckling can be very complex, it is very desirable
to prevent it.
 This may be done by careful arrangements of the members and by
providing bracing to prevent lateral movement and twisting.
 If sufficient end supports and intermediate lateral bracing are
provided, flexural buckling will always control over torsional buckling.
 FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
 The column design strengths given in the AISC column tables for W,
M,
S, tube, and pipe sections are based on flexural buckling
 For a singly symmetrical section such as a tee or double angle, Euler
buckling may occur about the x or y axis.
 For equal-leg single angles, Euler buckling may occur about the z
axis.
 For all these sections, flexural-torsional buckling is definitely
a possibility and may control.
 The values given in the AISC column load tables for double-angle and
structural tee sections were computed for buckling about the
weaker of the x or y axis and for flexural-torsional buckling.
 FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
 There are four steps involved in solving this type of problem with the
AISC Specification.
 1. Determine the flexural buckling strength of the member for its x
axis using AISC Equations E3-4, E3-2 or E3-3, as applicable, and E3-1.
 2. Determine the flexural buckling strength of the member for its y
axis
using AISC Equations E3-4, E3-2 or E3-3, as applicable, and E3-1.
 3. Determine the flexural torsional buckling strength of the member
for its y axis using AISC Equations E4-11, E4-9, E4-10, E4-5, E3-2 or E3-
3, as applicable, and E4-1.
 4. Select the smallest Pn value determined in the preceding
three steps.
 Torsional and Flexural-Torsional Buckling of
Members without Slender Elements
For singly symmetric and unsymmetric members, the shear center
does not coincide with the centroid of the section and it is necessary to
consider torsional and flexural torsional Buckling
For singly symmetric and unsymmetric members, the shear center
does not coincide with the centroid of the section and it is necessary to
consider torsional and flexural torsional buckling
Similarly, in doubly symmetric cruciform or built-up columns and
single angles with b/t > 20 the torsional unbraced length may exceed
the flexural unbraced length of the member.
The nominal strength in compression for these members is given by
AISC 360 Eq. (E4-1) as
Pn = Ag*Fcr
where Ag is gross area of member and Fcr is critical stress.
FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS