CE 470: Design of Steel Structures Prof.

Varma
1
4.9 DESIGN OF SINGLY SYMMETRIC CROSS-SECTIONS

- So far, we have been talking about doubly symmetric wide-flange (I-shaped) sections and
channel sections. These rolled shapes always fail by flexural buckling.
- Singly symmetric (Tees and double angle) sections fail either by flexural buckling about the
axis of non-symmetry or by flexural-torsional buckling about the axis of symmetry and the
longitudinal axis.

Figure 6(a). Flexural torsional buckling Figure 6(b). Flexural-torsional buckling
Flexural buckling will occur about the x-axis
Flexural-torsional buckling will occur about the y and z-axis
Smaller of the two will govern the design strength

Figure 6(c). Singly symmetric cross-section

- The AISC specification for flexural-torsional buckling is given by Spec. E4. (Page 16.1-34)
Design strength = |
c
P
n
= 0.90 A
g
F
cr
(1)
Where, F
cr
=
(
(

+

|
|
.
|

\
| +
2
crz cry
crz cry crz cry
) F F (
H F F 4
1 1
H 2
F F
(2)
F
cry
= critical stress for buckling about the y-axis, see Spec. E3. (3)
x
y
z
x
y
z
CE 470: Design of Steel Structures Prof. Varma
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F
crz
=
2
o
r A
GJ
(4)
2
o
r = polar radius of gyration about shear center (in.) =
A
I I
y
y x 2
o
+
+ (5)
H = 1 -
2
o
2
o
r
y
(6)
y
o
= distance between shear center and centroid (in.) (7)

- The section properties for calculating the flexural-torsional buckling strength F
crft
are given
as follows:
- G =
( ) u + 1 2
E

Shape Where are the constants?
W, M, S, HP, WT, MT, ST J, C
w
are given in the Tables in the manual.
The manual companion CD includes

r
o
and H
for WT, MT, and ST shapes
C
J, C
w
,

r
o
, H
MC, Angles
J, C
w
, ,

r
o
. In addition the manual companion
CD gives values of H for MC and angle shapes
Double Angles

r
o
, H (J and C
w
values are twice that of the
values for single angles).


The manual does not give the values for

r
o
, H for tees. However, they are easy to calculate if x
0

and y
0
are known. x
0
and y
0
are the shear center coordinates with respect to the centroid. The
shear center for Tees is located at the web-flange junction.

- The design tables for WT shapes given in Table 4-7 on page 4-895 to 4-1197. These design
tables include the axial compressive strength for flexural buckling about the x axis and
flexural-torsional buckling about the y and z axis.

CE 470: Design of Steel Structures Prof. Varma
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EXAMPLE 4.10 Calculate the design compressive strength of a WT12 x 81. The effective
length with respect to x-axis is 25ft. 6in. The effective length with respect to the y-axis is 20 ft.
and the effective length with respect to z-axis is 20ft. A992 steel is used.
Solution
- Step I. Buckling strength about x-axis
-
ksi F F
applies E Equation
F E r KL Since
F
E
ksi
r KL
E
F
r
L K
y
F F
cr
y
y
e
x
x
e y
59 . 28 50 658 . 0 658 . 0
2 3
71 . 4 /
4 . 113
50
29000
71 . 4 71 . 4
44 . 37
) 43 . 87 (
29000
) / (
43 . 87
50 . 3
12 5 . 25
) 44 . 37 / 50 ( ) / (
2
2
2
2
= = =

<
= =
= = =
=

=
t t

- The design strength for x-axis buckling is |P
n
= 0.9A
g
F
cr
= 0.9 x 28.59 x 23.9 = 615 kips
Compare with tabulated design strength for buckling about x-axis in Table 4-7
- Step II. Flexural-torsional buckling about the y and z axes
- Calculate F
cry
and F
crz
then calculate F
cr
and |
c
P
n

-
( ) ( )
ksi
r A
GJ
F
ksi F F
F E r L K Since
ksi
r KL
E
F
E AISC Use E AISC g u F Compute
o
g
crz
y
F F
cry
y y y y
e
cry
e y
167
87 . 25 9 . 23
22 . 9 11200
79 . 31 658 . 0
4 . 113 71 . 4 /
22 . 46
69 . 78
29000
/
4 3 . 3 sin
2
) / (
2
2
2
2
=

= =
= =
= <
= = =

t t

CE 470: Design of Steel Structures Prof. Varma
4
-
7 . 4
85 . 658 9 . 23 63 . 30 9 . 0
63 . 30
) (
4
1 1
2
8312 . 0 1
87 . 25
9 . 23
221 293
09 . 2 0
. 090 . 2 2 / 22 . 1 70 . 2
2
0
2
2
2
0
2
0
2 2 2
0
2
0
2
0
0
Table in values with Compare
ksi A F
ksi
F F
H F F
H
F F
F
r
y x
H
in
A
I I
y x r
in
t
y y
x
g cr
crz cry
crz cry crz cry
cr
o
g
y x
o
f
= =
=
(
(

+

|
|
.
|

\
| +
=
=
+
=
=
+
+ + =
+
+ + =
= = =
=
|

- Step III. Design strength and check local buckling
Flanges: b
f
/2t
f
=2t
f
= 132.4/(2 x 1.2203) = 5.336.02 , which is <
r
= 0.56 x
y
F
E
= 13.5
Stem of Tee: d/t
w
= 10.9/0.65 = 17.736.77, which is <
r
= 0.75 x
y
F
E
= 18.068
Local buckling is not a problem. Design strength = 615 kips. X-axis flexural buckling
governs.
CE 470: Design of Steel Structures Prof. Varma
5
4.10 DESIGN OF DOUBLE ANGLE SECTIONS
- Double-angle sections are very popular as compression members in trusses and bracing
members in frames.
- These sections consist of two angles placed back-to-back and connected together using
bolts or welds.
- You have to make sure that the two single angle sections are connected such that they do
not buckle (individually) between the connections along the length.
- The AISC specification E6.2 requires that Ka/r
iz
of the individual single angles < of
the governing KL/r of the double angle.
- where, a is the distance between connections and r
iz
is the smallest radius of gyration
of the single angle (see dimensions in Table 1-7 of the AISC Specs.)
- Double-angle sections can fail by flexural buckling about the x-axis or flexural torsional
buckling about the y and z axes.

- For flexural buckling about the x-axis, the moment of inertia I
x-2L
of the double angle will
be equal to two times the moment of inertia I
x-L
of each single angle.

- For flexural torsional buckling, there is a slight problem. The double angle section will
have some additional flexibility due to the intermittent connectors. This added flexibility
will depend on the connection parameters.

- According to AISC Specification E6.1, a modified (KL/r)
m
must be calculated for the double
angle section for buckling about the y-axis to account for this added flexibility

- Intermediate connectors that are snug-tight bolted
2
2
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ |
.
|

\
|
= |
.
|

\
|
i o m
r r
KL
r
KL o

- Intermediate connectors that are welded or fully tensioned bolted:


CE 470: Design of Steel Structures Prof. Varma
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a) when /r
i
40
o m
r
KL
r
KL
|
.
|

\
|
= |
.
|

\
|

b) when /r
i
> 40
2
2
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ |
.
|

\
|
= |
.
|

\
|
i
i
o m
r
a K
r
KL
r
KL

where,
r
iib
= minimum radius of gyration of individual component angle, in.
axis parallel to member axis of buckling
o = distance between connectors, in.separation ratio = h/2r
ib

Kih = 0.5 for angles back-to-back distance between component centroids in the y direction
(direction perpendicular to member axis of buckling)
o
r
KL
|
.
|

\
|
= slenderness ratio of built-up member acting as a unit















EXAMPLE 4.11 Calculate the design strength of the compression
member shown in the figure. Two angles, 5 x 3 x are oriented with the
3/8
5 x 3 x _
0.746 0.746
3/8
5 x 3 x _
0.746 0.746
Formatted: Not Superscript/ Subscript
Formatted: Left, Numbered + Level: 1 +
Numbering Style: a, b, c, + Start at: 1 +
Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.25" +
Indent at: 0.5"
Formatted: Not Superscript/ Subscript
Formatted: Left, Numbered + Level: 1 +
Numbering Style: a, b, c, + Start at: 1 +
Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.25" +
Indent at: 0.5"
Formatted: Not Superscript/ Subscript
Field Code Changed
Field Code Changed
Formatted: Normal
CE 470: Design of Steel Structures Prof. Varma
7
long legs back-to-back and separated by 3/8 in. The effective length KL is 16 ft. A36 steel is
used. Assume three welded intermediate connectors
Solution
Step I. Determine the relevant properties from the AISC manual
Property Single angle Double angle
A
g
3.75 in
2
7.5 in
2

r
x
1.58 in. 1.58 in.
r
y
0.824 in. 1.24 in.
r
z
0.642 in. -----
J

0.322 in
4
0.644 in
4
o
r
2.51 in.
H 0.646
AISC Manual --- Table 1-15 on pages 1-104 and 1-1053

Step II. Calculate the x-axis buckling strength
- KL/r
x
= 16 x 12 /1.58 = 121.5
-
ksi F F
applies E Equation
F E r KL Since
F
E
ksi
r KL
E
F
r
L K
y
F F
cr
y
y
e
x
x
e y
55 . 16 36 658 . 0 658 . 0
2 3
71 . 4 /
7 . 133
36
29000
71 . 4 71 . 4
39 . 19
) 5 . 121 (
29000
) / (
5 . 121
58 . 1
12 16
) 39 . 19 / 36 ( ) / (
2
2
2
2
= = =

<
= =
= = =
=

=
t t

- |
c
P
n
= 0.90 x 16.55 x (2 x 3.75) = 111.7124.1 kips
CE 470: Design of Steel Structures Prof. Varma
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Step III. Calculate (KL/r)
m
for y-axis buckling
- (KL/r)
0
= KL/r
y
= 16 x 12/1.24 = 154.8
- Connector spacing = a = 16 x 12 / 4 spaces = 48 in.
- For each angle, Ka/r
z
= 48/0.648 = 74.07
a/r
z
= 74.07 < 0.75 x KL/r = 0.75 x 154.8 = 115.2 (OK!)
- r
ib
= r
y
= 0.824 in.
- h = 2 x 0.746 + 3/8 = 1.867 in.
- o/r
i
= h/2r
y
= (2 x 0.75 + 0.375)/(2 x 0.824)48/0.642 = 74.77>40, hencel.131
-
2
2
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ |
.
|

\
|
= |
.
|

\
|
i
i
o m
r
K
r
KL
r
KL o


( )
2
2
642 . 0
24
8 . 154 |
.
|

\
|
+ =
=159.258
Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.25"
CE 470: Design of Steel Structures Prof. Varma
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Step IV. Calculate flexural torsional buckling strength.

( ) ( )
ksi
r A
GJ
F
ksi F F
F E r L K Since
ksi
r KL
E
F
E AISC Use E AISC g u F Compute
o
g
crz
e cry
y y y y
e
cry
6 . 152
51 . 2 5 . 7
322 . 0 2 11200
9 . 9 877 . 0
134 71 . 4 /
29 . 11
25 . 159
29000
/
4 3 . 3 sin
2 2
2
2
2
2
=

= =
= =
= >
= = =

t t


- F
cr
=
(
(

+

|
|
.
|

\
| +
2
crz cry
crz cry crz cry
) F F (
H F F 4
1 1
H 2
F F
=
(

+


|
|
.
|

\
|

+
2
) 6 . 152 9 . 9 (
646 . 0 6 . 152 9 . 9 4
1 1
646 . 0 2
6 . 152 9 . 9

F
cr
= 9.6706 ksi
- |
c
P
n
= 0.90 x F
cr
x A
g
= 0.90 x 9.6706 x 7.50 = 65.274.9 kips
Flexural torsional buckling strength controls. The design strength of the double angle member is
65.274.9 kips.
Step V. Compare with design strengths in Table 4-9 (page 4-1384) of the AISC manual
- |
c
P
n
for x-axis buckling with unsupported length = 16 ft. = 112 kips
- |
c
P
n
for y-z axis buckling with unsupported length = 16 ft. = 62.65.3 kips
These results indicate excellent correlation between the calculations in steps II to IV and the
tabulated values.

Design tables for double angle compression members are given in the AISC manual. See
Tables 4-8, 4-9 and, 4-10, and 4-11 on pages 4-12278 to 4-16093
- In these Tables F
y
= 36 ksi
Formatted: Font: Bold
CE 470: Design of Steel Structures Prof. Varma
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- Back to back distance = 3/8 in.
- Design strength for buckling about x axis
- Design strength for flexural torsional buckling accounting for the modified slenderness ratio
depending on the number of intermediate connectors.
- These design Tables can be used to design compression members as double angle sections.

NOTE: For Torsional and Flexural-Torsional Buckling of members other than double-angle or
tee-shaped member, refer section E-4 (Page 16.1-34).
Formatted: Heading 1
Formatted: Font: Times New Roman,
Bold, No underline
Formatted: Font: Not Bold