Lecture 9

ECCENTRICALLY LOADED
COLUMNS IN BUILDINGS
Eccentricities from connections
The eccentricities to be used in column design in simple construction
for beam and truss reactions are given in Clause 4.7.6 of BS 5950:
Part 1. These are as follows:
(1) For a beam supported on a cap plate, the load should be
taken as acting at the face of the column or edge of the
packing.
(2) For a roof truss on a cap plate, the eccentricity may be
neglected provided that simple connections are used.
(3) In all other cases, the load should be taken as acting at a
distance from the face of the column equal to 100mm or at the
centre of the stiff bearing, whichever gives the greater
eccentricity.
The eccentricities for the various connections are shown in Figure
below.
Moments in columns of simple construction
The design of columns is set out in Section 4.7.7 of the code. The
moments are calculated using eccentricities given in above
paragraph:

For multi-storey columns effectively continuous at splices, the net

moment applied at any one level may be divided between lengths
above and below in proportion to the stiffness I/L of each length.

When the ratio of stiffness does not exceed 1.5, the moments
may be divided equally. These moments have no effect at levels
above or below that at which they are applied.
The following interaction equation should be satisfied for the overall
buckling check:

where Mbs is the buckling resistance moment for a simple column

calculated using an equivalent slenderness, λLT = 0.5L/ry,

I the moment of inertia of the column about the relevant axis,

L the distance between levels at which both axes are restrained, ry the
radius of gyration about the minor axis and

Fc the compressive force in the column.

 Design steps for Compression members in simple construction
1. Determine ultimate axial load, Fc, and bending moments, Mx and
My.
2. Select and classify trial section.
3. Determine effective lengths, LEX and LEY, using Table 22
4. Calculate slenderness ratios, λEX (= LEX/rx) and λEY (= LEY/ry).
5. Select suitable strut curves from Table 23.
6. Determine compressive strength, pc, using Table 24 appropriately.
7. Calculate compression resistance, Pc = Agpc.
8. If Pc < Fc return to 2.
9 Calculate effective slenderness ratio, λLT = 0.5L/ry.
10 Calculate buckling resistance of section, Mbs = Mb = pbSx.
11 Check buckling resistance of member using equation

12 If unsatisfactory return to (2).

NOTE:
• Columns in simple construction will not need to be checked for
local capacity but it will still be necessary to check for buckling,
which involves satisfying the following relationship:

• The design procedure is TRIAL and ERROR!!!!!

Worked example

Select a suitable column section in S275 steel to support the ultimate

loads from beams A and B shown in Fig. below. Assume the column is

7 m long and is effectively held in position at both ends but only

restrained in direction at the bottom.

Solution:

Section selection
Try a: 203 × 203 × 52 UC: Sx = 568 cm3, plastic.

Design loading and moments

Ultimate reaction from beam A, RA = 20 kN;
ultimate reaction from beam B, RB = 75kN;
assume self-weight of column = 5kN.

Ultimate axial load, F = RA + RB + self-weight of column

= 200 + 75 + 5 = 280 kN
Load Eccentricities and moments
• Load eccentricity for beam A,
ex = D/2 + 100 = 206.2/2 + 100 = 203.1 mm

• Load eccentricity for beam B,

ey = t /2 + 100 = 8/2 + 100 = 104 mm

• Moment due to beam A,

Mx = RAex = 200 × 103 × 203.1 = 40.62 × 106 N mm

• Moment due to beam B,

My = RBey = 75 × 103 × 104 = 7.8 × 106 N mm
Effective length
From Table 22, effective length coefficient = 0.85.
Hence, effective length is LE = 0.85L = 0.85 × 7000 = 5950 mm

Bending strength
From Table 23, relevant compressive strength values for buckling
about the x–x axis are obtained from Table 24(b) and from Table
24(c) for bending about the y–y axis.
λx = LE/rx = 5950/89 = 66.8
From Table 24(b) , pc = 208 N/mm2.
λy = LE/ry = 5950/51.6 = 115.3
From Table 24 (c), pc = 103 N/mm2.
Hence critical compressive strength of column is 103 N/mm2.

Buckling resistance
λLT = 0.5L /ry = 0.5 × 7000/51.6 = 67.8
From Table 16, pb = 193N/mm2.

Buckling resistance moment capacity of column, Mbs, is given by

Mbs = Mb = pbSx = 193 × 568 × 103 = 109.6 × 106 N mm

 Check

Therefore, the 203 × 203 × 52 UC section is suitable.