STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11

Beam-Columns:
- it is generally accepted that axially loaded compression members are nonexistent in actual
structures and that all compression members are subjected to some amount of bending moment. The
bending moment may be induced by an eccentric load or through frame actions. Since columns may
be subjected to varying amounts of axial load and bending moment, two extremes may exist. If the
bending moment approaches zero, as a limit, the member is theoretically subjected to an axial load
only. The analysis and design of such member are the same as for an axially loaded member. If the
eccentricity becomes large (and the axial load approaches zero), the member is theoretically
subjected to a bending moment only, and the analysis and design are the same as for a beam. A
structural member that is subjected to varying amounts of both axial compression and bending
moment is commonly termed a beam-column.
The actual stresses induced in a beam-column by axial compression and bending moment
are not directly additive since the combination of the two generates a secondary moment that cannot
be ignored. This secondary moment results from a lateral deflection initially caused by the bending
moment. The product of this deflection and the axial load, sometimes called the P-delta moment,
causes further bending and creates secondary stresses that normally are not considered in individual
beam or column analysis and design.
Neglecting the secondary moment, an appropriate expression for the combined stresses for a
short beam-column subjected to an axial load and bending moment with respect to one axis only
may be expressed as:

P Mc
fmax = 
A I

where: fmax - computed maximum stress

P - axial load
A - gross cross-sectional area
M - applied moment
c - distance from the neutral axis to the extreme outside
of the cross section
I - moment of inertia of the cross section about the
bending neutral axis

If bending occurs with respect to both axes, the expression becomes;

P M xc M yc
fmax =  
A Ix Iy

Effective Length Factors;

- in the design of steel structures, one is concerned with continuous frames of various types
consisting of beams and columns that are rigidly connected. When this occurs, the columns are
subjected to the combined action of compression and bending and may be categorized as beam-
columns. The slenderness ratio is a function of the effective length factor, k, which when multiplied
by an actual length of a member will result in an effective length. The effective length of a member
depends on the restraint against relative rotation and lateral movement (sidesway) imposed at the
ends of the member.

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STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11
Axial Compression and Bending;
- members subjected to both axial compression and bending stresses shall be proportioned to satisfy
the following requirements; (NSCP, Sec.508.2)

fa C mxfbx C myfby
+ +  1.0
Fa    
1  fa Fbx 1  fa Fby
 F'ex   F'ey 
   

fa fbx fby
+ +  1.0
0.60Fy Fbx Fby

fa
- if  0.15,
Fa

fa fbx fby
+ +  1.0
Fa Fbx Fby

12 2E
F'e = 2
 kLb 
23 

 rb 

where: fa - computed axial compressive stress

fb - computed compressive stress
Fa - axial compressive stress that would be permitted if
axial force alone existed
Fb - compressive bending stress that would be permitted if
bending moment alone existed
F'e - Euler stress for a prismatic member divided by a
factor of safety
k - effective length factor
Lb - actual unbraced length in the plane of bending
rb - corresponding radius of gyration
Cm - a coefficient whose value shall be taken as follows;

 for compression members in frames subjected to joint translation (sidesway);

Cm = 0.85

 for restrained members in frames braced against joint translation and not subjected to
transverse loading between their supports in the plane of bending;

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STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11
M1
Cm = 0.60 - 0.40  0.40
M2

 for compression members in frames braced against joint translation in the plane of loading
and subjected to transverse loading between their supports, the value may be determined by
rational analysis. However, in lieu of such analysis, the following values may be used;

Cm = 0.85 - restrained end members

Cm = 1.00 - unrestrained end members

EX. Select a W14 shape to support the loads and moments shown in the figure. There is no bracing in
the plane of loading and the column has a sidesway but no transverse load. In the plane of loading, k x
= 2.0 and in the perpendicular plane where there is bracing, k y = 0.80. Use A36 steel.
2000 kN

Mx
Sx(reqd) = 270 kN-m
Fbx

4.20 m
270 x 106
= = 1.09 x 106 mm3
248

270 kN-m
try, W14 x 145;

A = 30129 mm2 d = 380.5 mm

tw = 18.9 mm bf = 395.4 mm
tf = 30.2 mm rt = 109.22 mm
Sx = 4156.8 x 103 mm3 rx = 162.01 mm
Sy = 1574.8 x 103 mm3 ry = 101.65 mm

k xLx (2.0)(4200)
= = 51.85
rx 162.01

k y Ly (0.8)(4200)
= = 33.06
ry 101.65

kL
 use, = 51.85,
r

2 2E
Cc =
Fy

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STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11

2 2(200000)
= = 126.17
248

kL
since,  Cc ,
r
 kL r2 
Fy 1  
 2Cc2 
Fa =  
3
 kL   kL 
3   
5  r   r 
 
 
3 8Cc 8Cc3

 (51.85)2 
(248)1  
 (2)(126.17)2 

= = 125.30 MPa
5 (3)(51.85) (51.85)3
 
3 (8)(126.17) (8)(126.17)3

P
fa =
A

2000 x 103
= = 66.68 MPa
30129

200bf
L1 =
Fy

(200)(395.4)
= = 5.02 m
248 (1000)

137900
L2 =
 d 
 
 A Fy
 f 

137900
= = 17.45 m
 380.5 
 (248)(1000)
 (395.4)(30.2) 
 

 use, Lc = 5.02 m

since, L b  L c ,  beam is laterally supported

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STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11
bf 395.4
= = 6.55
2tf (2)(30.2)

d 380.5
= = 20.13
tw 18.9

fa 66.68
= = 0.27
Fy 248

fa
since,  0.16,
Fy

675 675
= = 42.86
Fy 248

bf 170 d 675
since,  and  ,
2tf Fy tw Fy

 section is compact

Fbx = 0.66 Fy

= 0.66(248) = 163.68 MPa

Mx
fbx =
Sx

270 x 106
= = 64.95 MPa
4156 .8 x 103

12 2E
F'ex = 2
 kLb 
23 

 rb 

12 2(200000)
= = 383.09 MPa
(23)(51.849)2

since the member is subjected to sidesway  C mx = 0.85

fa C mxfbx
+  1.0
Fa  
1  fa Fbx
 F'ex 
 

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STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11

66.68 (0.85)(64.95)
+ = 0.94  1.0  ok
125.30  66.68 
1  (163.68)
 383.09 


fa fbx
+  1.0
0.60Fy Fbx

66.68 64.95
+ = 0.85  1.0  ok
(0.60)(248) 163.68

EX. For the column shown on the figure, select a W18 shape if the axial load is 2000 kN. Use A36
steel and sidesway is prevented.
2000 kN 2000 kN
Given: k x = 1.0 ky = 1.0
80 kN-m 270 kN-m
P
A reqd =
fy

5.50 m
110 kN-m 160 kN-m
2000 x 103
= = 8064.52 mm2
248
minor major
axis axis
try, W18 x 258;

A = 48968 mm2 d = 545.1 mm

tw = 32.5 mm bf = 299.0 mm
tf = 58.4 mm rx = 216.41 mm
Sx = 8414.7 x 103 mm3 ry = 73.06 mm
Sy = 1748.4 x 103 mm3 rt = 81.03 mm

k xLx (1.0)(5500)
= = 25.42
rx 216.41

k y Ly (1.0)(5500)
= = 75.28
ry 73.06

kL
 use, = 75.28,
r

2 2E
Cc =
Fy

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STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11

2 2(200000)
= = 126.17
248

kL
since,  Cc ,
r

 kL r2 
Fy 1  
 2Cc 2 
Fa =  
3
 kL   kL 
3   
5  r   r 
 
  3
3 8Cc 8Cc

 (75.28)2 
(248)1  
 (2)(126 .17 )2 
 
= = 109.37 MPa
5 (3)(75.28) (75.28)3
 
3 (8)(126.17) (8)(126.17)3

P
fa =
A

2000 x 103
= = 40.84 MPa
48968

200bf
L1 =
Fy

(200)(299.0)
= = 3.78 m
248 (1000)

137900
L2 =
 d 
 
 A Fy
 f 

137900
= = 17.81 m
 545.1 
 (248)(1000)
 (299.0)(58.4) 
 

 use, L c = 3.78 m

since, L b  L c ,  Fb must be reduced

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STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11
L 5500
= = 67.88
rt 81.03

M1x 160
= = 0.59
M 2x 270

M1y 80
= - = -0.73
M 2y 110

2
M1  M1 
Cb = 1.75 + 1.05 + 0.30  

M2  M2 

C bx = 1.75 + 1.05(0.59) + 0.30(0.59) 2 = 2.45

C by = 1.75 - 1.05(0.73) + 0.30(0.73) 2 = 1.15

 use, C bx = 2.30, C by = 1.15

703270C bx (703270)(2.30)
= = 80.76
Fy 248

L 703270C bx
since,  ,
rt Fy

Fbx = 0.60 Fy

= 0.60(248) = 148.8 MPa

Mx
fbx =
Sx

270.0 x 106
= = 32.09 MPa
8414 .7 x 103

703270 C by (703270)(1.15)
= = 56.98
Fy 248

3516330 C by (3516330)(1.15)
= = 127.42
Fy 248

703270 C by L 3516330 C by
since,   ,
Fy rt Fy

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STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11

 2
 Fy L rt 2 
F
Fby = 
 3 10.55 x 106 C b  y
 

 2 (248)(67.88)2 
=   (248) = 141.88 MPa
 3 (10.55 x 106)(1.15) 
 

82740 C b
Fby =
 Ld 
 
 A 
 f 

(82740)(1.15)
= = 551.78 MPa
 (5500)(545.1) 
 
 (299.0)(58.4) 
 

since the larger of the two values exceeds 0.60 Fy

 Fby = 148.8 MPa

My
fby =
Sy

110.0 x 106
= = 62.92 MPa
1748 .4 x 103

12 2E
F'e = 2
 kLb 
23 

 rb 

12 2(200000)
F'ex = = 1594.42 MPa
(23)(25.42)2

12 2(200000)
F'ey = = 181.72 MPa
(23)(75.28)2

since, sidesway is prevented,

M1
Cm = 0.6 - 0.4
M2

C mx = 0.6 - 0.4(0.59) = 0.36

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STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11
C my = 0.6 + 0.4(0.73) = 0.89

 use, C mx = 0.40, C my = 0.89

fa C mxfbx C myfby
+ +  1.0
Fa    
1  fa Fbx 1  fa Fby
 F'ex   F'ey 
   

40.84 (0.40)(32.09) (0.891)(62.92)

+ + = 0.95 < 1.0
109.37  40.84   40.84 
1  (148.8) 1  (148.8)
 
1594.42   181.72 
 
fa f f
+ bx + by  1.0
0.60Fy Fbx Fby

40.84 32.09 62.92

+ + = 0.913  1.0
(0.60)(248) 148.8 148.8

bf 299.0
= = 2.56
2tf (2)(58.4)

170 170
= = 10.80
Fy 248

d 545.1
= = 16.77
tw 32.5

fa 40.84
= = 0.17
Fy 248

fa
since,  0.16,
Fy

675 675
= = 42.86
Fy 248

bf 170 d 675
since,  and  ,
2tf Fy tw Fy

 section is compact

296
STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11
Axial Tension and Bending;
- members subjected to both axial tension and bending stresses shall be proportioned at all points
along their length to satisfy the following equation;

fa fbx fby
+ +  1.0 (NSCP, Sec.508.3)
Ft Fbx Fby

where: fa - computed axial tensile stress

fb - computed bending tensile stress
Ft - allowable tensile stress
Fb - allowable bending stress

EX. A W14 x 74, 4.0 m long is subjected to a moment of 120 kN-m at one end and 60 kN-m at the
other end such that it is bent in single curvature. If the axial tensile load is 600 kN and the steel is of
A36, check the adequacy of the column.

try, W14 x 74;

A = 14064 mm2 d = 359.92 mm

tw = 11.43 mm bf = 255.78 mm
tf = 19.94 mm rx = 153.42 mm
Sx = 1835 x 103 mm3 ry = 62.99 mm
Sy = 436 x 103 mm3 rt = 69.09 mm

P
ft =
A

600 x 103
= = 42.66 MPa
14064

Ft = 0.60 Fy

= 0.6(248) = 148.8 MPa

Fb = 0.60 Fy

= 0.60(248) = 148.8 MPa

M
fb =
S

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STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11
120 x 106
= = 65.40 MPa
1835 x 103

ft fb
+  1.0
Ft Fb

42.66 65.40
+ = 0.73  1.0
148.8 148.8

EX. The W12 x 58 beam column shown is subjected to a tensile axial load of 800 kN and to a lateral
wind load perpendicular to the x-axis of the member. Using A36 steel and the NSCP specifications
determine the maximum value of the wind load.

try, W12 x 58; 800 kN

A = 10968 mm2 d = 309.63 mm

tw = 9.14 mm bf = 254.25 mm

 kN/m
tf = 16.26 mm rx = 134.11 mm

6.0 m
Sx = 1278 x 103 mm3 ry = 63.75 mm
Sy = 351 x 103 mm3 rt = 69.09 mm

P
ft =
A

800 x 103
= = 72.94 MPa
10968

Ft = 0.60 Fy

= 0.6(248) = 148.8 MPa

Fb = 0.60 Fy

= 0.60(248) = 148.8 MPa

ft fb
+  1.0
Ft Fb

72.94 fb
+ = 1.0; fb = 75.86 MPa
148.8 148.8

M = fb S

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STEEL TIMBER DESIGN Chapter 11
(75.86)(1278 x 103)
= = 96.95 kN-m
1 x 106

8M
 =
L2

(8)(96.95)
= = 21.54 kN/m
(6)2

299