Chapter 3

COMPRESSION
MEMBERS
Compression Members;

➢ when a load tends to squeeze or shorten a member, the stresses produced are said to be
compressivestressesandthememberiscalledacompressionmember
➢ severaltypesofcompressionmembers
• column
• topchordsoftrusses
• bracingmembers
• compressionflangesofrolledbeamsandbuilt-upbeamsections
• membersthataresubjectedtobendingandcompressiveloads
Compression Members;

➢ significantdifferencesbetweentensionandcompressionmembers
• whereastensileloadstendtoholdmembersstraight,compressiveloadstendtobend
themoutoftheplaneoftheloads
• presence of holes in tension members reduces the area available for resisting loads;
but in compression members, the rivets or bolts are assumed to fill the holes and the
entiregrossareaisavailableforresistingload
Columns;

➢ compressionmemberswhicharesubjectedtoaxialcompressionloads
➢ columns are vertical compression member which aresubjected to compressiveforcein a
directionparalleltoitslongitudinalaxis
➢ however,thisidealstateisneverachievedinreality,becausesomestressstatewillbenon–
uniformdueto:
• accidentaleccentricityofloadingwithrespecttothecentroid
• memberout–of–straightness(crookedness)
• residualstressesinthemembercross–sectionduetofabricationprocesses
➢ accidental eccentricity and member out–of–straightness can cause bending moments in
themember.However,thesearesecondaryandareusuallyignored
Columns;

➢ all compression members have a tendency to bend outwards even if they are loaded
axiallycalledbuckling
➢ buckling takes place in a direction perpendicular to the axis, about which moment of
inertiaofthesectionisminimum
➢ strengthofsteelcompressionmembersisusuallylimitedbytheirtendencytobuckle
➢ axialloadatwhichbucklingcommencesiscalledbucklingload
➢ magnitude of buckling load is a function of effective length of member and its radius of
gyration
Classification ofColumns;

Short Columns – Long Columns –

➢ ratio of effective length of column to least ➢ whentheratioofeffectivelengthofcolumn

lateraldimensionislessorequalto12 to the least lateral dimension is greater
than12

➢ failure of such type of columns purely due ➢ failure of such type of columns is mainly
todirectcrushing duetobucklingorbending

➢ load capacity of the column is equal to the safe ➢ column fails in bending before the
compressive stress and cross–sectional area compressive stress reaches the crushing
of column
values

➢ direct stress has little importance in its

failure
Common Sections ForColumns;

➢ I–section –
• ISHB sections are more suitable as these provide minimum difference in two radii of
gyrations
• togetstrongersection,additionalplatescanbeattachedonbothflanges
• for heavy column section, I–sections can be spaced to achieve the most economical
sections
Common Sections ForColumns;
➢ Channelsection–
• singleISMCandISLCaresuitableascolumnsforlightloads
• doubleISJC,ISLCandISMCcanserveasgoodcolumnsectionswhenlacedorbattened
andthesecansupportmoderateload
• canbespacedbacktobackforbetterstrengthandeconomy
Common Sections ForColumns;

➢ Miscellaneous section –
• in addition to the above given sections, the combination of other
sections can be used as column
Column Theory;

➢ consideringthelong,slendercompressionmember;
• ifaxialloadisslowlyapplied, itwillultimately becomelargeenoughtocausemember
becomeunstable
• usingthedeformedshape,memberissaidtohavebuckled
• load at which buckling occurs, is a function of slenderness, and for very slender
members,loadcouldbequitesmall
• criticalbucklingloadistheloadthatisjustlargeenough
to maintain the deflected shape when temporary
transverseloadisremovedgivenby;

2EI
Pcr =
L2
Slenderness Ratio;

➢ defined as the ratio between the effective length of compression member and its least
radiusofgyration;
L
slendernessratio =
r
➢ radiusofgyrationisalwaysworkedoutwithreferencetoacertainaxisbytheexpression;

I
r =
A
➢ whenslendernessistoohigh,cross–sectionofmemberissmall
➢ willshowvisibledeflectionunderload
➢ to avoid slim (thin and long) looking members, slenderness ratio should be with in
specifiedlimitsdependinguponnatureofload
➢ iftheslendernessratioistoolow,cross–sectionofmemberwillbestocky
Effective Length (Equivalent Length);

➢ lengthofthecolumnwhichbendsasifitishinged(pinjointed)atbothends
➢ depends on the restraint against relative rotation and lateral movement (sidesway)
imposedattheendsofthemember
➢ derivedfromtheactuallengthofthecolumn
➢ function of the effective length factor, k, which when multiplied by an actual length of a
memberwillresultinaneffectivelength
Theoretical Values ofEffective Length Factors;

➢ the concept of effective lengths is simply a mathematical method of taking a column –

whateveritsendsandbracingconditions–andreplacingitwithanequivalentpinnedend
bracedcolumn
Alignment Charts forEffective Length Factors;

➢ preliminary procedure used for estimating effective lengths involves the use of alignment
chart
➢ endfactorsarecomputedateachendofcolumnbyusingtheequation;
Ic
σ
Lc
 = Ig
σ
Lg

• for pinned column end (supported but not rigidly connected to a footing or
foundation),  is theoretically infinity, but, unless actually designed as a true friction
freepin,maybetakenas“10”forpracticaldesigns
• if column end is rigidly attached to a properly designed footing,  is theoretically zero
butmaybetakenas“1.0”andsmallervaluesmaybeusedifjustifiedbyanalysis
Alignment Charts forEffective Length Factors;
EX. Compute the effective length factor for each of the columns in
theframeshown.Assumethatsideswayisnotprevented. C W18x 50 D

3.60m
Moment of

W14x 53
Member Shape Length I/L

W14x 53
Inertia B W21x 62 E
AB W14 X 53 225 4.20 53.57

4.20m
BC W14 X 53 225 3.60 62.50
DE W14 X 53 225 3.60 62.50 A F
EF W14 X 53 225 4.20 53.57
BE W21 X 62 554 9.20 60.22 9.20m
CD W18 X 50 333 9.20 36.20

@ jointA;  = pinnedend = 10.0

@ jointB;  = = 1.93

@ jointC;  = = 1.73
@ jointD;  = = 1.73

@ jointE;  = = 1.93
@ jointF;  = fixedend = 1.0
EX. Compute the effective length factor for each of the columns in
theframeshown.Assumethatsideswayisnotprevented.

10

2.03

1.93
1.93
1.43
1.0
Design ofCompression Members;

➢ onaxiallyloadedmembers,allowablecompressivestressisgivenby;
2
kL
r
Fy 1−
2Cc2 kL
Fa = 3 ; if,  Cc
r
3 kL kL
5+ r −
r
3 8Cc 8Cc3
122E kL
= 2 ; if,  Cc
r
kL
23 r

22E
where; Cc =
Fy

where: L – effectivelengthofmember
r – leastradiusofgyration
k - bucklingfactor
EX. An S10 x 35 steel column has an unsupported height of 3.0 meters. The column is composed of A36 steel
andisfixedatbothends.Determinetheallowableaxialloadthatitcouldcarryifk=0.80.

PropertiesofS10x35; A = 6645mm2 d = 254.0mm

tw = 15.09mm bf = 125.58mm
tf = 12.47mm ry = 22.89mm

kL 0.8 3000
= = 104.85
r 22.89

22E 22 200000

Cc = Fy = 248 = 126.17

kL
since, r < Cc,
EX. An S10 x 35 steel column has an unsupported height of 3.0 meters. The column is composed of A36 steel
andisfixedatbothends.Determinetheallowableaxialloadthatitcouldcarryifk=0.80.

PropertiesofS10x35; A = 6645mm2 d = 254.0mm

tw = 15.09mm bf = 125.58mm
tf = 12.47mm ry = 22.89mm

2
kL
r
Fy 1−
Fa = 2Cc2
3
kL kL
5 +3 r − r
3 8Cc 8Cc3
2
104.85
248 1−
2
2 126.17
= 3 = 85.16MPa
5 + 3 104.85 − 104.85
3 8 126.17 3
8 126.17
85.16 6645
Pcap = FaA = 1000 = 565.89kN
EX.AbuiltupA36sectionconsistsofasingleW8x40andC10x30.Itcarriesanaxialcompressiveforceandhas
anunsupportedlengthof8.0meters.Determinethecriticalloadforapin-connectedcolumnifk=1.20

PropertiesofW8x40;
C10x 30
A = 7548mm2 d = 209.55mm
Ix = 61000000mm4 rx = 89.66mm
Iy = 20000000mm4 ry = 51.82mm

PropertiesofC10x30;
yb
A = 5690mm2 d = 254.0mm
Ix = 42870000mm4 rx = 86.87mm W8 x40
Iy = 1640000mm4 ry = 27.04mm
xҧ = 16.48mm tw = 17.09mm

At = 7548+5690 = 13238.0mm2
7548 104.775 + 5690 210.16
yb = = 150.07mm
13238
Ix = 61000000+(7548)(45.295)2 +1640000 +(5690)(60.09)2 = 9.9x107 mm4

Iy = 20000000+42870000 = 6.3x107 mm4

EX.AbuiltupA36sectionconsistsofasingleW8x40andC10x30.Itcarriesanaxialcompressiveforceandhas
anunsupportedlengthof8.0meters.Determinethecriticalloadforapin-connectedcolumnifk=1.20

PropertiesofW8x40;
C10x 30
A = 7548mm2 d = 209.55mm
Ix = 61000000mm4 rx = 89.66mm
Iy = 20000000mm4 ry = 51.82mm

PropertiesofC10x30;
yb
A = 5690mm2 d = 254.0mm
Ix = 42870000mm4 rx = 86.87mm W8 x40
Iy = 1640000mm4 ry = 27.04mm
xҧ = 16.48mm tw = 17.09mm

I 6.29x107
r = = = 68.91mm
A 13238

22E 22 200000

Cc = Fy = 248 = 126.17
EX.AbuiltupA36sectionconsistsofasingleW8x40andC10x30.Itcarriesanaxialcompressiveforceandhas
anunsupportedlengthof8.0meters.Determinethecriticalloadforapin-connectedcolumnifk=1.20

PropertiesofW8x40;
C10x 30
A = 7548mm2 d = 209.55mm
Ix = 61000000mm4 rx = 89.66mm
Iy = 20000000mm4 ry = 51.82mm

PropertiesofC10x30;
yb
A = 5690mm2 d = 254.0mm
Ix = 42870000mm4 rx = 86.87mm W8 x40
Iy = 1640000mm4 ry = 27.04mm
xҧ = 16.48mm tw = 17.09mm

kL (1.20)(8000)
= = 139.31
r 68.91
kL
since, r > Cc,
EX.AbuiltupA36sectionconsistsofasingleW8x40andC10x30.Itcarriesanaxialcompressiveforceandhas
anunsupportedlengthof8.0meters.Determinethecriticalloadforapin-connectedcolumnifk=1.20

PropertiesofW8x40;
C10x 30
A = 7548mm2 d = 209.55mm
Ix = 61000000mm4 rx = 89.66mm
Iy = 20000000mm4 ry = 51.82mm

PropertiesofC10x30;
yb
A = 5690mm2 d = 254.0mm
Ix = 42870000mm4 rx = 86.87mm W8 x40
Iy = 1640000mm4 ry = 27.04mm
xҧ = 16.48mm tw = 17.09mm

122E 122(200000)
Fa = 2 = = 53.07MPa
kL 23(139.31)2
23 r

53.07 13238
Pcap = FaA = = 702.54kN
1000
EX. A compression member, 6.0 meters long, is pinned at both ends. The section is made 2 C15x 40
upoftwoC15x40laidinface-to-facefashion.Usingk=1.20andA36steel,find;
➢ distancebetweentwochannelstocomeupwithanefficientbuilt-upsection.
➢ capacityofmostefficientsection
b

PropertiesofC15x40; A = 7613mm2 Ix = 145260000mm4

d = 381.0mm Iy = 38400000mm4
bf = 89.41mm xҧ = 19.74mm

At = 2(7613) = 15226.0mm2
foranefficientsection, Ix = Iy

Ix = 2(145260000) = 2.91x108 mm4

2.91x108 = 2(3840000)+2(7613)(0.5b+89.41–19.74)2
b2 +278.68b – 54888.84 = 0; b = 133.25mm
EX. A compression member, 6.0 meters long, is pinned at both ends. The section is made 2 C15x 40
upoftwoC15x40laidinface-to-facefashion.Usingk=1.20andA36steel,find;
➢ distancebetweentwochannelstocomeupwithanefficientbuilt-upsection.
➢ capacityofmostefficientsection
b

PropertiesofC15x40; A = 7613mm2 Ix = 145260000mm4

d = 381.0mm Iy = 38400000mm4
bf = 89.41mm xҧ = 19.74mm

I 2.905x108
r = = = 138.13mm
A 15226
kL (1.20)(6000)
= = 52.12
r 138.13

22E 22 200000

Cc = = = 126.17
Fy 248

kL
since, r < Cc,
EX. A compression member, 6.0 meters long, is pinned at both ends. The section is made 2 C15x 40
upoftwoC15x40laidinface-to-facefashion.Usingk=1.20andA36steel,find;
➢ distancebetweentwochannelstocomeupwithanefficientbuilt-upsection.
➢ capacityofmostefficientsection
b

PropertiesofC15x40; A = 7613mm2 Ix = 145260000mm4

d = 381.0mm Iy = 38400000mm4
bf = 89.41mm xҧ = 19.74mm

2 2
kL 52.12
r 248 1−
Fy 1− 2
2Cc2 2 126.17
Fa = 3 = 3 = 25.13MPa
3 kL kL 5 + 3 52.12 − 52.12
5+ r r 3 8 126.17 3
− 8 126.17
3 8Cc 8Cc3
125.13 15226
Pcap = FaA = = 1905.23kN
1000
EX.AnHP13x100isusedasacolumnwithalengthof8.0meters.Itishinged P
atupperendandfixedatlowerendonmajoraxisandlaterallybracedalongits
minoraxis,asshown.UsingA36steel,computethecapacityof section.
Given: kx = 0.8 ky = 1.0
HP13x 100

3.0m
Properties of HP13 x 100; A = 18968 mm2
rx = 139.45 mm

5.0m
ry = 80.26 mm

kxLx (0.80)(8000)
= = 45.89
rx 139.45
kyLy (1.0)(5000)
= = 62.30
ry 80.26

kyLy (1.0)(3000)
= = 37.38
ry 80.26

kL
 adapt, r = 62.30
EX.AnHP13x100isusedasacolumnwithalengthof8.0meters.Itishinged P
atupperendandfixedatlowerendonmajoraxisandlaterallybracedalongits
minoraxis,asshown.UsingA36steel,computethecapacityof section.
Given: kx = 0.8 ky = 1.0
HP13x 100

3.0m
Properties of HP13 x 100; A = 18968 mm2
rx = 139.45 mm

5.0m
ry = 80.26 mm

22E 22 200000

Cc = = = 126.17
Fy 248

kL
since, r < Cc,
EX.AnHP13x100isusedasacolumnwithalengthof8.0meters.Itishinged P
atupperendandfixedatlowerendonmajoraxisandlaterallybracedalongits
minoraxis,asshown.UsingA36steel,computethecapacityof section.
Given: kx = 0.8 ky = 1.0
HP13x 100

3.0m
Properties of HP13 x 100; A = 18968 mm2
rx = 139.45 mm

5.0m
ry = 80.26 mm

2 2
kL 62.30
r 248 1−
Fy 1− 2
2Cc2 2 126.17
Fa = 3 = 3 = 118.56MPa
3 kL kL 5 + 3 62.30 − 62.30
5+ r −
r 3 8 126.17 3
3 8Cc 8Cc3 8 126.17
(118.56)(18968)
Pcap = FaA = = 2248.85kN
1000
EX. A W10 column, 8.0 meters long, carries an axial load of 1000 kN. The member is braced about the axes at
topandbottom.IfsectionismadeofA50steel,designamosteconomicalsection.Assumekx = ky = 1.0

22E 22 200000

Cc = = = 106.97
Fy 345

assume, Fa = 0.6Fy,

P 1000x103
Areqd = 0.6Fy = = 4830.9mm2
0.6 345

Section A, sq.mm. W, kg/m

W10 x 26 4910 39

W10 x 77 14581 115

W10 x 100 18968 149
EX. A W10 column, 8.0 meters long, carries an axial load of 1000 kN. The member is braced about the axes at
topandbottom.IfsectionismadeofA50steel,designamosteconomicalsection.Assumekx = ky = 1.0
try, W10x26;
Section A, sq.mm. W, kg/m
A = 4910mm2
W10 x 26 4910 39 d = 262.38mm
tw = 6.60mm
W10 x 77 14581 115 bf = 146.56mm
W10 x 100 18968 149 tf = 11.18mm
ry = 34.54mm

kL 1.0 8000
= = 231.62
r 34.54
kL
since, r > Cc,

122E 122(200000)
Fa = 2 = 2 = 19.20MPa
kL
23 r 23 231.62

(4910)(19.20)
Pcap = FaA = 1000 = 94.27kN

since, Pcap < Pact,  sectionisinadequate

EX. A W10 column, 8.0 meters long, carries an axial load of 1000 kN. The member is braced about the axes at
topandbottom.IfsectionismadeofA50steel,designamosteconomicalsection.Assumekx = ky = 1.0
try, W10 x 100;
Section A, sq.mm. W, kg/m
A = 18968 mm2
W10 x 26 4910 39 d = 281.94 mm
tw = 17.27 mm
W10 x 77 14581 115 bf = 262.64 mm
W10 x 100 18968 149 tf = 28.45 mm
ry = 67.31 mm

kL 1.0 8000
= = 118.85
r 67.31
kL
since, r > Cc,

122(200000)
Fa = 2 = 72.91MPa
23 118.85
(18968)(72.91)
Pcap = = 1382.95kN
1000
since, Pcap > Pact,  adequatebutuneconomical
EX. A W10 column, 8.0 meters long, carries an axial load of 1000 kN. The member is braced about the axes at
topandbottom.IfsectionismadeofA50steel,designamosteconomicalsection.Assumekx = ky = 1.0
try, W10 x 77;
Section A, sq.mm. W, kg/m
A = 14581 mm2
W10 x 26 4910 39 d = 269.24 mm
tw = 13.46 mm
W10 x 77 14581 115 bf = 258.83 mm
W10 x 100 18968 149 tf = 22.10 mm
ry = 66.04 mm

kL 1.0 8000
= = 121.14
r 66.04
kL
since, r > Cc,

122(200000)
Fa = 2 = 70.18MPa
23 121.14
(14581)(70.18)
Pcap = = 1023.29kN
1000
since, Pcap > Pact,  sectionisadequate
THANK
YOU!