CLASSIFICATION OF

CROSS SECTION
Introduction
■ To determine strength of the structural steel component, it requires the designer to consider the
cross-sectional behaviour and the overall member behaviour.
■ Purpose of classification : to identify the extent to which the resistance and rotation capacity of cross
sections is limited by its local buckling resistance.
■ Clause 5.5.1 and 6.2 cover the cross-sectional aspects of the design process
■ In EC3, cross-sections are placed into one of four behavioural classes depending upon the material
yield strength, the width to thickness ratios (b/tf or d/tw) of the individual compression parts (e.g.
web and flanges) within the cross-section and the loading arrangement.
■ Local buckling
– Local buckling exhibit local deformation of outstand
■ E.g. a flange of I beam
– Local buckling occurs when the flange outstand to thickness ratio (b/tf) is high
■ Called flange buckling
– The web is also subjected to compressive stresses from bending with a limiting to d/tw ratio
beyond which web will buckle even though the axis of the axis remain straight
■ Called web buckling
Definition of classes
■ EC3 classified four classes
■ In hot rolled design the majority of standard cross-section will be class 1, 2 or 3.
■ The four behavioural classes of cross-section defined by EC3
Assessment of Individual parts
■ Each compressed (or partially compressed) element is assessed individually against the limiting
width to thickness ratios for Class 1,2 and 3 elements as defined in Table 5.2 of EN 1993-1-1.
■ An element that fails to meet the class 3 limits should be taken as Class 4.
■ The limiting width to thickness ratios are modified by a factor ε that is depend upon material
yield strength
■ Where fy is the nominal yield strength of steel
■ *The section classification based upon the weaker element

Definition of compression
width c for common cases a)
outstand flanges b) internal
compression parts
 1  h 1 N ED 
= + − (t f + r )   1.0

c  2 2 tw f y 

Overall Cross-Section Classification
■ EC3 allows the overall cross-section classification to be defined in one or two ways:
– The overall classification is taken as the highest ( least favourable ) class of its
component parts, with the exceptions that (Clause 5.5.2)
■ Cross-sections with class 3 webs and class 1 or 2 flanges may be classified as Class 2
cross-sections with an effective web (accordance to 6.2.2.4 of EC3-1-1)
■ In the case where the web is assumed to carry shear force only (and not to contribute
to the bending or axial resistance of the cross-section, the classification may be based
on that of the flanges ( not allow for class 1)
– The overall classification is defined by quoting both the flange and web
classification.
Class 4 cross-section

■ Class 4 sections contain slender elements that are susceptible to local buckling in
the elastic material range
■ Allowance for the reduction in resistance of Class 4 cross-section as a result of local
buckling is made by assigning effective width to the class 4 compression element.
■ Calculation not include in Part 1-1, instead is directed to Part 1.3 for cold form
sections, to Part 1.5 for hot-rolled and fabricated sections and to Part 1.6 for circular
hollow section.
Example 2.1
Cross section classification
Q Determine the classifications and resistance Nc,Rd for a 254 x 254 x 73 UC in pure
compression, assuming grade S355 steel

 = 235 / f y = 235 / 355 = 0.81

A Outstand flanges (Table 5.2, sheet 2)
cf = (b-tw-2r)/2=110.3mm
cf/tf = 110.3/14.2 = 7.77
Limit for class 2 flange 10ε = 10 x 0.81 = 8.14 > 7.77
Hence flanges are Class 2

Web-internal compression part (Table 5.2 sheet 1)

cw = (h-2tf-2r) =200.3 mm
cw/tw = 200.3/8.6 = 23.29
Limit for Class 1 web, 33ε = 26.85 > 23.29
Hence web are class 1
 Overall cross-section classification is therefore Class 2
Classification under combined bending
and axial force
■ Should be classified based on the actual stress distribution of the combined
loadings
– For simplicity , initial check carried out under the severe loading condition of
pure axial compression.
■ If the section classified as Class 1 or 2, nothing to be gained by conducting
additional calculations with the actual pattern of stress
■ If the classification is Class 3 or 4, it is advisable for economy to conduct a more
precise classification under combined loading
Example 2.2
Cross-section classification under combined bending and compression
Q A member is to be designed to carry combined bending and axial load. In the
presence of a major axis (y-y) bending moment and an axial force of 300kN,
determine the cross-section classification of a 406 x 178 x 54 UB in grade S275
steel
2. Cross-section classification (Clause 5.5.2)

 = 235 / f y = 235 / 275 = 0.92

Outstand flanges (Table 5.2, Sheet 2)
c = (b − t w − 2r ) / 2 = 74.8mm
c / t f = 74.8 / 10.9 = 6.86

Limit for class 1 flange = 9ε = 8.32

8.32>6.86 flanges are class 1

Web internal compression part (Table 5.2,Sheet 1)

c = h − 2t f − 2r = 360.4mm
c / t w = 360.4 / 7.7 = 46.81

Limit for Class 3 web = 42ε = 38.8

38.8 > 46.81 web is Class 4
Overall cross-section classification is therefore Class 4.
More precise approach (cross section classification under combined loading)- clause 5.5.2
Flange classification remains as Class 1.
Web- internal part in bending and compression (Table 5.2 sheet 1)
From Table 5.5 (sheet 1), for a class 2 cross-section:
c 456
when   0.5 : 
t 13 − 1
c 41.5
when   0.5 : 
t 
where α may be determined from equation below, for I and H section where the neutral axis lies within
the web.

1h 1N 
 =  + Ed
− (t f + r )   1

c  2 2 tw f y 
1  402.6 1 300000 
=  + − (10.9 + 10.2) 
360.4  2 2 7.7  275 
 = 0.70
limit for a class 2 web = 456ε/13α-1 = 52.33
52.33 > 46.81 web is class 2

Overall cross section classification under the combined loading is therefore Class 2.
Conclusion:
For this section, a maximum axial force of 411 kN may be sustained in combination with a
major axis bending moment, whilst remaining within the limits of a Class 2 section
Tutorial 1
Q A welded I section is to be designed in bending. Determine the classification for a
welded section with 200 x 20 mm flanges and a 600 x 6 mm web. Assuming grade
S275 steel