Design of Beams

(1) Perform a structural analysis to solve for 𝑀𝑓 and 𝑉𝑓

If the beam is fully laterally supported
(a) If the beam is fully laterally supported, one can select the beam from blue pages.
Or, one can find 𝑍𝑥 (if you assume the section to be at least Class 2) or 𝑆𝑥 (if you
assume the section as Class 3) and then select the section from the Handbook:
Class 1 or 2: 𝑀𝑟 = 𝜙𝑀𝑝 = 𝜙𝑍𝑥 𝐹𝑦
Class 3: 𝑀𝑟 = 𝜙𝑀𝑦 = 𝜙𝑆𝑥 𝐹𝑦
If you are asked to check the adequacy of a given section, you can identify whether the section is
fully laterally supported or not by doing the following check:
If the maximum unbraced length 𝐿 ≤ 𝐿𝑢 ,
the section can be conidered as fully laterally supported

(b) Once the section is selected, make sure the section meets the local buckling
requirements as it was assumed.
(c) Check for 𝑉𝑟 ≥ 𝑉𝑓 and do the deflection check for service load

If the beam is laterally un-supported

(a) Find 𝜔2 in every unbraced span and identify the critical span by comparing
𝑀𝑓 𝑀𝑓
in every unbraced span. The span with maximum ratio is the critical
𝜔2 /𝐿 𝜔2 /𝐿
span.
4𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝜔2 = ≤ 2.5
2
√𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 4𝑀𝑎2 + 7𝑀𝑏2 + 4𝑀𝑐2
𝑀𝑎 , 𝑀𝑏 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀𝑐 are moments in every quarter point of the span
When the BM is linear between two ends:
𝜔2 = 1.75 + 1.05𝜅 + 0.3𝜅 2 ≤ 2.5
𝑀2
where 𝜅 = with |𝑀2 | ≤ |𝑀1 |
𝑀1

𝜅 is negative for single curvature and positive for double curvature

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(b) For the critical span length and 𝑀𝑓 , select a section from the blue pages of your
handbook.
(c) Once selected, make sure the section meets the local buckling requirements.
(d) Calculate 𝑀𝑢 for the critical span:
𝜔2 𝜋 𝜋𝐸 2
𝑀𝑢 = {𝐸𝐼𝑦 𝐺𝐽 + ( ) 𝐼𝑦 𝐶𝑤 }
𝐿 𝐿
Class 1 or 2:
𝑀𝑢 ≤ 0.67𝑀𝑝 , 𝑀𝑟 = 𝜙𝑀𝑢 ≤ 𝜙𝑀𝑝
0.28𝑀𝑝
𝑀𝑢 > 0.67𝑀𝑝 , 𝑀𝑟 = 1.15𝜙𝑀𝑝 (1 − ) ≤ 𝜙𝑀𝑝
𝑀𝑢
Class 3:
𝑀𝑢 ≤ 0.67𝑀𝑦 , 𝑀𝑟 = 𝜙𝑀𝑢 ≤ 𝜙𝑀𝑦
0.28𝑀𝑦
𝑀𝑢 > 0.67𝑀𝑦 , 𝑀𝑟 = 1.15𝜙𝑀𝑦 (1 − ) ≤ 𝜙𝑀𝑦
𝑀𝑢
(e) Make sure the calculated 𝑀𝑟 is greater than everywhere in the span of the beam
(f) Check for 𝑉𝑟 ≥ 𝑉𝑓 and do the deflection check for service load