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Basic Design of Steel Structures

CE 3050

P. S. Lakshmi Priya
LAKSHMIPRIYA@IITM.AC.IN
STR 303

DESIGN OF COMPRESSION
MEMBERS

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Definition of a Compression Member

P

Member loaded purely in axial compression; member nominally has no bending

(except due to minor eccentricities in the load or minor imperfections in the column)

Examples of Compression Members

Trusses: Top chord members are compression members

Braced Frames: the

diagonal braces and the Rigid Frames: vertical members are
columns of this frame subjected to axial compression + bending.
would be typically Members are treated as “beam-columns”
idealized as carrying axial
tension or compression

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Cross-Sectional Shapes of Compression Members

GOVERNING LIMIT STATES

Yielding

Global Buckling

Local buckling

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Definition of Buckling

Loss of compressive load carrying capacity resulting from a change in the geometry of the member

P
Column Design

Strength of
EI,L Strength of
columns that are
isolated columns
part of a frame

PLATE BUCKLING AND SECTION

CLASSIFICATIONS
(LOCAL BUCKLING)

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Plate Buckling

Rolled shapes or built-up sections are composed of plate elements

One of the plate elements buckle first, before

the member buckles as a whole
Local buckling
Buckled plate element will not carry its share of
any additional load

Curvature occurs about a single axis in columns; about two axes in plates

Nxcr kπ2E
σ cr = = 2
t b General plate buckling
12(1 - ν2 )  
t equation

Distribution of applied edge loads

Plate buckling
Boundary conditions along four edges of plate

Nxcr 4π2E
σ cr = = 2
t b
12(1 - ν2 )  
t
Plate buckling stress under axial compression

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Plate buckling stress under axial compression Nxcr 4π2E

σ cr = = 2
t b
12(1 - ν2 )  
t

Boundary Condition k Ex. of structural component Illustration

Both edges S/S 4 Box girder compression flange, b
thin web
Both edges fixed 6.97 Box girder compression flange,
thick webs
One edge S/S, other free to displace and 0.425 I-section compression flange with
rotate thin web
One edge fixed, other free to displace and 1.277 I-section compression flange with
rotate thick web
One edge fixed, other S/S 5.42 ?

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Plate buckling stress under flexure kπ2E

σ cr = 2
b
12(1 - ν2 )  
t

SS
b SS SS
k = 23.9
SS
a
FIXED
k = 39.6 SS SS
Plate buckles due to flexural compression FIXED

FIXED
Tension portion offers resistance k = 2.15 SS SS
FREE
Loading less severe than axial compression
SS
k = 0.85 SS
FREE

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Section Classification: Based on Moment-Rotation Characteristics

Plastic: develop full plastic moment Mp

M
Sufficient rotation for full plastic mechanism
Plastic
Mp
Compact: develop full plastic moment Mp
Local buckling prevents required rotation for Compact
My
mechanism
Semi-Compact: develop yield moment My Semi-Compact
Slender
Local buckling prevents development of Mp

Slender: cannot develop yield moment My φ

φy φu
Local buckling occurs in the elastic range

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Section Classifications

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Example 1: An ISHB 300 is to be used as a short column carrying axial load. What is the
section classification, when (a) Fe410 steel is used with fy = 250 Mpa, and (b) Fe540
steel is used with a design strength of fy = 410 MPa

(a) From Table 2of IS800: 2007 (b) ε = (250/410)1/2 = 0.78

ε = (250/250)1/2 = 1 Flange limit = 15.7 x 0.78 = 12.26

b/tf of flange = (250/2)/10.6 = 11.79 Web limit = 42 x 0.78 = 32.76

Web is slender for fy = 410 MPa,

and effective cross-section width
needs to be calculated to
compute section strength
d/t of web = (300-2(10.6+11)/7.6 = 33.79

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Strength of Isolated Columns: Elastic Buckling Solution by Euler in 1759

P Assumptions:
P 1. Perfectly straight column
M(x)  Py  EI 2. Linear elastic material
d d2 y 3. Prismatic cross-section
 
dx dx2 x 4. Deflections only due to bending, i.e., no
d2 y P shear deformations
 y 0 y 5. Concentric axial loads
EI,L dx2 EI M(x)
P 6. Small deflections
7. No residual stresses
Say k 2  P/EI
Non-Trivial solution
General Solution: kL = π, 2 π, 3 π, etc.
y  A sinkx  Bcoskx
y(0,L)  0 2EI Pcr  I
Pcr 
B0 L2 Pcr  1/ L2
Pcr is independent of fy
A sinkL  0

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Buckling of Columns – Euler Buckling

Column may remain straight for P > Pcr,

P
but is unstable
Unstable for P > Pcr
Pcr Higher modes of buckling may also
occur if there are intermediate braces

Stable, no bending P P

δ
Bifurcation load, Pcr = 2EI L2
EI,L EI,L
2
4 EI 92EI
Pcr  Pcr  2
L2 L

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Buckling of an I-Section
Y
PE

X
PEX
PEY

L
X and Y are principal axes
Weak axis buckling Strong axis buckling
Imax = Ix = major/ strong axis

Imin = Iy = minor/ weak axis Buckling will be about weak axis unless weak axis is restrained

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Effect of Geometric Imperfections

P
P
Original shape

Pcr
For small imperfections, response is closer to
bifurcation behaviour δ2
δo EI,L δ1

With increase in geometric imperfections, there

is a greater deviation from bifurcation behavior

δ
There is no “buckling load” :
“Load-Deflection problem”

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Effect of Geometric Imperfections y tot  y 0  y

x P / PE x
y tot  0 sin  0 sin
P P L 1  P / PE L
Original shape  x   1 
y tot   0 sin   
 L  1  P / PE 
Deflected shape x

yo y  x   1 
M(x) M   P0 sin   
δo EI,L P
 L   1  P / PE 
x 1
M1  P0 sin ; AF 
M(x)  P(y  y o ) L 1  P / PE
d2 y P M  M1 AF
 (y  y o )  0
dx2 EI
M1 = First order moment
= moment on initial
geometry
M = Second order moment

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Effect of Eccentric Loading

e Eccentricity is unavoidable in real columns

Additional bending moment “Pe” at every cross-section

Deformation similar to column with initial imperfections

P Load carrying capacity is less than the bifurcation load

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Strength of Steel Columns

Experimental tests indicate lower strengths than

predicted

Traditional explanations constitute only geometric

imperfections and eccentric loads

© Galambos and Surovek 2001

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Effect of Residual Stresses

Stresses that remain in a member after being fabricated into the finished product

In structural steel, residual stresses result from:

Uneven cooling of hot-rolled shapes

Cold bending or cambering during fabrication

Punching of holes and cutting

Uneven heating and cooling due to welding

+
-
+
- + - +

- -

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Residual Stresses in Hot-Rolled Shapes

The magnitude and pattern of residual stress distribution in hot-rolled members depend primarily upon:

Section geometry

Cooling bed arrangement fc = 0.3Fy

Section cools faster away from the web-flange junction

Tensile stresses in web-flange junction

Compressive / smaller tensile stresses in flange tips

Compressive stresses in mid-web fc = 0.3Fy

ECCS pattern for hot-

rolled shapes

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Residual Stresses in Welded Shapes

Residual stresses primarily are from locally concentrated heating, affected by:

Manufacturing and welding process

Section cools faster away from the web-flange junction 2c

Fc Fy
Tensile stresses in location of the weld c

Compressive stresses in other portions of the plate Fc

Magnitude depends on amount of heat required for weld c

2c Fy
and depth of penetration of weld ft = Fy
Fc

ECCS pattern for

welded shapes

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Effect of Residual Stresses on Column Strength

Non-Uniform yielding in the cross-section

Yielded, Affect weak-axis buckling more than strong-axis

no stiffness buckling

Wide-scatter in residual stress distributions from

test data
Elastic stiffness
x Residual stress distributions are different for
E=0 different types of cross-sections

y Full E
y b bel How to provide a design column curve?

x
t
h

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Column Strength Curve

Strengths not affected
by geometric
Short column
imperfections and
P residual stresses
Euler’s elastic
buckling curve
Py
Column strength curve –
includes inelasticity,
imperfections and
residual stresses

L/r

Long column

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Column Buckling Curves in IS 800

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Table 10 of IS800

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Effective Length of Columns 2EI

Pcr 
(KL) 2

Effective length factor “K” to determine an artificial

length for columns with other support conditions

IS 800 provides “K” for ideal boundary conditions –

Table 11 for compression members

Real-life structures do not have ideal boundary

conditions

Effective length factor “K” may be different in

different planes, depending on different bracing
conditions

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Example 2: Determine the design axial load on the column section ISMB 350. The
height of the column is 6m. It is effectively restrained at mid-height by a bracing
member in the z-z direction, but is free to move in the y-y direction and both the ends
of the column are pinned. Assume fy = 250 MPa, fu = 410 MPa, E = 200 GPa

ε = (250/250)1/2 = 1 Effective length in “z” dir’n, lz = 6.0m

Effective length in ‘y” dir’n, ly = 3.0m
b/tf of flange = (140/2)/14.2 = 4.93 < 15.7
d/t of web = (350-2(14.2+14)/8.1 =36.24 < 42
Bucking curve classification:
h/b = 350/140 = 2.5 > 1.2
tf = 14.2mm < 40mm

Z
Y Y
Design strength = 110 x 6670 (Area) = 734 kN Z

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Alignment Charts

Helps in determining the “K” factor

“K” factor used in column design since 1960s Must first determine bracing condition

BRACED (NON-SWAY) UNBRACED (SWAY)

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IS800 Effective Length Factors: Annex D

K nonsway =
 1+ 0.145 β + β  - 0.265β β 
1 2 1 2   1 - 0.2  β1 + β2  - 0.12β1β2  
0.5

K sway = 
 2 - 0.364 β + β  - 0.247β β 
1 2 1 2   1 - 0.8  β1 + β2  + 0.6β1β2  

β=
I Lcol

  I L  +  I L 
col beam

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IS800 Modification factors in Effective Length Calculations

0.75 0.75
0.50 1.50
1.00 1.00

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Example 3: For the braced frame shown, calculate the effective length factor “K” for
the columns between the third and fourth floors on Line 2

β1 =  100 + 100   100 + 100 + 0.5 × 150 + 0.75  150  = 0.516 K = 0.72
β2 =  100 + 100   100 + 100 + 0.5 × 100 + 0.75  100  = 0.615

Solve the same example for an unbraced frame

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Doubly Symmetric Cross-Sections

For any doubly symmetric section, there are three potential buckling modes

Flexural buckling about X axis

Flexural buckling about Y axis

Torsional buckling

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Singly Symmetric I-Sections

Solution of the equation allows two possibilities:

Flexural buckling about one principal axis

Flexural torsional buckling

Unsymmetric cross-sections undergo only torsional flexural buckling (ex: single angle)

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ANGLES AS COMPRESSION
MEMBERS

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Single Angle Struts

Commonly used in many applications, such as trusses, latticed transmission towers, communication
structures, elements of built-up columns, and bracing members

Due to asymmetry of the angle cross-section, the determination of the compression capacity under
eccentric loading along with end restraints is complex

Angle members loaded through the centroid by a compressive axial force will buckle in flexural buckling
about the minor principal axis or in a torsional/flexural mode

If width-to-thickness ratio of legs of angle is more, more likely to have torsional or torsional-flexural
buckling mode

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Larger is Not Stronger!!!

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Single Angle Struts: IS 800

7.1.2 is the column design equation E

E
shown previously in class (flexural
buckling)

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Double Angle Struts: IS 800

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Example 4: Calculate the compressive resistance of a 200 x 200 x 20 angle assuming

that the angle is loaded through only one leg, when it is connected by two bolts at the
ends. Assume that the member has a length of 3m and fy = 250 MPa

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Used when loads are large, and to get efficient use of material

BUILT-UP COMPRESSION
MEMBERS
Laced Members

Battened Struts

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Built-up/ combined columns

are made up two or more
individual sections such as
angles, channels or I-sections
and properly connected along
their length by lacing or
battening to act as a single
unit

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Buckling of Built-up Columns: Boundary Conditions

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Shear Effect on Built-up Columns

When a compression member bends, a shearing component of the axial load arises

Shear in columns is caused by (SSRC Guide):

Lateral load resulting from wind, earthquake, or other causes

Slope, with respect to the line of thrust, due both to unintentional initial curvature and added
curvature developed during the buckling process

End eccentricity of load, introduced either by the end connections or fabrication imperfections

Solid-webbed sections (such as I-sections) have less shear deformations than latticed columns

Shear has an insignificant effect on reducing column strength for solid webbed sections, and can be
neglected

Shear effect cannot be neglected for latticed column (laced/ battened columns)

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Shear Effect on Built-up Columns

Slope due to shear deformation : shear stress V  v is correction factor for shear
  v
shear modulus AG based on cross-sectional shapes
d v dV Pv d2 y
 
dz AG dz AG dz2

dM dy d2 y P P d2 y
V= =P 2
  v 2
dz dz dz EI AG dz

 
d2 y P  1 
  y 0
dz2 EI  1  Pv 
 AG 

 
2EI  1 
Pcr  2  
L  v 2EI 
1
 AG L 
2

Modification due to shear effect

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Types of Latticed Columns

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Laced Columns

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Laced Columns

The introduction of cross-members prevents

the lateral expansion and thus forces the lacing
bar to share the axial load on the strut. Lacing
bars and batten plates are not designed as load
carrying members. Their main function is to
hold the different component elements of the
built-up column in their relative positions and
equalize stress distribution within them.

Battened columns have least resistance to

At the ends, and where gusset plates are
shear compared to laced columns or columns
required, tie plates/ batten plates are provided.
with perforated plates

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Laced Columns

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Design of Lacings

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Battened Columns

Rules for design of battened columns is same as laced columns except for:

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Design of Battened Columns

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Example 5: Design a laced column 10m long to carry a factored axial load of 1100kN.
The column is restrained in position but not in direction at both ends. Provide a single
lacing system with bolted connection. Design the column with two channels back-to-
back

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Example 5: Continued…

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Example 5: Continued…

Solve the same example for two channels provided toe-to-toe

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COLUMN SPLICES
A joint, when provided in the length of the member

Theoretically not required in case of concentric loading

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Column Splices

Connect two pieces of column sections to achieve the required length

Need in long columns and in multi-storeyed buildings where column cross-sections are changed
in different storeys for the sake of economy

Columns are spliced at points of inflection (depends on amount of direct load vs. wind loads)

Two types of compression splices

Ends cut by the ordinary method

Ends cut and milled

If ends are not milled, splice plates and their connections are designed to transmit all forces

If ends are milled, the ends are placed firmly in contact with each other, and hence considerable load is
transferred by bearing. Connections and splice plates designed for only 50% of axial load

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Types of Column Splices: Columns of Same Cross-section

Flanges of upper storey column have full bearing over those of the lower storey column

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Types of Column Splices: Columns of Different Cross-section

Small difference in large difference in

size size

Packing plates to ensure that faces of the upper column flanges are in the same plane of the lower
flanges

If flanges rest over the web of the lower column, then a bearing plate is provided on the lower column.
Size of the plate is made equal to the lower column cross-section. Also provide thick packing plates

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Design of Column / Compression Splices

For axial compressive load and bending moment, splice plates are provided on the flanges

Splice plates are assumed to act as short columns (zero slenderness ratio): yield stress

Area of splice plate required = (load on splice)/(fy/γmo)

Width of splice plate required = width of column flange (preferably)

Assume diameter of the bolts, calculate strength of the bolt, and find no.of bolts required

In case of transverse shear force or lateral load on splice, a pair of splice plates provided one on each
side of the web. Design splice plate for 1.5V, where V is average factored shear.
Design connections only for average factored shear

If bearing plates are required: length and width of plate kept equal to the size of the lower-storey
column and the thickness is computed by equating the ultimate moment due to the factored load to the
moment resistance of the plate section

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IS800:2007 Annex F

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Example: A column section ISHB300 @ 618 N/m (fu = 410 N/mm2 and fy = 250 N/mm2) to
be spliced. The factored design loads are:
1. Axial load: 450 kN 2. Bending moment : 30 kNm. Design the splice plates and bolted
connections using bolts of grade 4.6 (fub = 400 Mpa).

Assume the column ends to be machined for complete bearing 50% of the load is transferred directly and
the remaining 50% by the fasteners

Splicing is done on both flanges: Total load on each splice = axial load + load due to moment
= 450/2 x 0.5 + (300 x 103)/(300+6) = 112.5+98 kN (assume 6mm thk splice)

Width of splice = width of flange = 250 mm Thickness of splice plate req’d = 210.5/(250 x 250/1.1)

=3.7 mm < 6 mm

Provide a 250 x 6 mm splice plate

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Example: Continued…Length of Splice Plate

Length of the splice plate depends upon the number of bolts in the vertical row

Provide 20mm diameter bolts of grade 4.6

Strength of bolt in single shear = 45.26 kN

Strength of bolt in bearing on 6mm plate = 98.4 kN

No. of bolts required, n = 210.5/45.26 = 4.65. Say 6 bolts

Considering requirements of IS800: 2007, Provide a pitch of 60mm and at an edge distance of 35 mm

Length of splice plate = 4x60 + 4x35 = 380 mm

Provide a 380 x 250 x 6 mm splice plate with connection details as shown

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