Module 5a - Design of Steel Beams

STEEL DESIGN
(References: - Architectural and Structural Topics – by Salvan and Buhangin
- Steel Manual - by ASEP

I. Properties of Structural Steel

Steel is one of the widely used structural materials because of its many advantages, which include high strength,
ductility, uniformity of manufacture, variety of shapes and sizes , and ease and speed of erection. Steel has a high
strength-to-weight ratio. This makes it possible to reduce a building’s dead load and to minimize the space taken up
by structural elements. In addition, steel has a high modulus of elasticity, which means it is very stiff.

Ductility of steel is a property that allows it to withstand excessive deformation due to high tensile stresses without
failure. This property makes it useful for earthquake-resistant structures.

A. Types and Composition of Steel

Steel – composed primarily of iron with small amounts of carbon and other elements that are part of the alloy. In
medium carbon steel used in construction, these other elements include manganese (0.5 to 1.0 %), silicon (0.25 to
0.75 %), phosphorus, and sulfur. As carbon is added, the strength increases but the ductility decreases. Standard
structural steel has from 0.20 to 0.50 percent carbon.

The most common type of steel for structural use is ASTM A36 which means that the steel is manufactured
according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specification number A36. The yield point for
this steel, Fy = 248 MPa.

B. Shapes and Size of Structural Steel (Rolled Shapes)

Rolled Sections – structural steel sections produced by passing red-hot blooms (for larger sections) or billets (for
smaller sections) through rolls until the desired shape is attained. Locally produced rolled shapes are limited that
include channel sections up to a depth of 150 mm, angle sections up to up to a maximum of 100 mm, etc.

Wide flange sections or “W” shapes – used for both beams and columns. 350 mm deep wide flange sections are
often used for columns on high-rise multistory structures. On low-rise and mid-rise multistory buildings, usually the
smallest column used is a 200 mm deep wide flange.

Wide flange sections are designated with the letter W followed by the nominal depth in mm and the mass in kg/m.
For example, a W 460 x 95 a wide flange nominally 460 mm deep and has a mass of 95 kg/m.

American Standard I – beams or the “S” shapes – usually used for beams only.

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American standard channel sections or the “C” shapes – typically used to frame openings, form stair stringers, or in
other applications where a flush side is required. They are seldom used by themselves as beams or columns because
they tend to buckle due to their shape.

Structural tees – “WT” or “ST” shapes (if cut half from wide flange or I-beam, respectively) – often used for
chords of steel trusses.

Steel angles – available either with equal or unequal legs. They are designated by a letter “L” followed by the
lengths of the angles, and then followed by the thickness of the legs. Angles are used in pairs for members for steel
trusses or singly as lintels in a variety of applications. They are used for miscellaneous bracing of other structural
members.

Square and rectangular tube sections and round pipe are also available. These are often used for light columns and as
members of large trusses or space frames. Structural tubing of various sizes is available in standard weight, extra
strong and double extra strong. Pipe is designated by its nominal diameter while the size designation for square or
rectangular tubing refers to its actual outside dimensions.

Bars and Plates – Bars are considered any rectangular section 150 mm or less in width with a thickness of 5.75 mm
and greater, or sections 150 to 200 mm in width with a thickness of 5.75 and greater. Plates are considered any
section over 200 mm in width with a thickness of 5.75 mm and over, or sections over 1200 mm in width with a
thickness of 4.50 mm and over.

Figure 11.1 shows commonly- used structural shapes and Table 11.1 summarizes the standard designations for structural steel shapes.

C. Shapes and Size of Structural Steel (Built-up Shapes)

Built-up Shapes – structural steel sections made up of steel plates with thicknesses ranging from 5.0 mm to 45.0 mm,
welded together to form structural shapes. Considering that locally produced rolled shapes are normally limited to
depths of about 300 mm, built-up sections are frequently used as a substitute for rolled sections. Different shapes
like BW sections are intended primarily for use as beam members, while BH sections are normally intended for use
as columns and the BWT sections for use as truss top and bottom chord elements. Below are the designations of
these shapes:
Wide Flange BW Hxw Wide Flange Tee BWT Hxw
Heavy Column BH Hxw

D. Allowable Stresses

Allowable unit stresses for structural steel are expressed as percentages of the minimum specified yield point of the
grade used. For A36 steel, the yield point is 248 MPa. The percentages used depend on the type of stress, the
condition of use, and other factors.

Allowable unit stresses are established by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and are commonly
adopted by references by model codes as the Uniform Building Code and by local codes. Locally, we use the
National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP) and the Steel Manual by the Association of Structural Engineers
of the Philippines (ASEP). Table 11.2 summarizes some of the more common AISC values for A36 steel.

II. Steel Beams

The design of steel beams involves finding the lightest weight section (and therefore, the least expensive) that will
resist bending and shear forces within allowable limits of stress, and one that will not have excessive deflection for
the condition of use. Beam design can be accomplished through the use of the standard formulas for flexure, shear
and deflection, or by using tables in the Manual of Steel Construction published by the AISC or the Steel Manual by
ASEP.

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A. Lateral Support and Compact Sections

At a compression flange of a beam, there is a tendency for it to buckle under load. To resist this tendency, either the
compression flange needs to be supported or the beam needs to be made larger. In many cases, steel beams are
automatically laterally supported because of standard construction methods. This occurs with beams supporting steel
decking welded to the beams, beams with the top flange embedded in a concrete slab, or composite construction. In
some instances, a girder is only supported laterally with intermittent beams.

If a beam is continuously supported or supported at intervals not greater than L c. The full allowable stress of 0.66Fy
may be used. If the support is greater than L c, but not greater than Lu, then the allowable stress must be reduced to
0.60 Fy.

Sections are determined to be either compact or non-compact based on the yield strength of the steel and the width-
to-thickness ratios of the web and flanges. If a section is non-compact, a lower allowable bending stress must be
used. Refer to Section 4.5.1.4 of NSCP page 4-13 for determining the compactness of the section. Identification of
non-compact sections and the reduced stresses are incorporated into the design tables in some manuals.

B. Design for Bending

Two approaches to designing steel beams: - By flexure formula - By use of tables found in the Steel Manual

By flexure formula: Two forms:

where: S = section modulus Fb = allowable bending stress

M = moment fb = computed or actual bending stress
Moments are calculated using the static formulas (3 equations of equilibrium) for various types of loadings or by
using methods of shear and moment diagrams.

Important point to remember: Keep the units consistent with the allowable stresses which are in MPa or N/mm2,
i. e. moment must be in N-mm instead of kN-m . Span and dimensions of sections must be in mm.

C. Design for Shear

In most cases, shear is not a factor when designing steel beams. The section selected to resist the required bending
stresses is typically more than adequate to resist shear. However, shear should be checked, especially for short,
heavily loaded beams or beams with heavy loads near the supports. In these cases, shear may govern the design of
the beam.
Because shearing stresses are zero at the extreme fibers, the flanges are discounted in calculating resistance to
shear; only the area of the web is used. The unit shearing stress is given by the formula;

where: fv = unit shear stress

d = actual depth of the beam V = maximum web stress tw = thickness of web

Example:
Check the shear in the beam:
Beam : A36 beam , Fully laterally- supported
Load - uniform distributed load, w = 24.81 kN/m
Span, L =4.57 m
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 1. Compute the max. vertical shear due to the load, V = ½ (24.81x4.57) = 56.59 kN

2. Compute the capacity of the selected beam for shear (allowable shear force):

From page 152, Steel Manual: (rolled shape) W 12 x 22 (total depth = 12 inches and w = 22 lb/ft)
Depth, d = 12 x 25.4 = 304.8 mm; w = 22 x (1kg./2.2 lb) x 3.28 ft/m = 32.9 kg/m (from the manual)
Actual depth, H or d = 312.7 mm (from manual) tw = 6.6 mm (from manual)
From the NSCP, Section 4.5.1.2, Fv = 0.40 Fy = 0.40 (248) = 99 MPa
Allowable Stresses as function of Fy can be found also in Table 1 of NSCP, page 4-78

Allowable shear force V of the selected section W 12 x 22:

V = Fv (d)(tw) = 99 (312.7 x 6.6) = 204,318 N
= 204.3 kN

Considering the weight of beam: w = 32.9 kg/m x 0.00981 kN/kg = 0.323 kN/m
V = ½ [(24.81 + 0.323)4.57]
V = ½ (25.113)(4.57) = 57.4 kN < 204.3 kN ok

D. Design for Deflection

Steel beams need to be checked for deflection. Although a beam may be sufficient to resist bending stresses, it may
sag enough to be objectionable or create problems such as cracking of finished ceilings or ponding of water on a
roof. The maximum allowable deflection is partly determined by codes and partly by design judgment. For example,
the AISC limits the live load deflection of beams supporting plaster ceilings to 1/360 of the span.

Example: Find the actual deflection of the W12 x 22 beam used in previous example.
Using the formula for max. deflection of uniformly-loaded beam:
(Note: Units must be consistent. Loads or forces must be in Newton, dimensions and span in mm and
stresses and E in MPa)

w = 24.81+ 0.323 = 25.133 kN/m = 25.133 N/mm

L = 4570 mm E = 200,000 N/mm2 Ix-x = 64932000 mm4

= 11 mm.

Using L/360 as allowable deflection, Δ = 4570/360

= 12.7 mm > 11 mm; therefore beam is safe in deflection

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Sample Design of a Beam

I. Design the roof beam that is spanning two bays, carrying a roof truss at midspan, with the bottom chord directly
resting on the top flange of the beam. Use BW section.

The truss is assumed to be laterally supporting the beam. (This assumption is valid only if there is complete
horizontal bottom chord truss bracing on both sides of the roof truss. Otherwise, the distance between lateral
supports for the compression flange shall be the entire beam span.)

Given: Fy = 248 MPa Lateral Support, Lb = 5 m Min. beam depth = Lb /30

Span, L = 10.00 m
Concentrated load at midspan: DL = 36 kN LL = 45 kN
P = 81 kN

Solution:
1. Calculate bending moments, M = PL/4 = 81(10)/4
= 202.5 kN-m or 202,500,000 N-mm
Try compact section: Fb = 0.66 Fy = 163.68 MPa

2. Required section modulus, Sr = M/Fb = 202,500,000/163.68

= 1,237,170.088 or 1,237 x 103 mm3
Required depth = 5000/30 = 166.67 mm
Choices: BW 450 x 70 (S = 1,276 x 103) or BW 450 x 83 (S = 1,611 x 103)
Try BW 450 x 83, with higher S to provide allowance for the weight of the beam
w = 83.05 kg/m x .00981 = 0.81 kN/m = 0.81 N/mm
Bending moment due to the beam weight, M = 1/8 (w)L2 = 1/8 (0.81)(10)2
= 10.125 kN-m

3. Calculate total M = 202.5 + 10.125 = 212.625 kN-m or 212,625,000 N-mm

Sr = 212,625,000/163.68 = 1,299,028.592 mm3 or 1299 x 103 < 1,611 x103 ok

For BW 450 x 83;

B/2tf = 6.25 H/Af = 0.141
Ix = 362 x 106 mm4 Sx = 1,611 x 103 mm3
rt = 52.3 mm H/tw = 45.00
B = 200 mm

4. Check for compactness:

170/√Fy = 170/√248 = 10.80 > 6.25
1680/√Fy = 1680/√248 = 106.60 > 45.00

The above results show that this is a compact section.

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 5. Compute Lc: 200B/√Fy = 200(200)/√248 = 2,540 mm
138,000/[(H/Af)(Fy)] = 138,000/[(0.141)(248)] = 3,946.47 mm

Unsupported length, Lu = 5000 mm > 2,540 and 3,946.47

6. Based on the results from steps 4 and 5, BW 450 x 83 is a compact section but Lu is greater than required
Lc . Therefore, the allowable bending stress used, F b = 0.66 Fy is not accepatable.
Use Fb = 0.60 Fy = 0.60 (248) = 148.8 MPa

7. Using Fb = 148.8,
S = 212,625,000/148.8 = 1,428,931.452 mm3
or 1,428.9 x 103 < 1,611 x103 still ok

8. Check for shear:

V = 81/2 + 0.81 (10)/2 = 44.55 kN; d = H = 450 mm; tw = 10 mm

= 44550/[(450)(10)]
= 9.9 MPa
Allowable shearing stress, Fv = 0.40 Fy = 0.40(248) = 99 MPa > 9.9 MPa; therefore beam is
very safe in shear

9. The beam can be checked also for deflection if needed.

P must be in N, w in N/mm, E in MPa and I in mm4

Compare the result of actual deflection with the allowable.

If it is greater than the allowable, select and recommend a section with a higher S x-x.

II. The cantilever beam is loaded as shown below. Design the beam using
wide flange tee (BWT built-up shapes) and using the following allowable stresses:

Fb = 0.66 Fy and Fv = 0.40 Fy where Fy = 248 MPa

Solution:

A. Determine the maximum bending moment, M:

M = 5(2)(1) + 2(2)
M = 14 kN-m

B. Calculate the required section modulus, SR

using Fb = 0.66 (248) = 163.68 MPa:
SR = M/ Fb
SR = (14)(1000)2 = 85.5 x 103 mm3
163.68

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 C. Select a section:
Try BWT 225 x 25 w = 25.28 kg./m H = 225 mm t w = 10 mm
Sx = 104.9 x 103 mm3 > 85.5 x 103 mm3

D. Recompute the bending moment to include the weight of the beam.

wbeam = 25.28 kg/m (0.00981 kN/kg)
= 0.25 kN/m
w = (5 + 0.25) = 5.25 kN/m

M = (5.25)(2)(1) + (2)(2) = 14.5 kN-m

E. Calculate the required section modulus, SR = M/ Fb

SR = (14.5)(1000)2
163.68
SR = 88.6 x 103 mm3 < Sx OK

F. Check the section for shear: Use Fv = 0.40 Fy = 0.40 (248)

Fv = 99 MPa
Max. shear, V = (5.25)(2) + 2 = 12.5 kN

fv = (12.5)(1000) Aw = (H)( tw)

Aw = (225)(10)
= 2250 mm2
fv = (12.5)(1000) = 5.56 MPa < 99 MPa very safe for shear
2250

Therefore, adopt BWT 225 x 25 section for the beam

Checking for deflection I x-x = 16.78 x 10 6 mm4 E = 200000 MPa P = 2000 N

w = 5.25 kN/m or 5.25 N/mm (including the weight) L = 2000 mm

Actual deflection = δP + δw
= (PL3)/(3EI) + (wL4)/(8EI )
= [(2000)(2000)3 ] / [(3)(200000)(16780000)] + [(5.25)(2000)4 ] / [(8)(200000)(16780000)]
= 1.59 + 3.12
= 4.71 mm < 5.56 mm, therefore safe. (Allowable: L/360 = 2000/360 = 5.56 mm)

Therefore, adopt BWT 225 x 25 section for the beam

Sample Investigation Problems (Beam and Column) (separate Module)

A. continuous beam is loaded as shown below. Assuming that the section is compact, investigate the adequacy of
the beam if Fy = 248 MPa.