BEST PRACTICE

Subject Second Order Calculations Date 13 Aug 2018 Page 1/11 Sap nr. 6000167704
Doc. nr. 050200003 Region Europe Rev. 00

Second Order Calculations

This best practice gives a guideline when to apply a second order (SCIA) calculation and how to determine
the initial imperfection to be used for the strength calculation of (slender) Mammoet structures.

Conditions / Description of situation

Within Mammoet a large variety of (support) structures is used. Quite often these structures consist of bulky
members but also tall and slender systems like a high lifting gantry or a long spreader beam are used.

Note:

For this Best Practice it is assumed the reader has sufficient background knowledge in the field of structural
calculation and the use of FEA models to properly understand the technical content of this Best Practice. As
such all explanations are kept very brief. If things are unclear please consult your teamleader or technical
advisor.

Content

On the next page a flowchart is given to select the method of analysis for the structure, followed by
explanations and methods to determine the initial imperfection.

For information 13 Aug WJon MCri WJon

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only 2018 903245 903121 903245
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NOTE
THIS BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINE IS PREPARED BASED ON THE BEST KNOWLEDGE AT THE TIME OF
WRITING AND SUBJECTED TO NEW INSIGHTS. FOR ALTERATIONS CONTACT THE OWNER.

Status For information only

 BEST PRACTICE
Subject Second Order Calculations Date 13 Aug 2018 Page 2/11 Sap nr. 6000167704
Doc. nr. 050200003 Region Europe Rev. 00

Flowchart to select the method of analysis

Structure (1)

Yes Method with amplified

Global sway? (2)
moments (8)

No No

Fully No Many loads / Yes

SCIA model
Braced? (3) loadcombinations? (7)

Yes
αcr > 10 (9)

Bending from Yes No

Deadload? (4) Yes

Second order First order

calculation + calculation
imperfection (10)
Calculate internal
forces (5)

Calculation handbook
Excel 3.4ª or
EN 1993-1-1 (6)

Figure 1: Flowchart to select the method of analysis

Note:

Due to the very large possible variety of structures, above flowchart shall be considered being a guideline
only. In case of doubt on how to analyse the structure for buckling, please discuss with teamleader or
technical advisor.

Status For information only

 BEST PRACTICE
Subject Second Order Calculations Date 13 Aug 2018 Page 3/11 Sap nr. 6000167704
Doc. nr. 050200003 Region Europe Rev. 00

(1) Structure

Even if a (SCIA) computer model of the structure is not yet available, some simple questions can be
answered to get a first idea if the structure is critical and needs checking for (global) buckling:

Q: Are some of the members loaded in compression? (yes = unfavourable)

Q: Are these compression members very long and thin (= slender)? (yes = unfavourable)

Q: Are braces used to stabilize the structure for side loads and deformation? (no = unfavourable)

Q: Is the structure very high and narrow? (yes = unfavourable)

Note:

Long I/H-beams and narrow box girders (H/B > 3.0) loaded in bending typically are sensitive for lateral
torsional buckling (LTB). While not being the main interest of this best practice, LTB needs to be taken into
account in the strength assessment of the structure.

Figure 2: Lateral torsional buckling of an I-beam

Status For information only

 BEST PRACTICE
Subject Second Order Calculations Date 13 Aug 2018 Page 4/11 Sap nr. 6000167704
Doc. nr. 050200003 Region Europe Rev. 00

(2) Is global sway buckling expected?

Some examples of ‘sway’ buckling are shown below:

Figure 3: Sway buckling of an MSG gantry Figure 4: Sway buckling of a portal frame

Due to the compression loading ‘P’ the structure buckles sideways.

For structures sensitive to sway buckling in most cases the exact buckling length of the compression
members is difficult to determine by manual calculations -> Use SCIA model.

Status For information only

 BEST PRACTICE
Subject Second Order Calculations Date 13 Aug 2018 Page 5/11 Sap nr. 6000167704
Doc. nr. 050200003 Region Europe Rev. 00

(3) Is the structure fully braced?

If a structure is not fully braced, local sway effects can occur which influence the structure bucking strength:

Figure 5: Fully braced versus not fully braced

Taking such effects properly into account in a manual calculation is difficult -> Use SCIA model.

Status For information only

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Subject Second Order Calculations Date 13 Aug 2018 Page 6/11 Sap nr. 6000167704
Doc. nr. 050200003 Region Europe Rev. 00

Figure 6: One brace versus multiple columns

Refer figure 6, due to the imperfection δ and the column loadings P the force in the brace is much more than
would be expected by taking only the effect of the horizontal load ‘H’ into account -> Use SCIA model.

Status For information only

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Subject Second Order Calculations Date 13 Aug 2018 Page 7/11 Sap nr. 6000167704
Doc. nr. 050200003 Region Europe Rev. 00

(4) Is the compression member influenced from significant bending due to deadload?

If a member is already bended severely due to the deadload, the buckling capacity of the member is
reduced. An example is given below for a long spreader beam:

Figure 7: Additional bending of the compression element due to deadload

As a practical approach calculate the (ULS) bending stress in the member from deadload. If this stress is
below 20% of Fy the Mammoet Excel sheet 3.4A can be used to assess the buckling, but the bending needs
to be included in the unity check, using EN 1993-1-1 part 6.3.3:

For most cases (no lateral torsional buckling, class 3 section or better) this complex equation can be
simplified to:

N ed M
k
  N Rk M Rk

The value of the interaction factor ‘k’ shall be calculated using EN 1993-1-1 annex A or B. As an alternative
the ‘steel check’ from SCIA can be used to check this buckling + bending interaction.

If the bending stress due to deadload exceeds 20% of Fy a second order calculation shall be used.

Status For information only

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Subject Second Order Calculations Date 13 Aug 2018 Page 8/11 Sap nr. 6000167704
Doc. nr. 050200003 Region Europe Rev. 00

(5) Calculate internal forces

Use a manual calculation to calculate the internal (ULS) forces in the members. Second order effects do not
have to be taken into account.

(6) Excel calculation sheet 3.4A from the handbook / EN 1993-1-1

For standard RHS, CHS and H-profiles the Mammoet Excel sheet 3.4A from the calculation handbook can be
used. For other types of cross section EN 1993-1-1 chapter 6.3 can be used. The increase of the unity check
due to additional bending needs to be taken into account, refer (4).

(7) Many loads / loadcombinations?

If many different loads and load combinations are applicable, manual calculation becomes very time
consuming, In such cases a making a SCIA model generally will take less total time.

(8) Method with amplified moments

In some specific cases EN 1993-1-1 part 5.2.2 (5)B can be used. In this method the moments / deflections
are increased using:

For a proper use of this specific method please consult your technical advisor.

(9) Calculation of αcr

A ‘stability’ analysis is performed in SCIA using ULS load combinations. As per EN 1993-1-1 part 5.2.1 (3)
only when αcr > 10 a first order analysis is allowed. For lower αcr values use a second order calculation and
include an initial imperfection.

(10) Second order calculation

The second order calculation with initial imperfection is only used to take the global buckling of the complete
structure properly into account. Individual member buckling typically is assessed using the SCIA ‘steel check’
which verifies the individual members on buckling following EN 1993-1-1 chapter 6.3.

Status For information only

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Subject Second Order Calculations Date 13 Aug 2018 Page 9/11 Sap nr. 6000167704
Doc. nr. 050200003 Region Europe Rev. 00

Guidelines for determination of the initial imperfection

(1) Single member system

For example a load spreader with large influence from bending due to deadload.

pinned-pinned cantilever
Refer EN 1993-1-1 table 5.1:
free

L L
fixed

For cantilever buckling, the imperfection shall be based on 2x the member length.

For critical cases, when required, a more accurate calculation of the imperfection can be applied. Refer EN
1993-1-1 part 5.3.2 (11):

With γM1 = 1.00 [-] this equation simplifies to:

e0      0.2  
M Rk
N Rk

It is noted using this value of imperfection, for the case of axial force only, results in exactly the same
buckling unity checks as calculated with the buckling equations as given in EN 1993-1-1 part 6.3.1.2.

Status For information only

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Doc. nr. 050200003 Region Europe Rev. 00

(2) Overall truss composed of 'continuous' sections

In a continuous overall truss / build up member there is no significant play in the connection of the sections.
The connections can be either bolted or welded. For such structure the imperfection 1:500 is directly given by
the code, refer EN 1993-1-1 figure 6.7:

Note: for the fabrication of this type of structures EN 1090 applies; maximum deviation is limited to 1:500:

Status For information only

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Doc. nr. 050200003 Region Europe Rev. 00

(3) Overall truss composed of ‘pinned’ sections

With pinned chords and/or pinned braces, the geometrical imperfection is mainly determined by the play in
the pinned connections. To determine the total initial imperfection to be used in the analysis please consult
team leader or technical advisor.

Note:

For the New York Wheel mast sections calculation report 15015640-C2B presents an analysis of the effect of
play in the pinned connection on the initial geometrical imperfection.

Status For information only