ASIA PACIFIC COLLEGE OF ADVANCED STUDIES

AH Banzon St., Ibayo, City of Balanga, Bataan

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL
IN PRINCIPLES OF
STEEL DESIGN
(CE PROF 6)

A.Y. 2021-2022

REFERENCES:

1. Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines. (2004). ASEP Steel Handbook 2004, 3nd
Edition, Philippines: Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines.
2. Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, Inc., (2015) National Structural Code of
the Philippines NSCP C101-15 Volume 1 Buildings, Towers and Other Vertical Structures, 7 th
Edition Second Printing 2019, Philippines: ASEP.
3. Spiegel, Leonard and Limbrunner George F. (1997). Applied Structural Steel Design, 3rd Edition.
Mc Graw-Hill, New York, USA.
Lesson 2: Properties of Structural Shapes and Sections
OBJECTIVES

• To understand properties of structural steel sections

• To review the method for determining the moment of inertia for an area.
• To review the product of inertia and show how to determine the maximum and minimum moments
of inertia for an area.
• To discuss the mass moment of inertia.

APPLICABLE ASTM SPECIFICATION FOR VARIOUS STRUCTURAL SHAPES

COLD-FORMED LIGHT-GAGE STEEL SHAPES

In addition to the hot-rolled steel shapes discussed on our previous lesson, there are some cold-formed
steel shapes. These are made by bending thin sheets of carbon or low-alloy steels into almost any
desired cross section, such as the ones shown below. These shapes—which may be used for light
members in roofs, floors, and walls—vary in thickness from about 0.01 in up to about 0.25 in. The
thinner shapes are most often used for some structural panels.

COLD FORM SHAPES

Concrete floor slabs are very often cast on formed steel decks that serve as economical forms for the
wet concrete and are left in place after the concrete hardens. Several types of decking are available,
some of which are shown below.
 COLORSTEEL STEEL DECKING PRODUCT (W-DEK4)

MOMENT OF INERTIA

By definition, the moments of inertia of a differential area 𝑑𝐴 about the 𝑥 and 𝑦 axes are 𝑑𝐼𝑥 = 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴
and 𝑑𝐼𝑦 = 𝑥 2 𝑑𝐴, respectively. For the entire area 𝐴 the moments of inertia are determined by
integration; i.e.,
 (Eq. 2.1)

𝐼𝑥 = ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴
𝐴

(Eq. 2.2)

𝐼𝑦 = ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝐴
𝐴

We can also formulate this quantity for 𝑑𝐴 about the “pole” 𝑂 or 𝑧 axis. This is referred to as the polar
moment of inertia. It is defined as 𝑑𝐽𝑜 = 𝑟 2 𝑑𝐴, where 𝑟 is the perpendicular distance from the pole (𝑧
axis) to the element 𝑑𝐴. For the entire area the polar moment of inertia is
(Eq. 2.3)

𝐽𝑜 = ∫ 𝑟 2 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐼𝑥 + 𝐼𝑦
𝐴

This relation between 𝐽𝑂 and 𝐼𝑥 , 𝐼𝑦 is possible since 𝑟 2 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2

PARALLEL AXIS THEOREM

Consider finding the moment of inertia of the shaded area shown below about the x axis. To start, we
choose a differential element 𝑑𝐴 located at an arbitrary distance 𝑦′ from the centroidal 𝑥′ axis. If the
distance between the parallel 𝑥 and 𝑥′ axis is 𝑑𝑦, then the moment of inertia of 𝑑𝐴 about the 𝑥 axis is
2
𝑑𝐼𝑥 = (𝑦 + 𝑑𝑦 ) 𝑑𝐴. For the entire area,
2
𝐼𝑥 = ∫ (𝑦 ′ + 𝑑𝑦 ) 𝑑𝐴
𝐴

𝐼𝑥 = ∫ (𝑦 ′2 + 2𝑦 ′ 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑑𝑦2 )𝑑𝐴
𝐴

𝐼𝑥 = ∫ 𝑦 ′2 𝑑𝐴 + ∫ 2𝑦 ′ 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝐴 + ∫ 𝑑𝑦2 𝑑𝐴
𝐴 𝐴 𝐴
(Eq. 2.4)

𝐼𝑥 = ∫ 𝑦 ′2 𝑑𝐴 + 2𝑑𝑦 ∫ 𝑦 ′ 𝑑𝐴 + 𝑑𝑦2 ∫ 𝑑𝐴
𝐴 𝐴 𝐴

Evaluating each term:

∫ 𝑦 ′2 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐼𝑥 ′
𝐴
′
Since x’ axis coincides with centroid C, then 𝑦 = 0

2𝑑𝑦 ∫ 𝑦 ′ 𝑑𝐴 = 0
𝐴

𝑑𝑦2 ∫ 𝑑𝐴 = 𝑑𝑦2 𝐴 (𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎)

𝐴
Therefore, Eq. (2.4) can be written as
(Eq. 2.5)
𝐼𝑥 = 𝐼𝑥 ′ + 𝐴𝑑𝑦2
A similar expression can be written for 𝐼𝑦 ; i.e.,
(Eq. 2.6)
𝐼𝑦 = 𝐼𝑦 ′ + 𝐴𝑑𝑥2

And finally, for the polar moment of inertia, since 𝐽𝐶 = 𝐼𝑥 ′ + 𝐼𝑦 ′ and 𝑑 2 = 𝑑𝑥2 + 𝑑𝑦2 , we have
(Eq. 2.7)
𝐽𝑜 = 𝐽𝐶 + 𝐴𝑑 2

The above equations were also called as “Transfer Formula”

RADIUS OF GYRATION OF AN AREA

Provided the areas and moments of inertia are known, the radii of gyration are determined from the
formulas
(Eq. 2.8)
𝐼𝑥
𝑟𝑥 = √
𝐴

𝐼𝑦
𝑟𝑦 = √
𝐴

𝐽𝑂
𝑟𝑂 = √
𝐴

PRODUCT OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA

Product of inertia is a property of an area which is required in order to determine the maximum and
minimum moments of inertia for the area.

The product of inertia of the area with respect to the x and y axes is defined as
(Eq. 2.9)

𝐼𝑥𝑦 = ∫ 𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝐴
𝐴

The product of inertia may either be positive, negative, or zero, depending on the location and
orientation of the coordinate axes. For example, the product of inertia 𝐼𝑥𝑦 for an area will be zero if
either the 𝑥 or 𝑦 axis is an axis of symmetry for the area, as in figure shown below.

It also follows from the definition of 𝐼𝑥𝑦 that the “sign” of this quantity depends on the quadrant where
the area is located.
PARALLEL AXIS THEOREM FOR THE PRODUCT OF INERTIA

Consider the shaded area shown below, where 𝑥 and 𝑦 represent a set of axes passing through the
centroid of the area, and 𝑥 and 𝑦 represent a corresponding set of parallel axes. Since the product of
inertia of 𝑑𝐴 with respect to the 𝑥 and 𝑦 axes is 𝑑𝐼𝑥𝑦 = (𝑥 ′ + 𝑑𝑥)(𝑦 ′ + 𝑑𝑦) 𝑑𝐴, then for the entire
area,

𝐼𝑥𝑦 = ∫ (𝑥 ′ + 𝑑𝑥 ) (𝑦 ′ + 𝑑𝑦 ) 𝑑𝐴
𝐴

𝐼𝑥𝑦 = ∫ (𝑥 ′ 𝑦 ′ + 𝑥 ′ 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦 ′ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 )𝑑𝐴
𝐴

𝐼𝑥𝑦 = ∫ 𝑥 ′ 𝑦 ′ 𝑑𝐴 + ∫ 𝑥 ′ 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝐴 + ∫ 𝑦 ′ 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝐴 + ∫ 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝐴
𝐴 𝐴 𝐴 𝐴
(Eq. 2.10)

𝐼𝑥𝑦 = ∫ 𝑥 ′ 𝑦 ′ 𝑑𝐴 + 𝑑𝑦 ∫ 𝑥 ′ 𝑑𝐴 + 𝑑𝑥 ∫ 𝑦 ′ 𝑑𝐴 + 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 ∫ 𝑑𝐴
𝐴 𝐴 𝐴 𝐴

Evaluating each term:

∫ 𝑥 ′ 𝑦 ′ 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐼𝑥 ′ 𝑦 ′
𝐴

The integrals in the second and third terms are zero since the moments of the area are taken about the
centroidal axis

𝑑𝑦 ∫ 𝑥 ′ 𝑑𝐴 = 0
𝐴

𝑑𝑥 ∫ 𝑦 ′ 𝑑𝐴 = 0
𝐴

𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 ∫ 𝑑𝐴 = 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝐴 (𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎)

𝐴

Therefore, Eq. (2.10) can be written as

(Eq. 2.11)
𝐼𝑥𝑦 = 𝐼𝑥 ′ 𝑦 ′ + 𝐴𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
MOMENT OF INERTIA FOR TRANSLATED AXES

Suppose that the 𝑥 and 𝑦 axes are rotated about an angle 𝜃. The coordinates of 𝑑𝐴 will be translated to
𝑢 and 𝑣 axes. We can solve for the translated moment of inertia with respect to u and v as follows:
(Eq. 2.12)
𝐼𝑥 + 𝐼𝑦 𝐼𝑥 − 𝐼𝑦
𝐼𝑢 = + cos 2θ − 𝐼𝑥𝑦 sin 2𝜃
2 2
𝐼𝑥 + 𝐼𝑦 𝐼𝑥 − 𝐼𝑦
𝐼𝑣 = − cos 2θ + 𝐼𝑥𝑦 sin 2𝜃
2 2
𝐼𝑥 − 𝐼𝑦
𝐼𝑢𝑣 = sin 2θ + 𝐼𝑥𝑦 cos 2𝜃
2
PRINCIPAL MOMENT OF INERTIA

The angle which defines the orientation of the principal axes can be found by differentiating the first of
Eqs. 2.12 with respect to 𝑢 and setting the result equal to zero. Thus,
𝑑𝐼𝑢 𝐼𝑥 − 𝐼𝑦
=− 2 sin 2θ − 2𝐼𝑥𝑦 cos 2𝜃 = 0
𝑑𝜃 2
Solving we obtain the orientation 𝜃 = 𝜃𝑝 of the planes of maximum and minimum moment of inertia.
𝐼𝑥 − 𝐼𝑦
− 2 sin 2θ = 2𝐼𝑥𝑦 cos 2𝜃
2
(Eq. 2.13)
−2𝐼𝑥𝑦
tan 2𝜃𝑝 =
𝐼𝑥 − 𝐼𝑦

For the given values of 𝐼𝑥𝑦 , 𝐼𝑥 , and 𝐼𝑦 , Eq. (2.13) will give two values of θ that are 90° apart. This means
that there are two planes that are at right angles to each other on which the product of inertia is zero.
These angles give the maximum and minimum moment of inertia. These values can be found by
substituting Eq. (2.13) into the first two equations of Eq. (2.12), which yields
(Eq. 2.14)

𝐼𝑥 + 𝐼𝑦 𝐼𝑥 − 𝐼𝑦 2
𝐼 𝑚𝑖𝑛 = √
± ( ) + 𝐼𝑥𝑦 2
𝑚𝑎𝑥 2 2
MOHR’S CIRCLE FOR MOMENTS OF INERTIA

We will now show how to apply the equations for plane-stress transformation using a graphical
procedure.

If we rewrite the Eqs. (2.12) in this form:

(Eq. 2.15)
𝐼𝑥 + 𝐼𝑦 𝐼𝑥 − 𝐼𝑦
𝐼𝑢 − = cos 2θ + 𝐼𝑥𝑦 sin 2𝜃
2 2
(Eq. 2.16)
𝐼𝑥 − 𝐼𝑦
𝐼𝑢𝑣 = − ( ) sin 2𝜃 + 𝐼𝑥𝑦 cos 2𝜃
2
If we add the squares of 𝐼𝑢 and 𝐼𝑢𝑣 the parameter 𝜃 will be eliminated and the resulting equation will
be;
(Eq. 2.17)
𝐼𝑥 + 𝐼𝑦 2 2
𝐼𝑥 − 𝐼𝑦 2 2
[𝐼𝑢 − ( )] + 𝐼𝑢𝑣 =( ) + 𝐼𝑥𝑦
2 2
The above equation can be written in a more compact form as
(Eq. 2.18)
(𝐼𝑢 − 𝐼𝑎𝑣𝑒 )2 + 𝐼𝑢𝑣
2 = 𝑅2

Where;
𝐼𝑥 + 𝐼𝑦
𝐼𝑎𝑣𝑒 =
2
and the resulting graph represents a circle of radius

𝐼𝑥 − 𝐼𝑦 2
𝑅 = √( 2
) + 𝐼𝑥𝑦
2

and having its center located at point (𝐼𝑎𝑣𝑒 , 0). The circle so constructed is called Mohr’s Circle, named
after the German engineer Otto Mohr (1835–1918).
TABLE OF PROPERTIES OF PLANE FIGURES
PROBLEM 1 – For the angular section shown in figure below, determine the following

• The location of the centroid from the X and Y axes.

• The centroidal moment of inertia 𝐼𝑥 ′ and 𝐼𝑦 ′ .
• The moment of inertia with respect to coordinate axes 𝐼𝑥 and 𝐼𝑦 .
• The products of inertia 𝐼𝑥𝑦 and 𝐼𝑥′𝑦′
• The polar moment of inertia 𝐽𝐶 and 𝐽𝑂 .

PROBLEM 2 – A tee section is made up of a 30 mm x 150 mm flange and a 30 mm x 160 mm web.

Determine the properties of the section.

PROBLEM 3 – The composite section shown below is made up of C 15 x 50 and W 21 x 83. Determine
the properties of the section.

PROBLEM 4 – Determine the principal moments of inertia and the orientation of the principal axes for
the cross-sectional area of the member shown below with respect to an axis passing through the
centroid.