University of the

CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies

St. Augustine

CVNG 2006: STRUCTURAL DESIGN I

STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN MODULE

Mr. Lendel Bethelmy

Lecturer in Structural Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of the West Indies
St. Augustine Campus

Email: lendel.bethelmy@sta.uwi.edu
or
lendel87@hotmail.com
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 University of the
CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Recap of Previous Lecture:

▪ Normal Stress due to Axial Tension

▪ Gross & Net Area of Tension Member

▪ Design & Nominal Tensile Strength

▪ Effective Net Area

▪ Net Area for Staggered & Non-staggered Bolt Hole Arrangements

▪ Shear Lag Factor

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 University of the
CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Axial Compression - Column Members

Columns are members that are subjected to compressive axial

loads. There are two (2) categories of columns based on their

behaviour under load:

o Non-slender – failure due to crushing

o Slender – failure due to buckling

A

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 University of the
CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Pure Axial Compression – Buckling (Flexural) Introduction

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Major & Minor Axis (Flexural) Buckling z

Effective
length
(y-axis)
Effective
length
(x-axis)

Undeformed Major Axis Minor Axis

Shape Buckling Buckling

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Side Note: Sway versus Non-sway Systems

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
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Global vs Local Buckling

Global Buckling – Results in undesirable instabilities

(failure modes) of the entire element or structural

member. It is characterized by a distorted longitudinal

axis of the member.

Local Buckling – Results in undesirable instabilities

(failure modes) at the cross-sectional level. It is

characterized by the distortion of individual plates that

make up the structural member (i.e. flanges and webs).

NB: The presence of compressive stresses on slender cross sections give rise to a series or

range of global and local buckling phenomena.

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General Range of Global Buckling Phenomena

Lateral Torsional
Buckling

Flexural Torsional Flexural-Torsional

Buckling Buckling Buckling
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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

General Range of Local Buckling Phenomena

Web Web Shear Flange

Crippling Buckling Buckling

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Classification of Compression Members for Local Buckling

Generally, pure compression members can be classified under two (2) main categories:

▪ Non-slender (λ ≤ λr) → [can be further categorized into compact or non-compact for flexural members]

▪ Slender (λ > λr)

where:

▪ λ = actual “width to thickness ratio” of section

▪ λr = upper limiting value for “width to thickness ratio” for classification as non-slender
NB: If a member is classified as slender, its strength limit state is “Local Buckling,” and the corresponding

reduced strength must be computed via a reduction factor, Q.

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Classification of Compression Members for Local Buckling (con’t)

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Classification of Compression Members for Local Buckling (con’t)

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Global Resistance of a Compression Member

Global resistance of a compression member is controlled by two (2) bounds:

▪ Squashing – controlled by yield strength (fy) and cross-sectional area (A)

▪ Elastic Buckling – controlled by flexural rigidity (EI) and laterally unbraced

column length (L)

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Euler (Critical) Buckling Load

Euler’s Critical Buckling Load (Pcr) for flexural buckling, is given by the following equation:

where:
▪ 𝐸 = Modulus of Elasticity or Young’s Modulus (29,000 ksi or 200,000 MPa)
▪ 𝐼 = Second Moment of Area or Area Moment of Inertia (minor axis governs)
▪ 𝐸𝐼 = Flexural Rigidity
▪ 𝐿 = Laterally Unbraced Length of the Member (between supports or lateral braces)

It is convenient to rewrite the equation in terms of a Critical Buckling Stress (Fcr) :

where:
▪ 𝐴 = Cross-sectional Area
𝐼
▪ 𝑟= = radius of gyration (generally minor axis governs, unless it is sufficiently braced)
𝐴
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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Elastic Critical Buckling Stress

The Critical Buckling Stress equation can be modified to account for alternative support

conditions by using the factor “K” to give the Elastic Critical Buckling Stress (Fe):

where:
▪ 𝐸 = Modulus of Elasticity
▪ 𝐾 = Effective Length Factor
𝐾𝐿
▪ = Slenderness Ratio
𝑟

NB: The slenderness ratio (preferably)

should not exceed 200 and is based on
practical considerations.

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Higher Order Buckling Modes

where:
▪ 𝑷𝒄𝒓 = Euler’s Critical Buckling Load

Alternatively, in the case of Higher Order

Buckling Modes, the base equation given for
Euler’s Critical Buckling Load can be modified
to account for variations in the laterally
unbraced length of a compression member.

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Minor & Major Axis Buckling

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
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Design Compressive Strength

𝑃𝑢 ≤ ∅𝑐 𝑃𝑛 (LRFD)
where:
▪ 𝑃𝑢 = Required or Demand Compressive Strength (Ultimate)
▪ ∅𝑐 = Resistance Factor
▪ 𝑃𝑛 = Nominal Compressive Strength or Capacity
▪ ∅𝑐 𝑃𝑛 = Design Compressive Strength or Capacity

𝑃𝑛
𝑃𝑎 ≤ ൗΩ𝑐 (ASD)
where:
▪ 𝑃𝑎 = Required or Demand Compressive Strength (Actual)
▪ 𝑃𝑛 = Nominal Compressive Strength or Capacity
▪ Ω𝑐 = Safety Factor
▪ 𝑃𝑛ൗΩ𝑐 = Allowable Compressive Strength or Capacity

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Nominal Compressive Strength

The nominal compressive strength (without slender elements) shall be the lowest value
obtained according to the limit states of the following global buckling phenomena:
▪ Flexural Buckling – applicable for singly & doubly symmetric sections
▪ Torsional Buckling – applicable for singly symmetric & unsymmetric sections
▪ Flexural-Torsional Buckling – applicable for singly symmetric & unsymmetric sections

NB: Certain doubly symmetric sections, such as cruciform, or built-up columns, the limit states of torsional or
flexural-torsional buckling are also applicable.

The nominal compressive strength (Pn) for the limit state of flexural buckling is given as:

where:
▪ 𝐹𝑐𝑟 = Critical (Flexural) Buckling Stress
▪ 𝐴𝑔 = Gross Cross-Sectional Area
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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
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Nominal Compressive Strength (con’t)

Material Yielding
(Squashing)

where:
▪ 𝐹𝑒 = Elastic Critical Buckling Stress

NB: These equations are applicable for members without

slender elements.

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Reducing the Effect of Global Buckling

To structurally maximize the performance of a compression member, one should
minimize the effect of global buckling phenomena (such as flexural buckling) on the
member. This would ultimately increase the Critical Buckling Stress value of the member,
which can be achieved by modifying the following properties:

▪ Laterally Unbraced Length of Member (i.e. increase lateral bracing along the member)
▪ End support or boundary conditions (i.e. reduce effective length factor, K)
▪ Radius of Gyration (i.e. increase second moment of area, I of the section)

NB: The Flexural Buckling Stress can be increased by ultimately reducing the slenderness ratio, which would
push the section closer to achieving its squash load.

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

*Worked Example*

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Question
A W10x49 steel column is to be used as part of a non-sway structural system. It is 20 ft long and carries an axial

compressive dead load (inclusive of self-weight of the column) and live load of 120 kips and 250 kips respectively.

Using the LRFD method, check the adequacy of the A992 column.

a) Assume no lateral bracing are provided for flexural buckling about the minor axis of the column and that the

column is free to rotate at both ends, (E = 29,000 ksi and Fy = 50 ksi).

b) Assume the support conditions from the structural configuration from part (a) are modified so that the column is

now fixed against rotation at its base, but the top remains free to rotate, (E = 29,000 ksi and Fy = 50 ksi).

c) Assume the structural configuration from part (a) is now modified to include lateral bracing for flexural buckling

about the minor axis at mid-height of the column length, (E = 29,000 ksi and Fy = 50 ksi).

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Solution
W10x49 – Geometric Properties

A= 14.40 in.2 Ix = 272.00 in.4

d= 9.980 in. rx = 4.350 in.
h= 7.860 in. Iy = 93.40 in.4
tw = 0.340 in. ry = 2.540 in.
bf = 10.000 in.
tf = 0.560 in.

Section Classification for Local Buckling

Element λ λr
Flange 8.93 13.49
Web 23.12 35.88
Since λ for web & flange < λr,
cross-section is non-slender.

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 University of the
CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

Calculating Demand Compressive Forces

Pu = 1.2 120 + 1.6 250 = 544 kips

a) Elastic Critical Buckling Stress

Pu = 544 kips Column is part of a “non-sway” structural system, ensue horizontal translation of the column

joints are fixed. Therefore, for a pin-ended, non-sway column, the recommended design value

for K = 1.0

20 ft Elastic (Critical) Buckling Stress:

π2 (29,000)
= = 32 ksi
2
1.0 . (20 × 12)
2.54

KL 1.0 .(20×12) E 𝑲𝑳
= = 94.5 < 4.71 = 113 … < 200 (OK);
r 2.54 𝐹𝑦 𝒓

50
= 0.658 32 . 𝐹𝑦 = 26 ksi

𝑃𝑛 = 𝐹𝑐𝑟𝐴𝑔 = 26 x 14.4 = 374 kips

ø𝑃𝑛 = 0.9 374 = 336 kip < Pu …….. Not OK

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

b) Elastic Critical Buckling Stress

Pu = 544 kips Column is part of a “non-sway” structural system, ensue horizontal translation of the column

joints are fixed. Therefore, for a pinned and fixed ended support combination for a non-sway

column, the recommended design value for K = 0.8

20 ft Elastic (Critical) Buckling Stress:

π2 (29,000)
= = 50 ksi
2
0.8 . (20 × 12)
2.54

KL 0.8 .(20×12) E 𝑲𝑳
= = 75.6 < 4.71 = 113 … < 200 (OK);
r 2.54 𝐹𝑦 𝒓

50
= 0.658 50 . 𝐹𝑦 = 32.9 ksi

𝑃𝑛 = 𝐹𝑐𝑟𝐴𝑔 = 32.9 x 14.4 = 473 kips (b) (a)

ø𝑃𝑛 = 0.9 374 = 425 kip < Pu …….. Not OK

NB: The capacity of the column increased from part (a), due to the modification in the support conditions. However,
the modification still was not enough to satisfy the design checks for compression.

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

c) Elastic Critical Buckling Stress

Pu = 544 kips Column is part of a “non-sway” structural system, ensue horizontal translation of the column

joints are fixed. Therefore, for a pin-ended, non-sway column, the recommended design value

10 ft for K = 1.0

Elastic Buckling Stress (minor axis):

10 ft π2 (29,000)
= = 128 ksi
2
1.0 . (10 × 12)
2.54

KL 1.0 .(10×12) E 𝑲𝑳
= = 47.2 < 4.71 = 113 … < 200 (OK);
r 2.54 𝐹𝑦 𝒓

50
= 0.658 128 . 𝐹𝑦 = 42.4 ksi

𝑃𝑛 = 𝐹𝑐𝑟𝐴𝑔 = 42.4 x 14.4 = 610 kips (c) (b) (a)

ø𝑃𝑛 = 0.9 610 = 549 kips > Pu …….. OK

NB: The capacity of the column increased from part (a), due to the addition of lateral braces for flexural buckling,
about the minor axis, at mid height of the column length. The modification enabled the same structural member from
part (a) to satisfy the design checks for compression. However, as the minor axis is now laterally braced for flexural
buckling, major axis flexural buckling should be investigated as this could potentially become the governing failure
mode (i.e. Elastic Critical Buckling Stress).
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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

c) Elastic Critical Buckling Stress (con’t)

Pu = 544 kips Column is part of a “non-sway” structural system, ensue horizontal translation of the column

joints are fixed. Therefore, for a pin-ended, non-sway column, the recommended design value

for K = 1.0

20 ft Elastic Buckling Stress (major axis):

π2 (29,000)
= = 94 ksi (i.e. < minor axis)
2
1.0 . (20 × 12)
4.35

NB: Since the Elastic Buckling Stress about the major axis is less than that of the braced minor axis, major axis flexural
buckling would become the governing failure mode. As such, the capacity of the column for part (c) should have been
calculated using the major axis elastic buckling stress value as the “Elastic Critical Buckling Stress”.

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CVNG 2006 | Compression Members (SM) West Indies
St. Augustine

*End of Lecture*

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