STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

COURSE CODE: CE434

CHAPTER

9
Part A
Design of Beams
TEXT BOOK, STRUCTURAL STEE DESIGN, JACK McCormack
Introduction

 A fairly long, simply supported beam can

be subjected to gravity transverse loading.
 Due to the application of this loading, the
beam will bend downward, and its upper
part will be placed in compression and will
act as a compression member.
 The cross section of this “column” will
consist of the portion of the cross section
above the neutral axis.
Introduction

This Part above

the N.A acts as
a compression
member
C

Figure 1 Deformation of Beam due to transverse Loading

Introduction

 For the usual beam the “column” will have

a much smaller moment of inertia about its
y or vertical axis than its x or horizontal
axis.

 If its y axis is not braced perpendicularly, it

will buckle laterally at a much smaller load
than would otherwise have been required
to produce a vertical failure.
Lateral Buckling of Beams

 Lateral buckling will not occur if the

compression flange is braced laterally or if
twisting of the beam is prevented at frequent
intervals.

 Types of beams with respect to lateral buckling:

1. The beams can be assumed to have
continuous lateral bracing for their
compression flanges.
2. Next, the beams can be assumed to be braced
laterally at short intervals,
3. Finally, the beams can be braced laterally at
larger intervals.
Lateral Buckling of Beams
Lateral Buckling of Beams

Next Figure shows that beams have three

distinct ranges or zones of behavior
depending on their lateral bracing
situation:

 Zone 1: closely spaced lateral bracing,

beams fail plastically.
 Zone 2: moderate unbraced lengths,
beams fail inelastically.
 Zone 3: Larger unbraced lengths,
beams fail elastically
Lateral Buckling of Beams
Lateral Buckling of Beams
Example of Girders
Laterally Braced by
Beams and/or Joists
Classification of Sections
Limits for Zone 1, 2 and 3
LRFD Specification
Lb :Unbraced length of compression flange

Lpd :Unbraced length of compression flange in plastic

analysis

Lr :Maximum unbraced length at which we can still

reach Fy at one point
Limits for Zone 1, 2 and 3
E
L p  1.76ry
Fy

For solid rectangular bars and box beams with A = cross-sectional

area (in2) and J = torsional constant (in4):

0.13 ry E
Lp  JA
MP
  M1   E 
L pd  0.12  0.076      ry
  M2    Fy 

 M1 is the smaller moment at the end of the unbraced length of the
beam and M2 is the larger moment at the end of the unbraced length,
 Ratio M1/M2 is positive when the moments cause the member to be
bent in double curvature and negative if they bend it in single
curvature
 Only steels with Fy ≤ 65 ksi may be considered. Higher-strength
steels may not be ductile.
Limits for Zone 1, 2 and 3
2
E Jc  0.7 Fy S x h0 
Lr 1.96rts 1  1  6.76  
0.7 Fy S x h0  E J c 

I y Cw
where rts2  h0  d  t f
Sx
h Iy
 0 Channels
c 2 Cw

1.0 W sections

Iy = Second moment of area about the weak axis (in4)

J = Torsional constant (polar second moment of area) (in 4)
Cw = Warping constant (in6)

The above constants are tabulated in part 1 of the AISC manual for all
standard cross-sections
Bending Strength of Compact Shapes
 YIELDING BEHAVIOR—FULL PLASTIC MOMENT - ZONE 1

if Lb  L p or Lb  L pd
b M n  0.90 Fy Z b M n  M u
 INELASTIC LATERAL TORSIONAL BUCKLING (LTB)- BENDING ZONE 2

if L p  Lb  Lr
 Lb  L p 
M n  Cb  M p  ( M p  M r )( )  M p
 Lr  L p 
M r  0.7 S x Fy
b M n  M u b  0.9
b M n  Cb b M px  BF ( Lb  L p )   b M p

BF numerical values in kips are given in Manual Table 3-2 for W shapes.
 ELASTIC LATERAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING (LTB) - BENDING ZONE 3

if Lb  Lr M n  Fcr S x  M p
2 2
Cb E J c  Lb 
Fcr  1  0.078  
 Lb  S x ho  rts 
 
 rts 
I y Cw
rts2  h0  d  t f
Sx
E = modulus of elasticity of steel = 29,000 ksi (200 000 MPa)
J = torsional constant, in.4 (mm4)
Sx = elastic section modulus taken about the x-axis, in.3 (mm3)
ho = distance between the flange centroids, in. (mm)
Cb Values
Where:
G = Shear modulus (for structural steel=11,200 ksi)
Cb = Factor to account for non-uniform bending within the unbraced
length Lb [different moment gradients affecting Lateral Torsional
Buckling (LTB)].

12.5 M max
Cb 
2.5 M max  3 M A  4 M B  3 M C

Mmax = largest moment in unbraced segment of a beam

MA = moment at the ¼ point
MB = moment at the ½ point
MC = moment at the ¾ point
Cb Values

For cantilever or overhang where

the free end is unbraced, Cb = 1.0
Bending Strength of Non-Compact Shapes
 Non-compact sections can be governed by:
 Lateral torsional buckling (LTB) (elastic or inelastic)

 Flange local buckling (FLB) (elastic or inelastic)

 Web local buckling (WLB) (elastic or inelastic)

 So if the section is non-compact, we need to

determine local buckling limits:

For all rolled sections

web is compact
Bending Strength of Non-Compact Shapes
 Determine capacity based on flange local buckling
bf
if  p    r 
2t f
   p 
M n  Cb  M p  ( M p  M r )( )  M p
 r   p 
M r  0.7 S x Fy b M n  M u b  0.9

 Determine capacity based on web local buckling

h
if  p    r 
tw
   p 
M n  Cb  M p  ( M p  M r )( )  M p
 r   p 
M r  0.7 S x Fy b M n  M u b  0.9
 Hot-Rolled Shapes

 All hot-rolled shapes in the AISC manual have

compact webs.

 Noncompact shapes are subject only to these limit

states:

 Lateral Torsional Buckling (LTB)

 Flange Local Buckling (FLB)

 Built-up welded shapes, however, could have

noncompact or even slender webs.
Summary of Moment Strength - Compact
if Lb  L p or Lb  L pd
b M n  0.90 Fy Z b M n  M u

if L p  Lb  Lr
 Lb  L p 
M n  Cb  M p  ( M p  M r )( )  M p , M r  0.7 Sx Fy
 Lr  L p 

b M n  Cb b M px  BF ( Lb  Lp )   b M p

if Lb  Lr M n  Fcr S x  M p
2
Cb E2
J c  Lb  2
I y Cw
Fcr  1  0.078   , rts  , h0  d  t f
 Lb  S x ho  rts  Sx
 
 rts 
 Summary of Moment Strength - Noncompact
If the section (flange) is non-compact Capacity is the smallest of FLB or LTB
bf h
 Flange local buckling (FLB) if  p    r  ,  
2t f tw
   p 
M n  Cb  M p  ( M p  M r )( )   M p , M r  0.7 S x Fy
 r   p 
 Lateral torsional buckling (LTB)
if Lb  L p or Lb  L pd b M n  0.90 Fy Z b M n  M u

if L p  Lb  Lr
 Lb  L p 
M n  Cb  M p  ( M p  M r )( )  M p , M r  0.7 S x Fy
 Lr  L p 

b M n  Cb b M px  BF ( Lb  L p )   b M p

if Lb  Lr M n  Fcr S x  M p
2
2
Cb E J c Lb  2
I y Cw
Fcr  1  0.078   , rts  , h0  d  t f
 Lb  S x ho  rts  Sx
 
 rts 
 Design of Beams, Zone 1
 Beams are generally designed so that they will provide
sufficient design moment capacities φMn and checked to
see if any of the following items are critical:
1. Shear
2. Deflections
3. Crippling
4. Lateral bracing for compression flanges
5. Fatigue
 The factored moment will be computed, and a section
having that much design moment capacity will be initially
selected from the LRFD Manual.
 Table 5-3 of the Manual, entitled “W Shaped Selection by
Zx can be used.
 From this table, steel shapes having sufficient plastic
moduli to resist certain moments can quickly be
selected.
 Design of Beams, Zone 1
 Two items to be considered when using the
LRFD table in selecting shapes:
1. Steel sections cost so many cents per pound and it is
therefore desirable to select the lightest possible shape
having the required plastic modulus. The table has
sections arranged in various groups having certain
ranges of plastic moduli. The heavily typed section at the
top of each group is the lightest in that group.
2. The plastic moduli values in the table are given about the
horizontal axes for beams in their upright positions. If a
beam is to be turned on its side, the proper plastic
modulus can be found in Table 5-3 of the Manual or
LRFD tables giving dimensions and properties of shapes
in Part 1 of the LRFD Manual. A W shape turned on its
side may only be 10 to 30 percent as strong as one in the
upright position when subjected to gravity loads.
 Beam Weight Estimates

 Beam design should include the weight of the

beam.

 However, because this information is not possibly

available before the design, a simple procedure or method
for estimating the beam weight should be used.

 This method involves:

1. Calculating the maximum factored bending moment Mu.
2. Select a section from LRFD Table 5-3.
3. Then, the weight of that section or a little bit more (since
the beam’s weight will increase the moment somewhat)
can be used as the estimated beam weight.
4. Finally, this estimated load can be added to the external
dead load acting on the beam.
DESIGN CHARTS

Part 3 of the AISC manual contains many

graphs, charts, and tables are available for
the practicing engineer which greatly
simplify the design process.

 For example:

 Zx Tables (Table 3-2)

 Available Moment Charts (Table 3-10)

 DESIGN CHARTS
 Table 3-10 on pg. 3-99 of the AISC manual (W Shapes
– Plots of Available Moment vs. unbraced length).
 In order to use Table 3-10 of AISC manual the following
should be taken into consideration:
 Mnx is plotted as a function of unbraced length, Lb, for W-shapes with
Fy = 50 ksi.
 The plots include the beam self weight
 Cb is taken as unity.
 When the plotted curve is solid, the W-shape for that curve is the
lightest cross-section for a given combination of available flexural
strength and unbraced length
 When the plotted curve is dashed, a lighter W-shape than that for
the plotted curve exists.
 The plotted curve is arbitrarily terminated at a span-to-depth ratio of
30 in most cases.
 Lp is indicated in each curve as a solid dot (), Lr is indicated in
each curve as an open dot ().
Available Moment Charts
Available Moment Charts
Use of Available Moment Charts
 To select a member, it is necessary to enter the chart only with the
unbraced length Lb and the factored design moment Mu.
 For an illustration, let's assume that Cb = 1.0, Fy = 50 ksi and that we
wish to select a beam with Lb = 18 ft, Mu = 544 ft-k .
 For this problem, the appropriate page from AISC Table 3-10 is
shown in Fig. 9.13.
 For the LRFD solution, we proceed up from the bottom of the chart
for an unbraced length Lb = 18 ft until we intersect a horizontal line
from the Mn column for Mu = 544 ft-k.
 Any section to the right and above this intersection point (/) will have
a greater unbraced length and a greater design moment capacity.
 Moving up and to the right, we first encounter the W16 X 89 and
W14 X 90 sections.
 In this area of the charts, these sections are shown with dashed
lines. The dashed lines indicate that the sections will provide the
necessary moment capacities, but are in an uneconomical range.
 If we proceed further upward and to the right, the first solid line
encountered will represent the lightest satisfactory section. In this
case, it is a W24 X 84.
Example 9.1

Select a beam section for the span and loading

shown in the figure, assuming full lateral support
is provided for the compression flange by the floor
slab above (that is Lb = 0) and Fy = 50 ksi.
Solution
Solution
Example 9.3
The 5-in reinforced-concrete slab shown in the figure is to
be supported with steel W sections 8 ft 0 in on centers. The
beams, which will span 20 ft, are assumed to be simply
supported. If the concrete slab is designed to support a live
load of 100 psf, determine the lightest steel section required
to support the slab. It is assumed that the compression
flange of the beam will be fully supported laterally by the
concrete slab. The concrete weighs 150
lb/ft3, and Fy = 50 ksi.
Example 2 …
22
Questions ?
 References
1. Structural Steel Design: Lecture Notes (2013), Hosiene Osman,
MSc., Lecturer University of UOS, UAE.
2. Structural Steel Design, LRFD Method, Jack C. McCormac and
James Nelson, 5th Edition, 2012 by Pearson Education
International.
3. Manual of Steel Construction, 14th Ed. (2010), American Institute
of Steel Construction (AISC).
4. Structural Steel Design: Lecture Notes (2013), Mohammad
AlHamaydeh, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.