1 – Full section Yielding (Lb ≤ Lp):

Mn = Mp = FyZx (AISC F 2.1)

2 – Inelastic Lateral Torsional Buckling ( Lp < Lb ≤ Lr ):

  L b  Lp  
Mn  Cb Mp Mp  0.7Fy S x    Mp  AISC F - 2.2 
 L  L 
  r p 

3 – Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling (Lr < Lb):

Mn = Fcr Sx ≤ Mp (AISC F-2.3)

2 2
where: Cb π 2E JC Lb  
Fcr  1  0.078  
 Lb  S  ho  rts 
 
 rts 
J = Torsional constant (in4).
ho = Distance between flanges centroids (in).
C = 1.0 for w shapes.
rts = radius of gyration of the compression flange plus one-sixth of the web. B-14
 (Cb)
Equations (F 2.2) & (F2.4) for compact beams affected by lateral
torsional buckling, require the introduction of the “Moment Gradient
Factor” (Cb) for non-uniform bending moment values between the lateral
bracing points for (Lb). AISC provides value for Cb as:

The effect of Cb on Nominal

Strength is shown below:

B-15
 (Cb)
Example B - 5
Determine (Cb) for a uniformly loaded, simply supported beam
with lateral supports at its ends only.

Solution
wL2
Mmax  MB 
8
wL  L  WL  L  wL2 wL2 3wL2
M A  Mc       
2 4 4 8 8 32 32
12Mmax
 Cb 
2.5Mmax  3MA  4MB  3Mc
12.5   18 
 1
2.5 8   3   32   4   8   3   32 
1 3 1 3

 1.14
B-16
 (Cb)

For unbraced cantilever beams,

AISC recommends the value of Cb
= 1.0. A value of Cb = 1.0 is
always conservative and
represent uniform banding
throughout the unbraced length
(Lb), (See Table 3-1) AISC.

B-17
 Example B - 6
Determine the design strength (b Mn) for W14  68 made of A-572-Gr50 steel and:
A) Continuous lateral support.
B) Unbraced length = 20 ft, Cb = 1.0
C) Unbraced length = 20 ft, Cb = 1.75
Solution
A) Check compactness:
bf 65 web is always compact !
 7.0   9.2  Mn = Mp = FyZ = 20  115 = 5750 in·k = 479 ft·k.
2t f 50
b Mn = 0.9  479 = 431 ft·k.
B) Lb  20ft Cb  1.0
E 300r y 300  2.46
Lp  1.76 ry    104.4in.  8.70ft.
Fy Fy 50
E 640 rts 640  2.8
Lr  π rts    253.2in.  21.1ft.
0.7Fy Fy 50 B-18
 Continued:

Since Lp < (Lb = 20 ft) < Lr

 Equation F – 2.2 controls:
 Lb  Lp 
Mn  Cb Mp   Mp  0.7FySx    Mp
 Lr  Lp 
  103  20  8.7 
 1.0 479   479  0.7  50   
  12  21.1  8.7 
 316.25ft  k  Mp  O.K.
b Mn = 0.9  316.25 = 284.6 ft·kip.

C) For Cb = 1.75, other conditions unchanged:

 Mn = 1.75  316.25 = 553.4 ft·k.
Since Mn ≤ Mp,
then Mn = Mp = 479 ft·k
bMn = 0.9  479 =431 ft·k. B-19
Example B - 7
A simply supported beam of span = 20ft is to carry static dead load of (1.0
k/ft) and a live load of (2.0 k/ft) in addition to its own dead weight. The flange
is laterally supported at support points only. Select the most economical W
shape using A572-Gr50 steel. w
Solution
Estimate self weight = 0.06 k/ft. L = 20 ft
Wu = 1.2 x 1.06 + 1.6 x 2 = 4.47 k/ft
Wul2 4.47x(20)2 Check your selection:
Mu    223.6 k/ft
8 8 From Load Factor Design
Determine (Cb) for UDL = 1.14 (see B-16) Selection Table 3.2 in AISC
bMn  Mu  bMn  224 k.ft (page 3-17) :
Enter Beam Design Moments Chart at AISC Zx = 77.9 in3 ,
for Lb = 20 ft, and bMn = 234, select: W12 x 53 Lp = 8.76 ft , Lr = 28.2 ft.
(page 3.126 but for Cb = 1.0) B-20
 Since Lp<(Lb=20 ft) < Lr

then : equation ( F-2 – 2b AISC)

  L b  Lp  
Mn  Cb Mp  Mp  0.7 Fy S x    Mp
 L L 
where   r p 
Cb = 1.14
Mp = FyZx = 50x77.9 = 3895 k. in = 324.6 k·ft.
Sx = 70.6 in3
  70.6  20  8.8 
Mn  1.14 324.6   324.6  0.7 x 50 x  
  12  28.2  8.8 
 1.14  324.6  (118.7)(0. 58  Mp
 291.9  292 k  ft  324.6 k  ft OK

bMn = 0.9 x 292 = 262.7  (Mu = 223.6 k·ft) OK

B-21
 As noted earlier, most W,M & S shapes are compact for Fy = 36 ksi and Fy =
50 ksi , very few sections are non-compact because of their flanges, but non
are slender. The effect of non-compact flange is recognized in the AISC as the
smaller value of LTB (AISC F 2.2) and

  λ  λ PF 
Mn Mp  Mp  0.7 Fy S x  (AISC F3 - 1)
  λ rf  λ PF 
where
bf
λ
2t f
65
λ pf  λ p as given in table B4.1 
Fy
170
λ rf  λ r as given in table B4.1 
Fy
B-22
Example B - 8
A simple supported beam with span = 45 ft is laterally supported at ends only ,
and is subject to the following service loading:
D.L. = 0.4 k/ft ( including self wt.)
L.L = 0.7 k/ft

Is W 14 x 90 made of A572-Gr50 steel adequate ?

Solution
Wu = 1.2 x 0.4 = 1.6 k·ft 1 4.6
Mu  WuL2  x (45)2  405 k  ft.
8 8
b
λ  f  10.2 (properties, part 1)
2t f
65
λp   9.19
Fy
170
λr   24.0
Fy B-23
  p <  <  r The shape is non-compact.
Section properties:
Zx = 157 in3 , Sx = 143 in3 (properties 1)
Lp = 15.2 ft , Lr = 42.6 ft (Table 3.2 p. 3.16)

50x157
Mp  Fy Z x   654.2 k  ft
12
 λ  λ PF 
Mn  Mp  Mp  6.7 Fy S x   AISC F3 - 1
 λ rf  λ PF 
 Now we check the
 10.2  9.2 
 654.2 - (654.2 - 417.1)  capacity due to LTB:
 24  9.2 
 638.2 k  ft Lr < ( Lb = 45 ft)
 Elsatic LTB controls
bMn = 0.9 x 638.2 = 574.4  Mu OK
B-24
Mn = Fcr Sx  Mp
2
Cb π 2E JC  Lb 
Fcr  2
1  0.078   (F - 2 - 4)
 Lb  S x ho  rts 
 
 rts 
Cb  1.14
 Lb  45x12
    131.4
r
 ts  4.11
J  4.06 in4
C1 (for W shapes)
ho  13.3

 Fcr  18.9 1  2.875  37.2 ksi

37.2  143
Mn  Fcr S x   443 k  ft
12

bMn = 398.7 k. ft < 405 k·ft (probably this beam is O.K.).

B-25