Beams are an essential element of

any structure, they carry loadings

B
transversely applied to their axis. Various A

types of beams are encountered in the M

steel construction industry such as:
Girders, joists, purlins, stingers, girts and V
RA
lintels are among the various components (a)

in a structure acting as “beams”. fb

W,M and S shapes are most popular for

c
beams single or double C shapes are y y M
x x
sometimes used.
My
fb 
Ix (b)
fmax
Mc M M
f max   
Ix Ix c S x where:
Sx = Elastic Section Modulus B-1
 ( M  My )
a) M < My

moment f < Fy

b) My = FySx

Sx = Elastic section Modulus (a)

f = Fy

c) My< M < Mp (b)

Fy

d) Mp = Fy Z (c)
Fy

where: A
  (d)
 a
Z=  2  = Plastic Section Modulus. Fy

C = AcFy

a = distance between centroids of two half a

areas (Use T – section properties) Plastic

neutral axis T = AtFy
Fy
B-2
 Calculation of My & Mp
Example B - 1
For the built-up shape shown below, Determine
A) Elastic Section Modulus (Sx). B) Yield Moment (My).
C) Plastic section Modulus (Z). D) Plastic Moment (Mp).
Use A 572 – Gr 50 steel?
Solution:
A) The elastic section modulus is
I 749.4 749.4
Sx     107 in.3
c 1  (12/2) 7
B) My  Fy S x  50  107  5350 in - kip
ΣAy 61
C) y   5.545 in.
ΣA 11
a  2 y  2  5.545  11.09 in.
Z  A2 a  11  11.09  122 in3
D) Mp  Fy Z  50  122  6100 in - kip.
B-3
 My & Mp for rolled sections
Example B - 2
Calculate My & Mp for W 10x60 of A-36 steel.
Solution:
My = Fy Sx = 36 x 66.7 = 2401.2 in-kip.
A  17.6 in2
A 17.6
  8.8 in2
2 2
From WT shapes cut from W shapes (WT 5x30)
a  (d - 2 x y)  10.22 - 2  0.884  8.452 in
A
Z   a  8.8  8.452  74.38 in2
2
Mp  Z Fy  74.38  36  2678 in  kip.
B-4
LFRD approach for bending:
M u ≤ b M n
where,
Mu = controlling combination of factored load moments.
b = resistance factor for beams = 0.90
Mn = normal moment strength of the beam
If the beam is allowed to reach the fully plastic stage, then;

Mn = Mp
 As the case with columns, the compression flange could buckle,
but the restraining tension flange will cause the compression
flange to buckle in “Lateral – Torsional Buckling” (LTB) mode.
This can be reduced or eliminated by laterally supporting the
compression flange.
B-5
 It is also possible that elements of the compression flange will
buckle prior to over-all yielding of section, this is called “Flange
Load Buckling” (FLB), or the compression part of the web could
buckle locally under “Web Local Buckling” (WLB). The controlling
factor for FLB & WLB are the width-thickness ratios of the
compression elements.

 Remember that the flanges of (I, W & S) shapes are unstiffened

elements, while the webs are stiffened elements.

B-6
 AISC classifies shapes subjected to full compression or to partial
compression due to bending as: compact (C) non-compact (NC) or
slender (S); depending on their

 bf   h 
λ   or    Width to thickness ratio.
 2t f   t w 
λ p  Upper limit for compact shapes. This table is summary of
Table B 4.1 (page 16.1-16)
λ r  Upper limit for non-compact shapes.
So : Width-Thickness Parameters*

if λ  λ p the shape is “compact” (C). Element  p r

bf 65 170
λ p  λ  λ r the shape is “non-compact” (NC). Flange
2t f Fy Fy
λ  λ r the shape is “slender” (S). h 640 970
Web tw Fy Fy
*For hot-rolled I and H-shapes in flexure.
B-7
 Local Buckling Criteria (B-4)
(p r)

Columns in BEAMS in Flexure

compression (chapter F)
(chapter E) (W, M & S) shapes only

Compact or Slender Compact Flanges Non-compact Flanges Slender Flanges

Non-compact (Q-Factor) Compact Webs (compact webs) (compact webs)
(AISC E-3) (AISC E-7) (AISC F-2) (AISC F-3-1) (AISC F-3-2)

Non-compact webs Slender webs

(AISC F-4) (AISC F-5)
-Not included- -Not included-
B-8
A compact shape (W,M, S or C) is defined as with webs constantly
attached to flanges, and satisfies:

bf 65 h 640
 & 
2t f Fy tw Fy

Most rolled shapes satisfy the compact criteria,

and if the unbraced length (Lb) is very short (or zero)

then :

Mn = Mp = Fyz (AISC F2.1)

B-9
Example B - 3
Check the adequacy of W 16 x 31 made of A-36 steel to support a reinforced
concrete slab with a service dead load of 450 lb/ft in addition to a service live
load of 550 lb/ft. w = 450 lb/ft
D
Solution: wL = 550 lb/ft
30'
wD = 450 + 31 = 481 ib/ft (including self wt.)
wu = 1.2 wD + 1.6 wL = 1.2 x 0.481 + 1.6 x 0.550 = 1.457 k/ft
Mu = ⅛ wuL2 = ⅛ x 1.457 x (30)2 = 164 k·ft.
Check Compactness:
Mn = MP = Fyz = 36 x 54 = 1944 k·in = 162k·ft
bf 65
 6.28   10.8
2t f Fy b Mn = 0.9 x 162 = 146 ft·k < 164 ft·k (N.G.)
h 640 O.K.
 51.6   106.7
tw Fy

B-10
Example B - 4
Select the lightest (W) or (M) shape to resist a uniformly distributed dead load of
(0.2) kip/ft and live load of (0.8) kip/ft. The beam is simply supported and the
compression flange is fully braced (Lb = 0). Use a) A-36steel
b) A572 – Gr 50 steel
Solution: w
Wu = 1.2WD + 1.6WL = 1.2 x 0.2 + 1.6 x 0.8 = 1.52 k/ft
WuL2 1.52  (20)2 20'
Mu    76k  ft (not including beam wt.)
8 8
a) A-36 steel :- wL2
Mmax  8
bMn = bMP = bFyZx ≥ Mu
W 12 × 22 Zx = 29.3 in3 Best
Mu 76  12
 Z x reqd.    28.1in3 Choice
φbFy 0.9  36 W 10 × 26 Zx = 31.3 in3
W 8 × 31 Zx = 30.4 in3
Select W12 x 22 (A-36 Steel) B-11
 Check Compactness: Check strength including self weight:
bf 65  Wu  1.2  0.222   1.6  0.8   1.55 k ft .
 4.7   10.8 
2t f Fy 
OK  WuL2
h 640 Mu   77.5k  ft.
 41.8   107  8
tw Fy 
Mn = 0.9 × 29.3 × 36/12 = 79.1 k·ft > Mu (O.K.)

b) A-572- Gr 50 steel Mu 76  12
Required Z x    20.3in3
bFy 0.9  50
Select W10 x 19 (Zx = 21.6 in3). (LFRD Table 3-2)
Check Compactness:
bf 65 
 5.1   9.2 
2t f Fy 
OK  Check strength:
h 640
 35.4   90.5 bFyZx = 0.9 × 21.6 × 50/12 = 81 k·ft (O.K.)
tw Fy  B-12
 (Lb)
The moment strength of compact shape is a function of the unbraced
length (Lb), defined as the distance between points of lateral support
(denoted by x).

 If Lb ≤ Lp  Full Plastic Moment (Mp)

 If Lp < Lb ≤ Lr  In elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
 If Lr < Lb  Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
where: L  1.76 r E
p y Fy (AISC F-2.5)

Lr  π rts E
0.7Fy (AISC F-2.6)
B-13
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: 2
Cb π E 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