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STEEL CONSTRUCTION:
ELEMENTS

Lecture 7.6: Built-up Columns

OBJECTIVE/SCOPE
To derive the equations for the buckling loads of built-up columns and to present the
design methods used in Eurocode 3 [1].
PREREQUISITES
Lectures 6: Applied Stability
Lectures 7.5: Columns
RELATE WORKED EXAMPLES
Worked Example 7.6: Built-Up Columns
SUMMARY
This lecture is divided into two main parts; the first part concentrates on the influence of
shear deformations on the elastic critical loads and on the slenderness of columns (this
effect is crucial for built-up columns and secondary for solid columns - rolled or welded
shapes); the second part deals with the design approach adopted in Eurocode 3 [1] which
is related to experimental behaviour.

1. INTRODUCTION
Built-up columns are widely used in steel construction especially when the effective
lengths are great and the compression forces light. They are composed of two or more
parallel main components interconnected by lacing or batten plates (Figures 1 and 2). The
greater the distance between the chord axes, the greater is the moment of inertia of the
built-up cross section; the increase in stiffness, however, is counterbalanced by the
increased weight and cost of the connection of members.

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It should be noted that built-up columns (especially battened built-up columns) are more
flexible than solid columns with the same moment of inertia; this must be taken into
account in the design.
In order to derive the carrying capacity of steel built-up columns, the following must be
studied:

the elastic buckling load and the global behaviour;

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the local behaviour of the chords;

the internal forces in the connecting members.

2. THE EFFECT OF SHEAR DEFORMATIONS ON

THE ELASTIC CRITICAL COLUMN LOAD
This section discusses the effect of shear deformation on the elastic critical column load.
The simple case of a pin-ended column, shown in Figure 3, is considered; for M, N, V, x
and y, as defined in this Figure, the following relationships hold:

M = N y,

(2.1)

The total lateral deflection y of the centreline is the result of two components:
y = y1 + y2

(2.2)

the bending moment M gives rise to the deflection y1, and the shearing force V to the
additional deflection y2.
According to elastic theory the curvature due to the bending moment M is as follows:

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(2.3)
where
E - is the modulus of elasticity or Young's modulus.
I - is the moment of inertia of the cross-section.
The slope due to the shearing force V is as follows:

(2.4)
where
A - is the cross-sectional area.
G - is the modulus of rigidity or shear modulus.
- is the shape factor of the column cross-section ( =1,11 for solid circular
cross-sections; = 1,2 for rectangular cross-sections).
The curvature due to the effect of the shearing force V is as follows:

(2.5)
The total curvature of the buckling curve is due both to the bending moment, Equation
(2.3), and to the shearing force, Equation (2.5):

(2.6)
It is possible to rearrange Equation (2.6) in the form:

(2.7)
Adopting the same procedure as in the Euler case, the critical load is defined by the
equation:

(2.8)

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Solving for N, the following expression for the elastic critical load Ncr,id is obtained:

(2.9)
where:

Ncr =

Sv =

- is the Euler buckling load obtained disregarding the deformations

due to shearing force

- is the shear stiffness of the column.

Obviously Ncr,id < Ncr ; the greater the ratio Ncr / Sv, the smaller the ratio Ncr,id/ Ncr < 1.
The ratio Ncr,id / Ncr obtained from Equation (2.9) is plotted, in Figure 4, as a function of
the ratio Ncr / Sv.

For solid rolled cross-sections the shear stiffness Sv is much greater than N. The
difference between Ncr,id and Ncr is very small therefore, and can be disregarded for
design purposes.
However, as will be shown below, the shear stiffness Sv, of built-up columns, is much
smaller than it is for solid shapes; in this case, therefore, the influence of the shearing
forces on the reduction of the critical load is very significant.

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In order to compare the shear stiffness Sv to the Euler buckling loads of solid columns Ncr,
consider as an example a HE200A column buckling in the plane of the web.
The shear stiffness Sv is as follows:

Sv =
E = 200 kNmm-2
= 0,3
Aw = the area of the web = 6,5 x 170 = 1105 mm2
The Euler buckling load Ncr is:

Ncr =
where:
A - is the cross-sectional area = 5380 mm2.
- is the slenderness of the column.
In Table 1 the critical buckling loads Ncr,id, the Euler buckling loads Ncr, and the ratios
Ncr / Sv are given as functions of the slenderness; it clearly shows that in the case of solid
cross-sections, Ncr is always far smaller than Sv; therefore, for technical purposes, it is
possible to disregard the influence of the shear deformations on the elastic buckling loads
Ncr,id.

3. EVALUATION OF THE SHEAR STIFFNESS OF

LACED AND BATTENED COLUMNS
3.1 Laced Columns
In laced columns the elastic extension of the diagonals and the horizontals must be
considered in order to derive the shear stiffness Sv; the elongation of the chords (the main
components) should not be taken into account, because they are already considered in the
global flexural stiffness E I of the built-up column.
With an N-shape arrangement of lacing, as shown in Figure 5, the elongations of one
diagonal and of one horizontal are taken into account in order to derive Sv:

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1/Sv = /a =

(3.1)
where - is the lateral displacement due to the unit shearing force.
The total displacement is the result of two components: 1 is the contribution from the
elongation of the diagonal; 2 is the contribution from the shortening of the horizontal.
From virtual work theory:

Thus, for one plane of lacing:

(3.2)
With an A shape arrangement of lacing, as shown in Figure 6:

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Therefore:

(3.3)
The cross-bracings, shown in Figure 7, have the same shear stiffness, because the
horizontals do not take part in the transmission of the shearing force:

and the shear stiffness is:

(3.4)

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3.2 Battened Built-up Columns

For battened built-up columns, as shown in Figure 8, the flexural deformations both of the
chords and of the battens must be considered in order to derive the shear stiffness Sv; as is
the case for laced built-up columns, the extensions of the main chords are not considered
because their contributions appear in the global flexural stiffness E I.

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Adopting the virtual work method, the displacement due to unit shearing force is
obtained:

and the shear stiffness is:

(3.5)
where Ic - is the in-plane second moment of area of one chord.
Ib - is the in-plane second moment of area of one batten.
The above formula may be refined by taking into account the deformations due to the
shearing force in the battens.

3.3 Quantitative Comparison

Table 2 gives a comparison of the shear stiffness Sv for a solid column and three different
built-up columns; the global dimensions of the cross-sections and the weights of steel per
unit length are kept constant.
The solid column (a) is made up of two HE400A shapes each welded to a common plate
8mm thick x 1000mm wide.
Built-up columns (b) and (c) are laced: the chords are HE400A shapes and there are two
planes of lacing with 100 10 equal angles.

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Built-up column (d) is with batten plates: the same shape HE400A as above is adopted for
the chords; the batten plates, which have rectangular cross-section 400 20mm, are on
two planes.
Whereas the steel employed in the web and in the connecting members has almost the
same weight in the four columns, Table 2 shows that the shear stiffness Sv has a wide
range of variation.

4. THE ELASTIC CRITICAL LOADS OF BUILT-UP

COLUMNS
For design purposes the elastic critical loads of built-up columns can be obtained from
Equation (2.9): that is, it is possible to assume a continuous distribution of the shear
stiffness Sv if the number of panels is greater than or equal to six; if not, more complex
analysis, with methods suitable for frames, has to be performed (for further reading on
this topic see (1, 2, and 3).
By introducing formulae for the shear stiffness Sv (3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5) in Equation (2.9),
it is easy to derive, for the various types of lacings and battens, specific formulae for the
elastic critical loads Ncr,id and, as a consequence, for the effective length of built-up
columns; formulae of this type are widely adopted in the European codes and standards
for steel construction.
The details of the analytical procedure are now outlined.
When the lacing is N shaped (as shown in Figure 5), the expression for the shear stiffness
Sv (3.2) is substituted in Equation (2.9), where:
Ncr = 2 E I / l2 is the Euler critical load, as for a solid column.
I = 2 Ic + Ac h2, is the moment of inertia of the built-up cross-section.
Ac is the cross-sectional area of the chords.
Ic is the relevant moment of inertia of the chords.
Substitution gives the following:

(4.1)
By introducing the slenderness for the column without shear deformations, such that:
2 = 1/ 2 = 2 Ac l2 /I

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the elastic critical stress cr,id, for the built-up column becomes:

(4.2)
where:

(4.3)
is the equivalent slenderness of the built-up column.
Following the same procedure, when simple A bracing (Figure 6) is adopted, the
equivalent slenderness of the column is:

(4.4)
For cross-bracing (Figure 7):

(4.5)
Finally, for battened built-up columns (Figure 8), the equivalent slenderness is:

(4.6)
If the batten plates are very stiff, their flexural deformations may be disregarded and it is
possible to put:

in Equation (4.6).

In this case the equivalent slenderness of battened built-up columns becomes:

eq = {2 + 2Aca2 /(12Ic)} = {2 + 212 /12}

(4.7)

where 1 - is the local slenderness of the chords between the centrelines of the batten
plates.

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5. THE BEARING CAPACITY OF STEEL BUILT-UP

COLUMNS AND THE DESIGN PHILOSOPHY OF
EUROCODE 3
The experimental behaviour of a steel built-up column (with batten plates) [2] in a
compression test up to collapse, is summarised in Figure 9.

in Figure 9(a) the lateral displacement v at midspan is plotted as a function of the

applied external compression load Ni.
in Figure 9(b) the axial forces N1 and N2 in the chords at midspan are plotted as a
function of the compression load Ni.
finally in Figure 9(c) the shearing forces in the batten plates are plotted, and in
Figure 9(d) the distribution of the shearing forces in the battens is shown.

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Due to the initial geometrical imperfections and residual stresses, the lateral
displacements increase with the applied load more and more rapidly up to the bearing
capacity Ncr of the column; the presence of lateral displacements explains why one chord
is more compressed than the other, which tends to unload after it has reached maximum
compression.
In the batten plate at the end, the framing effect is smaller than in the next internal one,
because of the presence of only half a field.
The maximum carrying capacity of the built-up column is reached when one of the
following possibilities occurs:

at mid-span the more compressed chord buckles.

at the end a chord fails by compression and flexure.
a batten-plate and/or its connection to the chords fails by shear and flexure.

The main features of the experimental behaviour of a built-up compression member

summarised above may be represented by a simple elastic column with equivalent initial
geometrical imperfections and shear flexibility (Figure 10).

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The design philosophy of Eurocode 3 [1] is based on this simple model: it is assumed that
in the initial unloaded state the column is not perfectly straight and that the initial
deflection y (x) is given by a sine curve for a pin-ended member:
yo (x) = wo sin ( x / l)

(5.1)

where
wo - is the equivalent geometrical out of straightness at mid-span
(wo = 0,002l = l / 500);
l - is the length of the pin-ended column.
When the design axial load N is applied to the built-up column the initial geometrical
imperfection is then amplified elastically; the lateral displacements in the equivalent state
are:

sin ( x / l)

(5.2)

where, in Equation (5.2), Ncr,id is the elastic critical load of the built-up column as given
in Section 4.
At mid-span of the built-up column, the axial force is N and the bending moment M
equals:

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(5.3)
The axial force Nf in the most loaded chord is:

(5.4)
The buckling resistance of the chords NRd must be greater than Nf:
NRd Nf

(5.5)

In laced built-up columns the effective length of the chords is taken equal to the system
length between lacing connections; in battened built-up columns (for the sake of
simplicity and disregarding any possible end restraint) the effective length of the chords is
taken equal to the distance between the centre lines of the battens.
The shearing force V at the ends of a built-up column is given by:

(5.6)
The forces in the lacing members and in the chords adjacent to the ends are derived from
the shearing force V and from the axial force N.
The battens, their connections to the chords, and the chords themselves are checked for
the moments and forces due to the shearing force V and the axial force N as shown in
Figure 11.

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The design philosophy of Eurocode 3 [1] may be summarized in the following six steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.

derive the design axial load.

derive the flexural stiffness and the shear stiffness of the built-up columns.
derive the elastic critical load of the built-up column.
compute the design bending moment at midspan and the design shear force at the
ends of the built-up-column.
5. check the buckling strength of the chords at midspan.
6. check the strength of the web members and of their connections to the chords for
the most loaded panel at the ends.

6. CONCLUDING SUMMARY

The bearing capacity of built-up columns is largely affected by the shear

deformations.
It is possible to study the behaviour of built-up columns using a simple elastic
model.
Because of shear deformations the initial lack of straightness of the column is
strongly amplified.
The design method proposed in Eurocode 3 is based on the above approach.

7. REFERENCES
[1] Eurocode 3: "Design of Steel Structures": ENV 1993-1-1: Part 1.1: General rules and
rules for buildings, CEN, 1992.
[2] Ballio, G. & Mazzolani, F. M., "Theory and Design of Steel Structures", Chapmann
and Hall, New York, 1983.

8. ADDITIONAL READING
1. Bleich, F., "Buckling Strength of Metal Structures", McGraw Hill, New York,
1952.
2. Timoshenko, S., "Theory of Elastic Stability", McGraw Hill, New York, 1936.
3. Galambos, Th. V., "Guide to Stability Design Criteria for Metal Structures Fourth Edition", J. Wiley & Sons, New York, 1988.

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Table 1 Example of the influence of shear flexibility on stability

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

Ncr,id (MN)

1,63

1,29

1,05

0,869

0,731

0,624

0,538

Ncr (MN)

1,66

1,31

1,06

0,878

0,738

0,628

0,542

Ncr / Sv

0,020

0,015

0,12

0,010

0,009

0,007

0,006

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Table 2 Examples of shear stiffnesses for solid, laced and battened columns

a)
Shear stiffness

Sv =
E = 20 MN cm-2 = 0,3
Aw = 100 x 0,8 = 80 cm2

Sv =
Volume and mass of steel
V = 0,8 x 100 x 100 = 8000 cm3 m-1
W = Ys V = 0,00785 x 8000 = 63 kg m-1

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Table 2 - Continued
b)
Shear Stiffness

Sv =
L 100 10 Ad = 19,2 cm2
h = 100 cm a = 115,5 / 2 = 57,75 cm
d = 2 a = 115,5 cm

Sv =
Volume and mass of steel
V = 19,2 x 115,5 x 4 / 1,155 = 7680 cm3 m-1
W = 0,00785 x 7680 = 60 kg m-1
c)
Shear Stiffness

Sv =
Ad = Ao = 19,2 cm2
h = 100 cm a = 115,5 cm
d = (a2 + h2)0,5 = 152,8 cm

Sv =
Volume and mass of steel
V = 19,2 x (100 + 152,8) x 2 / 1,155 = 8405 cm3 m-1
W = 0,00785 x 8405 = 66 kg m-1

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Table 2 - Continued
d)
Shear Stiffness

Sv =
Ic = 8564 cm4 H E 400 A
Ib = 403 x 2 x 2 / 12 = 21333 cm4
a = 200 cm h = 100 cm

Sv =
Volume and mass of steel
V = 2 x 40 x 100 x 2/2 = 8000 cm3
W = 0,00785 * 8000 = 63 kg m-1
Shear Stiffness

Mass of Steel

Sv

(MN)

(kg m-1)

a) Web 8 1000

615

63

b) Lacing L 100 10

288

60

c) Lacing L 100 10

194

66

d) Batten plates 400 20

73

63