Tutorial 3: Cross-section and member compression
resistance- Solutions
1. The structural plan for the roof of a single storey building is shown in Figure 1. The
permanent (dead) load from the roof slab is 2.5 kN/m 2 and the variable imposed load is 1.5
kN/m2. It may be assumed that simple beam-to-beam and beam-to-column connections exist.
The unfactored self-weight of the beams may be assumed as 0.4 kN/m and 0.8 kN/m for the
secondary and primary beams, respectively. The height of the floor is 4.5 m. Steel S275 is used
for all structural steelwork. It is required to choose a suitable UC section for column C1 and
check its adequacy to carry the applied load. The column may be assumed as pin ended. (note:
the design loads were determined in Tutorial sheet 1, and you may use those)
10×2.0 m = 20.0 m
Span direction
2×5.0 m = 10.0 m
C4 B4 C1
B1 B2
C3 B3 C2
Figure 1: Structural plan for the roof.
Solutions
Choose a suitable UC section for column C1 and check its adequacy to carry the applied
load. The column may be assumed as pin ended.
Design Load NEd
From tutorial sheet 1, the design load in column C1 is: NEd = 305.60 kN
Selecting a trial section
Setting Nb,Rd = NEd = 305.60 kN and χ = 0.4 and fy = 275 N/mm2.
Note: Selection of a suitable section is done on a trial and error basis. we will initially assume
a value for χ in the range of e.g. 0.4-0.5 to help us get an initial estimate for the required
cross-sectional area of the column. We will then calculate the actual value of χ, determine
the member bucking resistance and if required refine our section selection.
1
The minimum required cross-sectional area is:
NEd 305.60 × 103
Arequired = = = 2773 mm2
χfy 0.4 × 275
From the section Tables, 152×152×30 UKC (A = 38.3 cm 2) will be tried.
Section properties
b
tw h = 157.6 mm A = 3830 mm2
b = 152.9 mm Iy = 17480000 mm4
h d y-y tf = 9.4 mm Iz = 5600000 mm4
tw = 6.5 mm
r
r = 7.6 mm
tf
z-z
For a nominal material thickness (t = 9.4 mm) of less than or equal to 40 mm the nominal
values of yield strength fy for grade S275 steel is found from EN 1993-1-1 to be 275 N/mm2.
The modulus of elasticity: E = 210000 N/mm2
Cross-section classification (clause 5.5.2)
ε = √235 ⁄fy = √235/275 = 0.92
Flange – outstand part in compression (Table 5.2, sheet 2)
cf = (b − t w − 2r)⁄2 = (152.9 − 6.5 − 2 × 7.6)/2 = 65.6 mm
cf /t f = 65.6/9.4 = 6.98
Limit for Class 1 flange = 9ε = 8.32 > 6.98 ∴ Flange is Class 1
Web – internal part in compression (Table 5.2, sheet 1)
cw = h − 2t f − 2r = 157.6 − (2 × 9.4) − (2 × 7.6) = 123.6 mm
cw /t w = 123.6/6.5 = 19.02
Limit for Class 1 web = 33ε = 30.51 > 19.02 ∴ Web is Class 1
Overall cross-section classification is therefore Class 1 (pure compression).
Compression resistance of cross-section (clause 6.2.4):
The design compression resistance of the cross-section Nc,Rd
Afy
Nc,Rd = for Class 1, 2 or 3 cross-sections
γM0
3830 × 275
Nc,Rd = = 1053.3 kN > 305.60 kN ∴ Cross-section resistaince is OK
1.0
2
Member buckling resistance in compression (clause 6.3.1)
χAfy
Nb,Rd = for Class 1, 2 and 3 cross-sections
γM1
1
χ= but 𝜒 ≤ 1.0
ϕ + √ϕ2 − λ̅2
where, ϕ = 0.5[1 + α(λ̅ − 0.2) + λ̅2 ]
Afy
λ̅ = √ For Class 1, 2 or 3 cross-sections.
Ncr
Elastic critical force and non-dimensional slenderness for flexural buckling
For buckling about both the major (y-y) and minor (z-z) axes, Lcr should be taken as 1.0 times
the actual length of the column, since the column has pinned end conditions.
π2 EIy π2 × 210000 × 17480000
Ncr,y = 2 = = 1789 × 103 N = 1789 kN
Lcr 45002
3830 × 275
∴ λ̅y = √ = 0.77
1789 × 103
π2 EI𝑧 π2 × 210000 × 5600000
Ncr,z = = = 573.2 × 103 N = 573.2 kN
L2cr 45002
3830 × 275
∴ λ̅𝑧 = √ = 1.36
573.2 × 103
Selection of buckling curve and imperfection factor α
For a rolled section with h/b < 1.2 and tf < 100 mm , from Table 6.2 of EN 1993-1-1, use:
• buckling curve b for major axis buckling
• buckling curve c for minor axis buckling
For buckling curve b, α = 0.34 (Table 6.1).
For buckling curve c, α = 0.49 (Table 6.1).
Member buckling resistance – Major (y-y) axis
ϕy = 0.5[1 + 0.34(0.77 − 0.2) + 0.772 ] = 0.89
1
χy = = 0.74
0.89 + √0.892 − 0.772
0.74 × 3830 × 275
Nb,y,Rd = = 788.2 × 103 N = 788.2 kN
1.0
788.2 kN > 305.60 kN ∴ Major axis flexural buckling resistance is OK
3
Member buckling resistance – Minor (z-z) axis
ϕ𝑧 = 0.5[1 + 0.49(1.36 − 0.2) + 1.362 ] = 1.70
1
χ𝑧 = = 0.37
1.70 + √1.702 − 1.362
0.37 × 3830 × 275
Nb,z,Rd = = 389.7 × 103 N = 389.7 kN
1.0
389.7 kN > 305.60 kN ∴ Minor axis flexural buckling resistance is OK
Utilisation ratio = 0.78
2. A 254×254×89 UKC in grade S275 steel is to be used as a 12.0 m column with pin ends and
intermediate lateral braces providing restraint against minor axis buckling at third points
along the column length as shown in Figure 2. The column is required to carry a design axial
compressive load of 1280 kN. Check the adequacy of the column according to EN 1993-1-1.
NEd NEd
4m
12 m
4m
4m
z y
y
z
Figure 2: Pin-ended column with intermediate lateral restraint.
Solutions
Material properties
For tf = 17.3 mm <= 40 mm, the nominal values of yield strength f y for grade S275 steel is
found from EN 1993-1-1 to be 275 N/mm2. The Young’s modulus E = 210000 N/mm2.
Cross-section classification
ε = √235 ⁄fy = √235/275 = 0.93
• Flange – outstand part in compression (Table 5.2, sheet 2)
cf = (b − 2r − t w )/2 = (256.3 − 2 × 12.7 − 10.3)/2 = 110.3mm
(c/t)f = 110.3/17.3 = 6.37
Limit for Class 1 flange = 9ε = 8.32 > 6.37 ∴ Flange is Class 1
4
• Web – internal part in compression (Table 5.2, sheet 1)
cw = h − 2t f − 2r = 260.3 − (2 × 17.3) − (2 × 12.7) = 200.3 mm
(c/t)w = 200.3/10.3 = 19.45
Limit for Class 1 web = 33ε = 26.85 > 19.45 ∴ Web is Class 1
• Overall cross-section classification is therefore Class 1 (pure compression).
Cross-section compression resistance
The design compression resistance of the cross-section Nc,Rd
Afy
Nc,Rd = for Class 1, 2 or 3 cross-sections
γM0
11300 × 275
Nc,Rd = = 3108000 N = 3108 kN > 1280 kN ∴ OK
1.0
Member buckling resistance
χAfy
Nb,Rd = for Class 1, 2 and 3 cross-sections
γM1
1
χ= but χ ≤ 1.0, ϕ = 0.5[1 + α(λ̅ − 0.2) + λ̅2 ]
ϕ + √ϕ2 − λ̅2
Afy
λ̅ = √ For Class 1, 2 or 3 cross-sections.
Ncr
Elastic critical force and non-dimensional slenderness for flexural buckling
For buckling about both the major (y-y) and minor (z-z) axes, Lcr should be taken as Lcr,y =
12 m and Lcr,z = 4 m.
π2 EIy π2 × 210000 × 14268000
Ncr,y = = = 2054 × 103 N = 2054 kN
L2cr 12000 2
11300 × 275
∴ λ̅y = √ = 1.23
2054 × 103
π2 EIz π2 × 210000 × 48570000
Ncr,z = = = 6292 × 103 N = 6292 kN
L2cr 40002
11300 × 275
∴ λ̅z = √ = 0.70
6292 × 103
5
Selection of buckling curve and imperfection factor α
For a rolled section with h/b < 1.2 and tf < 100 mm:
• buckling curve b for major axis buckling α = 0.34
• buckling curve c for minor axis buckling α = 0.49
Member buckling resistance – Major (y-y) axis
ϕy = 0.5[1 + 0.34(1.23 − 0.2) + 1.232 ] = 1.43
1
χy = = 0.46
1.43 + √1.432 − 1.232
0.46 × 11300 × 275
Nb,Rd = = 1435.8 × 103 N = 1435.8 kN
1.0
1435.8 kN > 1280 kN ∴ Major axis flexural buckling resistance is OK
Member buckling resistance – Minor (z-z) axis
ϕz = 0.5[1 + 0.49(0.70 − 0.2) + 0.702 ] = 0.87
1
χz = = 0.72
0.87 + √0.872 − 0.702
0.72 × 11300 × 275
Nb,Rd = = 2246.6 × 103 N = 2246.6 kN
1.0
2256.6 kN > 1280 kN ∴ Minor axis flexural buckling resistance is OK
Major axis flexural buckling is critical, but the chosen section is suitable for this application.
