Structure Analysis

Q1 (a): Derivation and Calculation of VRd,max

Figure 1: Given Beam

Using Eurocode 2 Variable Strut Inclination Method (EN 1992-1-1), the concrete
strut’s maximum design shear force, VRd,max , can be found using the following formula:

VRd,max = αcw · bw · z · ν · fcd

where:
• αcw :Taking longitudinal reinforcement into account (default: αcw = 1.0),

• bw : Width of the web of the beam,

• z: Lever arm, approximately 0.8 · d,

• ν: Reduction factor for concrete shear strength,

• fcd = fck
γc
: Design compressive strength of concrete,

• fck : Characteristic compressive strength of concrete,

• γc : Partial safety factor for concrete (γc = 1.5).

—

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Given Data
• fck = 35 MPa (characteristic compressive strength of concrete),
• γc = 1.5 (partial safety factor for concrete),
• d = 550 mm (effective depth of the beam),
• bw = 375 mm (width of the web of the beam),
• αcw = 1.0 (default value).

Figure 2: Beam Dimensions

Calculating Reduction Factor ν

The reduction factor ν is given by:
 
fck
ν = 0.6 · 1 −
250
Substituting fck = 35 MPa:
 
35
ν = 0.6 · 1 − = 0.6 · (1 − 0.14) = 0.6 · 0.86 = 0.516
250
—

Calculating Design Compressive Strength fcd

The design compressive strength of concrete is:
fck
fcd =
γc
Substituting fck = 35 MPa and γc = 1.5:
35
fcd = = 23.33 MPa
1.5
—

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Lever Arm z
The lever arm z is approximated as:

z = 0.8 · d

Substituting d = 550 mm:

z = 0.8 · 550 = 440 mm
—

Finally VRd,max
Substituting all the values into the formula for VRd,max :

VRd,max = αcw · bw · z · ν · fcd

Substituting:
• αcw = 1.0,

• bw = 375 mm = 0.375 m,

• z = 440 mm = 0.44 m,

• ν = 0.516,

• fcd = 23.33 MPa = 23.33 N/mm2 .

VRd,max = 1.0 · 0.375 · 0.44 · 0.516 · 23.33

VRd,max = 1.987 kN/mm

—

(b) Shear Link Design

The total factored load on the beam is:

w = 1.35 · Gk + 1.5 · Qk

Substituting Gk = 60 kN/m and Qk = 45 kN/m:

w = 1.35 · 60 + 1.5 · 45 = 81 + 67.5 = 148.5 kN/m

At the support, the maximum shear force is:

w·L 148.5 · 7
VEd,max = = = 519.75 kN
2 2
The design shear resistance provided by the links is:
As · fyk · z
VRd,s =
s
where:

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 • As : Area of the shear links (assume T = 10 mm, so As = 157 mm2 for two legs),

• fyk = 500 MPa,

• z = 0.8 · d = 0.8 · 550 = 440 mm,

• s: Spacing of links (to be determined).

For a trial spacing s = 150 mm:

157 · 500 · 440
VRd,s = = 230.67 kN
150 · 1000
This will need to be adjusted for spacing near the support, but it is adequate toward
mid-span.
—

(c)Why is the spacing of the links limited to a maximum value

of 0.75d?
To avoid large cracks and guarantee efficient shear transmission between steel and con-
crete, the spacing is kept to a minimum. Additionally, it minimizes shear deformation
and preserves aggregate interlock.
—

(d) Components Resisting Shear in Concrete Beams are:

The four components are:

1. Shear resistance of the concrete web,

2. Shear links (stirrups),

3. Aggregate interlock,

4. Dowel action of the longitudinal reinforcement.

(e) Why we calculate Shear Force at d from Supports?

By calculating shear at a distance d from the supports, cracking at the support face and
areas of concentrated stress are avoided. In order to guarantee durability and safety, it
permits the redistribution of shear forces.
—

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Q2: Steel Beam Design
Creating an unrestrained, simply-supported steel beam with a concentrated load of 120 kN
at mid-span. The beam’s span is 6 m. The self-weight of the beam can be disregarded
because it is composed of steel grade S355 (fy = 355 MPa). The Blue Book should be
used to choose the beam, and the moment resistance should not be more than 30 %
greater than the design moment.

Figure 3: Span and concentrated force of the simply-supported unrestrained beam.

Solution
Calculating the Maximum Design Moment
The maximum bending moment MEd for a simply supported beam with a concentrated
load applied at mid-span can be found using the following formula:
P ·L
MEd =
4
where:

• P = 120 kN is the concentrated load,

• L = 6 m is the span of the beam.

Substitute the values:

120 · 6
MEd = = 180 kN·m
4
The design moment MEd is therefore 180 kN·m.

Selecting a Suitable Section

We will choose an appropriate universal beam (UB) segment using the Blue Book. The
moment resistance of the section must be examined to make sure it can support the
applied moment without going beyond 30% over the design moment.
The moment resistance is given by:

MRd = Wpl · fy /γM 0

where:

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 • Wpl is the plastic section modulus of the beam,

• fy = 355 MPa is the yield strength of the steel,

• γM 0 = 1.0 is the partial safety factor for material.

We need to choose a section with a plastic section modulus Wpl such that MRd ≥ MEd
but not more than 30% higher. We first calculate the minimum Wpl required:

MEd · γM 0
Wpl =
fy

Substitute the known values:

180 · 103 · 1
Wpl = = 507, 042 mm3
355
Now, using the Blue Book, we select a section with Wpl ≥ 507, 042 mm3 . From the
Blue Book, a suitable section is the **UB 254x146x31**, which has:

Wpl = 535, 000 mm3

The moment resistance for this section is:

MRd = Wpl · fy /γM 0 = 535, 000 · 355/1 = 189.425 kN·m

Checking Moment Resistance

MEd ≤ MRd ≤ 1.3 · MEd
Substitute the values:
180 ≤ 189.425 ≤ 234
This is satisfied, so the selected section **UB 254x146x31** is adequate.

Now Checking Lateral Torsional Buckling

It is necessary to check the lateral torsional buckling (LTB) of an unconstrained beam.
The following gives the slenderness ratio λ:
L
λ=
iy

where:

• L = 6000 mm is the span,

• iy = 19.7 mm is the radius of gyration about the weak axis.

Substitute the values:

6000
λ= = 304.57
19.7
The lateral torsional buckling reduction factor χ is now calculated. The buckling
reduction factor χ is roughly 0.35 for slenderness ratios λ > 200.

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 The following formula provides the resistance to lateral torsional buckling:

Mb,Rd = χ · MRd

Substitute the values:

Mb,Rd = 0.35 · 189.425 = 66.299 kN·m

The beam would require bracing because Mb,Rd < MEd makes it vulnerable to lateral
torsional buckling. As an alternative, the effective length can be decreased by adding
bracing or choosing a larger piece.
—

Conclusion
With a moment resistance of 189.425 kN·m, the chosen **UB 254x146x31** section is
sufficient to withstand the applied moment of 180 kN·m, meeting the criterion that the
moment resistance not surpass the design moment by more than 30%. The beam is prone
to lateral torsional buckling, though. Either lateral bracing or a wider portion should be
taken into consideration to guarantee stability.

Q3. Problem Statement

Under compression, we must determine if a pinned-end rectangular hollow section (RHS)
column can securely support a design axial load of NEd = 1000 kN. By using intermediate
supports to limit the column, the z-z axis’s buckling length is decreased. The following
are the parameters and column data:

• Section: RHS 300 × 200 × 10 mm,

• Steel Grade: S355 (fy = 355 MPa),

• Column Length: L = 15 m,

• Buckling lengths:

– Lcr,z = 5 m (reduced buckling length along z-z axis),

– Lcr,y = 15 m (full length for buckling along y-y axis),

• Cross-sectional properties (from Blue Book):

– Cross-sectional area: A = 11, 040 mm2 ,

– Second moment of area: Iz = 469.7 × 106 mm4 , Iy = 88.4 × 106 mm4 ,
– Radii of gyration: iz = 61.4 mm, iy = 35.5 mm.

• Partial safety factor for buckling: γM 1 = 1.0.

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 Figure 4: Length, support and restraints of the RHS column.

Solution
Determining Slenderness Ratios
The slenderness ratio is calculated as:
Lcr
λ=
i

For the z-z axis:

Lcr,z 5, 000
λz = = = 81.4
iz 61.4

For the y-y axis:

Lcr,y 15, 000
λy = = = 422.5
iy 35.5
—

Non-dimensional Slenderness λ
The non-dimensional slenderness is defined as:
r
Ncr
λ=
NEd
where:
π2 · E · I
Ncr =
L2cr
is the critical buckling load.

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For the z-z axis:
π 2 · 210, 000 · 469.7 × 106
Ncr,z =
5, 0002
Performing the calculation:
3.14162 · 210, 000 · 469.7 × 106
Ncr,z = = 6, 207 kN
25 × 106
6, 207 √
r
λz = = 6.207 = 2.49
1, 000

For the y-y axis:

π 2 · 210, 000 · 88.4 × 106
Ncr,y =
15, 0002
Performing the calculation:
3.14162 · 210, 000 · 88.4 × 106
Ncr,y = = 259 kN
225 × 106
√
r
259
λy = = 0.259 = 0.51
1, 000
—

Reduction Factor χ
The reduction factor χ is obtained from the buckling curve (curve c for RHS sections in
Eurocode 3): h i
2
ϕ = 0.5 · 1 + α · (λ − 0.2) + λ
1
χ= q
2
ϕ + ϕ2 − λ
The imperfection factor α = 0.49 for curve c.

For the z-z axis:

ϕ = 0.5 · 1 + 0.49 · (2.49 − 0.2) + 2.492
 

ϕ = 0.5 · [1 + 0.49 · 2.29 + 6.2001] = 0.5 · [1 + 1.1221 + 6.2001] = 3.661

1
χz = √
3.661 + 3.6612 − 2.492
1 1
χz = √ = = 0.196
3.661 + 13.408 − 6.2001 3.661 + 2.684

For the y-y axis:

ϕ = 0.5 · 1 + 0.49 · (0.51 − 0.2) + 0.512
 

ϕ = 0.5 · [1 + 0.49 · 0.31 + 0.2601] = 0.5 · [1 + 0.1519 + 0.2601] = 0.706

1
χy = √
0.706 + 0.7062 − 0.512
1 1
χy = √ = = 0.724
0.706 + 0.4984 − 0.2601 0.706 + 0.479
—

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Designing Axial Resistance
The design resistance is given by:

Nb,Rd = χ · A · fy /γM 1

For the z-z axis:

Nb,Rd,z = 0.196 · 11, 040 · 355/1.0 = 769.9 kN

For the y-y axis:

Nb,Rd,y = 0.724 · 11, 040 · 355/1.0 = 2, 845.7 kN

Conclusion
The column’s design resistance is governed by the z-z axis, as it is the weaker direction:

Nb,Rd = min(Nb,Rd,z , Nb,Rd,y ) = 769.9 kN

Since:
Nb,Rd = 769.9 kN < NEd = 1000 kN
The imposed load cannot be adequately resisted by the column section..

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