Beam classification

Main or Primary beams / girders

Secondary beams/joists

Girders
Joist
Lintels
Purlins
Rafter
Spandrels
Stringers

Laterally Stable
Laterally Unstable

PERMISSIBLE STRESS DESIGN

Stresses in Structures at working loads are not
allowed to exceed a certain proportion of the
yield stress of the material.
Stress levels are limited to elastic range
Leads to highly conservative solutions.

LIMIT STATE DESIGN OF BEAMS

In this method, the structure has to be designed

to withstand safely all loads and deformations

likely to occur on it throughout its life.
Designs should ensure that the structure does

not become unfit for the use for which it is

required.
The state at which the unfitness occurs is called

a limit state.

Limit States
Ultimate Limit States

- (flexure, shear, bearing,

compression, torsion, lateral-torsion)
Serviceability Limit States

-(deflection, vibration, fire,

durability)

Types of Loads
Dead loads
Imposed loads (Live Load, Crane Load, Snow

Load, Dust Load, Wave Load, Earth pressures)

Wind Loads
Earthquake Loads
Erection Loads
Accidental Loads (Blast, Impact of vehicles)
Secondary Effects ( temperature effects,
differential settlements, eccentric connections,
varied rigidity)

Stability of Beams
Laterally Unrestrained Beams
Laterally Restrained Beams

Lateral-torsional Buckling in
Beams

When all the

beam crosssection has
become plastic
the beam fails by
formation of a
plastic hinge at
the point of
maximum
imposed moment.

Failure Modes in Beams

Bending

The bending
moment cannot
be increased and
the beam
collapses as
though a hinge

Failure Modes in Beams

Local buckling

Local Flange buckling failure

Failure Modes in Beams

Shear

During
the
shearing
process, if the
web is too thin
it will fail by
buckling
or
rippling in the
shear zone as
shown in fig.

Failure Modes in Beams

Web bearing and buckling

Due to high vertical stresses

directly over a support or
under a concentrated load, the
beam web may actually crush
or buckle as a result of these

Failure Modes in Beams

Lateral-torsional buckling

Behaviour of beam with

restraints
Lateral torsional
buckling of a simply
supported beam

LOCAL BUCKLING

(a)
Local buckling of Compression Members

(b)

K=0.425
K=4.0

8 times Stronger!

DESIGN OF PLATE ELEMENTS

Limiting width-thickness ratio to ensure yielding before plate
buckling

k E
blim

t 12(1 2 ) f y

0.425 E
12(1 2 ) f y

blim

16

LOCAL BUCKLING

In IS:800 (1984) the local buckling

is avoided by specifying b/t limits.
Hence we dont consider local
buckling explicitly
However in IS:800(2007)
limit
state design, the local buckling
would be the pivotal aspect for the
design of structural components

16

UNSTIFFENED OR OUTSTAND ELEMENTS

STIFFENED OR INTERNAL ELEMENTS

18

SECTION CLASSIFICATION
Plastic
Mp
Compact
My
Semi-compact
Slender

Rotation
Section Classification based on Moment-Rotation Characteristics

Section Classification
a) Plastic Cross sections, which can develop plastic hinges and

have the rotation capacity required for failure of the structure by

formation of a plastic mechanism.

b) Compact Cross sections, which can develop plastic moment of

resistance, but have inadequate plastic hinge rotation capacity for

formation of a plastic mechanism.

c) Semi-Compact Cross sections, in which the extreme fibre in

compression can reach, yield stress, but cannot develop the plastic
moment of resistance, due to local buckling.

d) Slender Cross sections in which the elements buckle locally

even before reaching yield stress. In such cases, the effective

sections for design shall be calculated by deducting width of the
compression plate element in excess of the semi-compact section
limit.

MP

MP
My

SEMI-COMPACT
PLASTIC

MP

COMPACT

MP
My

SLENDER

Sectional Classification for Indian Conditions

B
b = B/2

Section type

Flange criterion
(b/T)

Slender
Semi-compact
Compact
Plastic

>15.75
<15.75
<9.975
<8.92

9.975

8.92

250
fy

Web criterion

(d/t)
>126
<126 102.9
<102.9 82.95
<82.95

22

Section classification of Indian standard rolled I beams

plastic
compact

12

semicompac
t

49

PLASTIC
COMPACT
SEMICOMPACT

49
12
4

LIMIT BEHAVIOUR OF LATERALLY RESTRAINED

BEAMS AND ITS DESIGN

TYPES OF BEAM BEHAVIOUR

>>y

f=fy
AC

Zc

ZT

Strain

Lateral-torsional buckling

Stress

Flexural yielding

Laterally supported
beams

Limit states for LR

beams
Limit state of flexure
Limit state of shear
Limit state of bearing
Limit state of

serviceability

Deflected
shape

M
Radius of
curvature
A
(a)

(b)

Curvature of bending

f
fy

Plastic
range

Elastic
range
2

Stress
1

Idealised stress
strain curve

strain

Idealised elasto- plastic stress

stain curve for the purpose of
design

2
M

3 My
MP

(a) BM diagram
4

<fy

1
fy
2

fy

fy
(b) Plastification
of cross section
1

Curvature max
at collapse

(c) Curvature
Diagram

Plastic Hinge

Simply supported beam and its

deflection at various stages

MP

Moment M
MY

Plastic moment

Effect of strain hardening may

occur after large rotation

Yield moment

Curvature

Moment curvature characteristics of the simply supported beam

2.0

1.7

1.27

1.14
Some typical shape factor

1.5

LIMIT STATE OF SHEAR

Elastic Shear
stress

Elastic
Bending
stress

Plastic
range

Combined bending and shear in beams

CHECK FOR BUCKLING OF WEBS

h
67
tw

36

WEB BUCKLING
Pwb ( b1 n1 ) t f c
d/2

b1

n1
450

d/2

L
0.7 d
E
ry
ry
ry

t3
t

A
12t 2 3

Iy

LE
2 3
d
0.7 d
2.5
ry
t
t
Effective width for web buckling

WEB CRIPPLING
Pcrip ( b1 n2 ) t f yw

b1

n2

Effective width of web bearing

1:2.5
slope
Root
radius

Web Crippling in beams

TABLE 3.1 LIMITING WIDTH TO THICKNESS RATIOS

Class of Section
Class 3
Class 1 Class 2
SemiPlastic Compact
Compact

Compression element

Ratio

Rolled section
Welded section
Compression due
to bending
Inte rnal element of
Axial
compression flange
compression
Neutral axis at mid-depth

b/t f
b/ t f

9.4
8.4

10.5
9.4

b/ t f

29.3

33.5

Outstanding
element of
compression flange

Web of an
I-, H-or box
section c

If r1 is
negative:

b/ t f
d/t w
d/t w

Generally
If r2 is
negative:

Axial compression
Web of a channel
Angle, compression due to bending
(Both criteria should be satisfied)
Single angle, or double angles with the
components separated, axial
compression (All three criteria should be
satisfied)
Outstanding leg of an angle in contact
back-to-back in a double angle me mber
Outstanding leg of an angle with its back
in continuous contact with another
component
Circular tube
subjected to
CHS or built by
mome nt or axial
welding
compression
Stem of a T-section, rolled or cut from a
rolled I-or H-section

Not applicable
83.9

84
1 r1

but
40
d/t w
d/t w
d/t w
b/t
d/t
b/t
d/t
(b+d)/t

15.7
13.6
42

104.8

125.9

104.8
1 r1

125.9
1 2 r2

104.8
1 1.5r1

but 40
Not applicable
42
42
9.4
10.5
9.4
10.5
Not applicable

but 40

42
15.7
15.7
15.7
15.7
25

d/t

9.4

10.5

15.7

D/t

44 2

62.7 2

88 2

D/t f

8.4

9.4

18.9

APPENDIX F ELASTIC LATERAL TORSIONAL BUCKLING

F.1

Elastic Critical Moment

F.1.1

Basic

F.1.2 Elastic Critical Moment of a Section Symmetrical about

Minor Axis
8.2 Design Strength in Bending (Flexure)
The factored design moment, M at any section, in a beam due to

M Md

external actions shall satisfy

8.2.1 Laterally Supported Beam

The design bending strength as governed by plastic strength, Md, shall be

taken as
Md = b Z p fy / m0 1.2 Ze fy /

m0

8.2.1.4 Holes in the tension zone

(Anf / Agf) (fy/fu) ( m1 /

m0

) / 0.9
Cont...

8.4 Shear
The factored design shear force, V, in a beam due to external actions
shall satisfy
V Vd
Vd = design strength calculated as , Vd = Vn / m0
8.4.1 The nominal plastic shear resistance under pure shear is given
by: Vn = Vp
Av = shear area

Vp

Av f yw
3
Cont

INTERMEDIATE BEAMS OFFERING LATERAL RESTRAINT

DESIGN OF STEEL BEAMS

STEP 1:

Determination of design shear forces V and

bending moments M at critical points on the
element
Table 4 (page 29) gives the factors for
different load combinations

DESIGN OF STEEL
BEAMS
STEP 2:
Section Modulus Required
Zp (required) = M x mo / fy
mo is the partial Safety Factor for
materials given in Table 5 (page 30)

DESIGN OF STEEL
BEAMS
STEP 3:
Selection of Suitable Section
Shape Factor (v) The ratio Mp/My is a property of the crosssection shape and is independent of the
material properties.
Mp/My = Zp/Ze
Hence, Zp = Ze x

DESIGN OF STEEL
Shape factor of different cross-sections
BEAMS
Crosssection

Shape Factor v

Max.

Min.

Avg.

Hollow Circular

1.47

1.30

1.35

Hollow
Rectangular

1.33

1.19

1.25

Wide flange Isection (major

axis)

1.18

1.09

1.14

Wide flange Isection (minor

axis)

1.67

Unequal angles

1.83

1.75

1.8

Equal angle

1.84

1.81

1.82

Channel (major

1.22

1.16

1.18

DESIGN OF STEEL
BEAMS
STEP 4:
Classification of Section (Table 2, page 18)

Check adequacy of the section

including self-weight

DESIGN OF STEEL
BEAMS
STEP 5:
Check shear Strength
Design shear Strength, Vd = Av x fyw/3 (cl.
8.4, page 59)
(Vd > V)
If V > 0.6 Vd , design for combined shear and bending
(cl 9.2, page 69)

Where Av = shear area

fyw = yield strength of web

DESIGN OF STEEL
BEAMS
STEP 6:
Check Bending Capacity
If laterally supported beam (cl. 8.2.1, page
52)
If laterally unsupported beam (cl. 8.2.2,

page 54)
Get Md and check if M < Md

DESIGN OF STEEL
BEAMS
STEP 7:
Check for deflection
This is a serviceability limit state and hence
must be calculated on the basis of unfactored
imposed loads
Allowable max. deflection (Table 6, page 31)

DESIGN OF STEEL
STEP 8
BEAMS

Check for Web Buckling (cl. 8.7.3.1, page 67)

Dispersion of
concentrated loads and
reactions for
evaluating web
buckling

DESIGN OF STEEL
BEAMS
STEP 9
Check for Web Bearing (cl. 8.7.4, page 67)

Exmples
Ex. 8.1

A simply supported beam has an effective

span of 7m and carries a uniformly distributed
load of 50 kN/m (i.e DL = 25kN/m and
LL
= 25 kN/m). Taking fy = 250 N/mm2 and E = 2
x 10 5 N/mm2, design the beam, if it is laterally
supported.

Example.
STEP 1:
Factored Load = 1.5 x 50 = 75 kN/m (Table 4)
STEP 2:
Design Bending Moment = wl2/8 = 459.375 kN.m
Design shear force = wl/2 = 262.5kN

Example.
STEP 3:

Plastic Section modulus reqd., Zp = M x mo /fy

(cl.
8.2.1.2)
= 459.375 x 106 x 1.1/250 (Table 5)
= 2021.25 x 103 mm3

Example.
Zp/Ze is conservatively assumed to be 1.15

Ze, reqd= 2021.25 x 103/1.15 = 1757.61 x 103 mm3

Choose ISMB 500
Depth, h = 500 mm ;
width of flange, b = 172 mm ;
Thickness of flange, tf = 17.2 mm ;
Thickness of web, tw = 10.2 mm ;
Depth of web, d = h 2(tf+R) = 500 2(17.2+17) =
431.6 mm
Izz = 45218.3 x 104 mm4 ;
Ze = 1808.7 x 103 mm3
Weight of the section = 86.9 kg/m

Example.
STEP 4

Section Classification (Table 2)

= 250/fy = 1
b/tf = 172/17.2 = 10 < 10.5 compact
d/tw = 431.6/10.2 = 42.31 < 84 plastic
Hence section is compact

Example.
STEP 5

Check for adequacy of section

Factored self weight = 1.5 x 86.9 x 9.81/1000
= 1.279 kN/m
Total factored load = 75 + 1.279 = 76.279 kN/m

Example.
Mmax = wl2/8 = 467.21 kN.m

Zp(reqd.) = 467.21 x 106 x 1.1/250

= 2055.72 x 103 mm3 < 2080 x 103
mm3
Hence provided section is adequate

Example.
STEP 6

Design Shear Force , V = wl/2

= 76.279 x 7/2 = 266.98 kN

Example.
STEP 7

Design Shear Strength ,Vd = Vn/mo

= h x tw x fyw/(1.1 x 3)

3)

= 500 x 10.2 x 250 /(1.1 x

= 669.201 kN > 266.98 kN
Hence OK
Also V < 0.6Vd

Example.
STEP 8

Check for Design Capacity

d/tw = 42.31 < 67 ( cl 8.2.1.1)
Md = b Zp x fy/mo = 1 x 2080 x 103 x 250/1.1
= 472.7273 kN.m < 1.2 x Ze x fy /mo ( cl
8.2.1.2)

< 493.28 kN.m

Hence satisfied

Example.
STEP 9

Check for Deflection (Use unfactored imposed

load)

= 5wl4/384 = 8.64mm < l/300 (Table 6)

< 23.33mm
Hence safe

Example.
In the previous problem the bearing length

was assumed to be adequate.

Suppose a bearing length of 75mm is

provided.
We should check the safety of the web in

bearing and buckling

Example.
Web Buckling (cl. 8.7.3.1)

Ieff,web = b1 x tw3/12 = 75 x 10.23/12 = 6632.55

mm4
Aeff,web = 75 x 10.2 = 765 mm2
r = Ieff,web/ Aeff,web
= 2.94 mm

Example.
Web Buckling

Effective length of the web (cl. 8.7.1.5)

= 0.7d = 0.7 x 431.6
Slenderness ratio = 0.7 x 431.6/2.94
Design comp. stress fcd = 103.528 N/mm2
(Table 9c)

Example.
n1 = 250mm (i.e 500/2)
b1 + n1 = 75 + 250 =325mm
Ab = 325 x 10.2 = 3315 mm2
Buckling resistance = fcd x Ab
= 343.195 kN > 266.98 kN
Hence Ok . The web is safe against
buckling.

Example.
Check for Web Bearing (cl. 8.7.4, page 67)

Crippling strength of web fw = (b1 + n2) tw

fyw/ mo
b1 = 75 mm;
d1 = tf + R = 17.2 + 17 = 34.2 mm
n2 = 2.5 d1 = 85.5mm
fw = 372.07 kN > 266.98 kN
Hence Ok. Web is safe against bearing.

Example.
In the previous example, assuming that the

given beam is laterally unrestrained find the

moment carrying capacity.
Elastic Lateral Buckling Moment, M cr (cl. 8.2.2.1)

G = E/2(1+)
Warping constant , Iw = (1- f) fIyhy2 (page
129)
f = Ifc/(Ifc+Ift) = 0.5

Example.
Effective Length (LLT) (cl. 8.3)

LLT = 7m (Table 15)

It = biti3/3 = 2 x 172 x 17.23/3 + (500 -2 X
17.2) x 10.23/3

= 747962.61 mm4
Mcr = 222.47 kN-m

General
Design of beams for bending is addressed

in the code under two different categories

depending upon the level of shear.
(i) beams under bending with low shear
(ii) beams under bending with high shear.

Additional checks
In order to ensure satisfactory

performance a restrained beam must be

checked for:Bending
Combined bending and shear
Shear
Lateral torsional buckling
Local Buckling
Web bearing and buckling
Deflection

Two Types
Laterally Supported
Laterally Un-Supported

Laterally Supported
When a beam is in bending, there is a tendency

for the top flange, which is in compression, to pull

the section out of plane and cause buckling. In
order to prevent this and allow the section to
achieve its full moment capacity it is important
that the compression flange is restrained so that
only vertical movement of the beam is allowed.
Such beams are designated as Restrained or
laterally supported beams Beams

Conditions to Qualify as a Laterally

Restrained Beam
It should not laterally buckle
None of its elements should buckle until a desired

limit state is achieved

Limit state of serviceability must be satisfied
Member should behave in accordance with the
expected performance of the system

Laterally Stability of Beams

What lateral Support

Full lateral restraint may be assumed to exist if

the frictional or positive connection of a floor (or

other) construction to the compression flange of
the member is capable of resisting a lateral force
of not less than 2.5% of the maximum force in the
compression flange of the member, [under
factored loading]. This lateral force should be
considered as distributed uniformly along the
flange provided gravity loading is dominant."

Web susceptible for shear

buckling

1 Section with Slender Webs When the

flanges are plastic, compact or semi-compact
but the web is slender (i.e d/tw >67) the
design bending strength shall be calculated
using one of the following methods:

Web susceptible for shear

buckling
The bending moment and axial force acting on

the section may be assumed to be resisted by

flanges and the web designed only to resist shear
The bending moment and axial force acting on
the section may be assumed to be resisted by the
whole section, and the web designed for
combined shear and normal stresses, by using
simple elastic theory in case of semi-compact
flanges and simple plastic theory in the case of
compact and plastic flanges.

Low Shear
When the factored design shear force does

not exceeds 0.6 Vd, where Vd is the design

shear strength of the cross section (8.4), the
design bending strength, Md, shall be taken as
Md = b Z p fy / m0

1.2 Ze fy / m0

Low Shear
where

b =1.0 for plastic and compact

section

b = Ze/ Zp for semi-compact

section

Zp, Ze = plastic and elastic section

modulli of the cross section, respectively
fy = yield stress of the material

m0 = partial safety factor

High Shear
When the design shear force (factored), V,

exceeds 0.6Vd, where Vd, is the design

shear strength of the cross section (8.4),
the design bending strength, Md, shall be
taken as:
Md = Mdv
Mdv= design bending strength under high
shear

High Shear
The factored moment of the section should be

less then the moment capacity of the section

under higher shear force, Mdv, calculated as
given below
a) Plastic or Compact Section
V= Shear acting
M dv M d M d M fd 1.2 z e f y m 0

High Shear
Vd= Shear strength-governing shear

strength yielding/ buckling

Mdv=Md-(Md Mfd) 1.2Zefy/m0 where
=(2V/ Vd-1)2
Md = plastic design moment of the whole

section disregarding high shear force effect

considering web buckling effects

High Shear
V = factored applied shear force.as

governed by web yielding or web buckling.

Vd = design shear strength as governed by
web yielding or web buckling
Mfd = plastic design strength of the area of
the cross section excluding the shear area,
considering partial safety factor m0

High Shear
b) Semi-compact Section
Mdv=Zefy/m0
where

Ze = elastic section modulus of the

whole section

Hole in Tension zone

The effect of holes in the tension flange, on

the design bending strength need not be

considered if
(Anf / Agf) (fy/fu) (m1 / m0 ) / 0.9
where
Anf / Agf = ratio of net to gross area of the
flange

Hole in Tension zone

fy/fu = ratio of yield and ultimate strength of the

material

m1 / m0 = ratio of partial safety factors

against ultimate to yield stress
The effect of holes in the tension region of the
web on the design flexural strength need not be
considered, if the limit given in above is satisfied
for the complete tension zone of the cross-section,
comprising the tension flange and tension region
of the web

Shear Lag effect

Disregarded if
a) For outstand elements (supported along

one edge),
bo Lo / 20
b) For internal elements (supported along

two edges), bi Lo / 10

Beam cannot laterally

buckle
If the bending is about minor axis
If the section is tubular, box or solid
Slenderness ratio LT < o.4

Example 1
Design a simply supported beam

of span 7m carrying a RCC slab providing

lateral restraint. The loading consists of
udl dead load of 100 kN excluding self
weight and an imposed load of 150 kN. In
addition the beam carrys a point load of 50
kN dead load and 50 kN imposed load and
mid span over a stiff bearing length of
75mm

Step1-factored loads
Udl
Dead load =1.5x100 =150 kN
Live load = 1.5x150 =225 kN
Total udl
=375 kN
Point load
Dead load = 1.5x50 = 75 kN
Live load = 1.5x50 = 75 kN
TOTAL Point load
= 150 kN

Figure
The Beam
150 kN factored

7.0 m

375 kN factored

Step 2- BM calculation
BM= (WL/8) + (PL/4)

= (375x7/8) + (150x7/4)
= 590.63 kN.m

Step 3 Section modulus

required

Zp= (Mxm0)/fy

= (590.63x106x1.1)/250
= 2600x 103 mm3

Step 4- Choose a trial

section
Choose ISMB 550 @ 1.037 kN/m
Properties of section are
Overall depth h=550 mm
Width of flange b=190 mm
Thicness of flange tf= 19.3
Depth of web d= h-2(tf+R)

= 550-2(19.3+18)
= 475.4 mm

Step 4 Contd.
Thickness of web tw = 11.2 mm
M.I -major axis=64900x104 mm4
Elastic Section Modulus

Ze=2359.8 x 103 mm3

Plastic Section Modulus
Zp=2711.98 x 103 mm3

Step 4- Contd
Section Classification

=(250/ f

)1/2 =(250/ 250)1/2 =1

b/t = 95/19.3=4.922< 9.4

f

d/t =475.4/11.2 = 42.45 < 84

w
Hence the section is Plastic

Step 5-Adequacy
Self wt. (Factored)=1.5x1.037

=1.5555 kN/m
B.M=590.63+(1.5x1.037x72)/8
= 600.16 kNm
Plastic section modulus required
= (600.16x106x1.1)/250=
= 2640.7x103<2711.98mm3
Chosen section is OK

Step 6- Shear force

Shear Force V=(1.037x7)/2

+375/2
+150/2
= 266 kN

Step 7-Design Shear

strength
Design shear strength V
d

fyxhxtw

250x550x11.2

= -------------- = ---------------------m0 3

1.1x3

= 808.29 kN
0.6 Vd = 0.6x808.29 = 485 kN
Hence Shear force < 0.6 Vd

Step 8- Design capacity

d/tw =42.45 <67
Md =bZpfy/m < 1.2 ZeFy/ 1.1
b= 1 Since the section is plastic
Md= (1.0x2711.98x103x250)/1.1

= 616.36
< (1.2x2359.8x103x250)/1./1=643.58
Hence the design capacity> Md
616.36 kNm> 600.16 kNm. Hence ok.

Step 9 Deflection
Deflection
(total)= (udl)+ (pl)
(udl)= 5wl4/(384 EI)
(pl)= wl3/(48 EI)
(total)=7.91 mm
Allowable (max)= L/300=23.33mm
Hence Ok

Step 10 Check for web

buckling
at
support

Stiff Bearing length bl=75 mm

Depth of web= 467.5 mm

Ieff web=bltw3/12=(75x11.23/12)
=8780.8 mm4
Aeff web=bltw=75x11.2=840 mm2

Step 10 contd.
Slenderness ratio r

= (Ieff Web/Aeff Web)

= (8780.8/840)= 3.233 mm
Effective length of web is 0.7 times depth of
web d
= deff/r= (0.7x 475.4)/ 3.233
=102.9

Step 10 contd.
fcd from table 9c of the code

is 103.4 N/mm2
n1= 550/2=275 mm
b1+n1= 75+275=350 mm
Ab= 350x11.2=3920 mm2
Buckling resistance=
103.4x3920/1000=405.3 kN
> 266 kN- Hence the web is safe

Step 11-Check for web

bearing
F =((b +n )xt xf )/
w

m0

b1=75 mm
n2=2.5x( Root radius+ flange thickness)

=2.5x(18+19.3)= 93.25 mm
Single angle of dispersion is 1:2.5

tw= 11.2 mm fy=250 N/mm2

Step 11-Check for web

bearing
F =
w

(75+93.25)x11.2x250
---------------------------------1.10
= 428.27=266 kN
Hence the web is safe