15/04/2024
Principles of Steel Design
Compression Members
Part 1
CESTLD20 CE32
MONDAYS 12:00 – 2:40 PM
1
15/04/2024
COMPRESSION MEMBERS
• Structural element that are subjected only to axial compressive force.
• Commonly used as columns in building structures, chords or webs in
trusses, bridge piers or braces in framed structures
• The maximum strength of a steel compression member dependson
the member length and end support conditions.
FAILURE OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS:
• Crushing failure
When the member is stout and short (non-slender)
• Buckling failure
When the member is slender
The failure of steel usually occurs in slender members and
dependent on its thinness and length.
Buckling will occur in the direction of thinner cross-section (weak
axis).
2
15/04/2024
Euler’s Buckling Load:
The Critical Buckling Load is the axial load that makes the
member unstable and said to be buckled.
or
( ⁄ )
where:
E modulus of elasticity of steel
I moment of inertia of the cross-section with respect to minor principal axis
L the length of the member between points of support
A cross-sectional area
r radius of gyration with respect to the axis of buckling
L/r slenderness ratio and is measure of a member’s slenderness
Euler’s Buckling Load:
or
( ⁄ )
The Euler buckling formula is also commonly expressed in
terms of buckling stress, Fe
The above equation is also called the Euler buckling stress or
elastic critical buckling stress (Fe)
3
15/04/2024
Effective Length:
For convenience, the equations for critical buckling load will be
written as
where:
kL effective length
k effective length factor
Effective Length Factor, k :
4
15/04/2024
Effective Length Factor, k :
• k is the ratio of the length of (Le)
equivalent column to the actual
length (L)
• the length of the equivalent
column is the distance between
two consecutive points of
contraflexure (points of zero
moment) in the actual column
Slenderness Ratio, KL/r :
• For members designed on the basis of compression, slenderness
ratio KL/r preferably should not exceed 200.
• The effective length factor, K shall be determined in accordance
with Section 503 of NSCP 2015 .
5
15/04/2024
Code Requirements:
The nominal compressive strength, Pn shall be the lowest value
obtained according to the limit states of flexural buckling and
flexural-torsional buckling.
• For doubly symmetric and singly symmetric members the limit state
of flexural buckling is applicable.
• For singly symmetric and unsymmetric members, and certain doubly
symmetric members the limit state of torsional or flexural-torsional
buckling are also applicable.
Code Requirements:
The flexural buckling stress, Fcr is determined as follows
When ≤ 4.71 (or Fe ≥ 0.44𝐹 )
Fcr = 0.658 𝐹 (NSCP 505.3-2)
When > 4.71 (or Fe < 0.44𝐹 )
Fcr = 0.877𝐹 (NSCP 505.3-3)
6
15/04/2024
Code Requirements:
Limiting Values of KL/r (from AISC):
7
15/04/2024
Design Procedure: COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Given: Load P or Pu and Fy
Design Procedure:
1. Assume a trial section and rx and ry .
2. Determine the critical slenderness ratio kL/r (use the least r).
𝝅𝟐 𝑬
3. Determine the Euler buckling stress, 𝑭𝒆 = and compared with 0.44Fy
(𝑲𝑳⁄𝒓)𝟐
4. Determine Fcr.
a. Fcr = 0.658 𝐹 if 𝑭𝒆 ≥ 0.44Fy
b. Fcr = 0.877𝐹 if 𝑭𝒆 < 0.44Fy
Design Procedure: COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Given: Load P or Pu and Fy
Design Procedure:
5. Determine the nominal capacity, 𝑷𝒏 = 𝑭𝒄𝒓 𝑨𝒈
6. Determine the compressive strength
a. 𝑷𝒖 = ∅𝒄 𝑷𝒏 for LRFD
𝑷𝒏
b. 𝑷𝒂 ≤ for ASD
Ω𝒄
7. Repeat Steps 1 to 6 until result is satisfactory.
8
15/04/2024
COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Sample Problems
Compute the design compressive strength for LRFD and the allowable
compressive strength for ASD of the following sections:
1. W14x74 with length of 6.0 m and fy = 250 MPa
2. W16x89 with length of 8.0 m and fy = 345 MPa
COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Sample Problems
W14x74 𝐾𝐿
Max = 𝑟
Properties:
rx = 153 mm . ( )
= = 95.2 < 200
ry = 63 mm Ok!
Ag = 14100 mm2
fy = 250 MPa 4.71 = 4.71 = 133.2
Since 133.2 > 95.2
Use eq. NSCP 505.3-2
9
15/04/2024
COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Sample Problems
W14x74 NSCP 505.3-2
Properties: Fcr = 0.658 𝐹
rx = 153 mm
𝜋 𝐸
ry = 63 mm 𝐹 =
(𝐾𝐿⁄𝑟)
Ag = 14100 mm2
fy = 250 MPa =
( . )
= 217.8 MPa
= 0.658 . 250 = 154.6 MPa
COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Sample Problems
W14x74 𝑷𝒏 = 𝑭𝒄𝒓 𝑨𝒈 = 𝟏𝟓𝟒. 𝟔 𝟏𝟒𝟏𝟎𝟎 = 𝟐𝟏𝟕𝟗. 𝟗 𝒌𝑵
Properties:
LRFD
rx = 153 mm
ry = 63 mm
𝑃𝑢 = ∅ 𝑃 = 0.90(2179.9)
= 1961.9 kN
Ag = 14100 mm2
fy = 250 MPa ASD
𝑎 = 0.6(2179.9)
Ω
= 1307.9 kN
10
15/04/2024
COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Sample Problems
W16x89 𝐾𝐿
Max = 𝑟
Properties:
rx = 179 mm . ( )
= = 126.6 < 200
ry = 63.2 mm .
Ok!
Ag = 16900 mm2
fy = 345 MPa 4.71 = 4.71 = 113.4
Since 113.4 < 126.6
Use eq. NSCP 505.3-3
COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Sample Problems
W16x89 NSCP 505.3-3
Properties: Fcr = 0.877𝐹
rx = 179 mm 𝜋 𝐸
𝐹 =
ry = 63.2 mm (𝐾𝐿⁄𝑟)
Ag = 16900 mm2
=
( . )
= 123.2 MPa
fy = 345 MPa
= 0.877(123.2) = 108.0 MPa
11
15/04/2024
COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Sample Problems
W14x74 𝑷𝒏 = 𝑭𝒄𝒓 𝑨𝒈 = 𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝟏𝟔𝟗𝟎𝟎 = 𝟏𝟖𝟐𝟓. 𝟐𝒌𝑵
Properties:
LRFD
rx = 179 mm
ry = 63.2 mm
𝑃𝑢 = ∅ 𝑃 = 0.90(1825.2)
= 1642.7 kN
Ag = 16900 mm2
fy = 345 MPa ASD
𝑎 = 0.6(1825.2)
Ω
= 1095.1 kN
12
