CIV3294: STRUCTURAL DESIGN
AXIAL COMPRESSION MEMBERS
LECTURER:
ASSOC. PROF. AMIN HEIDARPOUR
PREPARED BY:
ASSOC. PROF. AMIN HEIDARPOUR
DR CHUA YIE SUE
Axial compression member
▪ Compression members are structural components that are subject to axial
compression loads only.
▪ These generally refer to compressed pin-ended struts found in trusses,
lattice girders or bracing members.
▪ Most real columns are subjected to significant bending moments in addition
to the axial loads, due to the eccentricities of axial load and the presence of
transverse forces. They are referred to as beam-columns/combined loadings
and are covered in a separate chapter.
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Steel members under axial compression
▪ Axial capacity with different slenderness (length/radius of gyration)
Short Long
𝜋 2 𝐸𝐴
𝑃𝑒 = 2
𝐿𝑒
𝑟
squash load,
NY = Afy 1 2
𝜎𝑚 = 𝑓 + 𝜎𝑒 1 + 𝜃 − 𝑓𝑦 + 𝜎𝑒 1 + 𝜃 − 4𝑓𝑦 𝜎𝑒
2 𝑦
Euler – Concentric axial load
Perry Robertson – Axial load with eccentricity
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Columns buckling
Hard Rock hotel, New Orleans 2019
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Member under axial compression (column)
▪ Limit state requirement for a column:
𝑁 ∗ ≤ 𝜙𝑁𝑢
where 𝑁𝑢 = min{𝑁𝑠 , 𝑁𝑐 } in which
𝑁𝑠 is the section capacity and
𝑁𝑐 is the member capacity, 𝑁𝑐 = 𝛼𝑐 𝑁𝑠
▪ 𝜙 is the capacity factor = 0.9. (See AS4100 - Table 3.4)
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Section capacity, Ns
𝑁𝑠 = 𝑘𝑓 𝐴𝑛 𝑓𝑦 Clause 6.2.1
where An is the net area of the cross-section allowing for bolt holes etc, if
present
𝑓𝑦
Note: Ag (gross area) can be used as An if total hole areas < 100{1 − }%
0.85𝑓𝑢
hole ≈ 14 – 25% for Grade 300 steel
kf = form factor (that is a function of plate slenderness for local buckling)
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Form factor, kf
▪ Slenderness (λe) of a plate element in a cross-section is defined as
𝑏 𝑓𝑦
𝜆𝑒 =
𝑡 250
𝑏𝑓 −𝑡𝑤
For flange: 𝑏 = ; 𝑡 = 𝑡𝑓 𝑏 = 𝑑 − 2𝑡0 ; 𝑡 = 𝑡0
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For web: 𝑏 = 𝑑 − 2𝑡𝑓 ; 𝑡 = 𝑡𝑤
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Form factor, kf
▪ Compare the magnitude of λe at each part of cross-section with the
value λey given in Table 6.2.4 (AS4100)
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Form factor, kf
▪ For 𝜆𝑒 ≤ 𝜆𝑒𝑦 , the section is fully effective (𝑘𝑓 = 1)
▪ For 𝜆𝑒 > 𝜆𝑒𝑦 , the section is ineffective
– reduce length of width, b to effective width, be so that 𝜆𝑒 = 𝜆𝑒𝑦
𝜆𝑒𝑦
𝑏𝑒 = 𝑏 ≤𝑏
𝜆𝑒
𝑨𝒆
In this case, kf is given by 𝒌𝒇 =
𝑨𝒈
Ae is the effective area of cross section
𝐴𝑒 = 𝐴𝑔 − 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
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Member capacity, Nc
▪ Member capacity is given by 𝑁𝑐 = 𝛼𝑐 𝑁𝑠 Clause 6.3.3
where 𝛼𝑐 = 𝑓𝑛 {𝜆𝑛 , 𝛼𝑏 }
– Step 1: get 𝜆𝑛 (effect of member length)
– Step 2: get 𝛼𝑏 (effect of manufacturing process)
– Step 3: get 𝛼𝑐 from chart or Table 6.3.3(C) of AS4100
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Modified member slenderness, 𝜆𝑛
𝐿𝑒 𝑓𝑦
𝜆𝑛 = 𝑘𝑓
𝑟 250
𝐴𝑒
▪ kf is the form factor (Clause 6.2.2 of AS4100) 𝑘𝑓 =
𝐴𝑔
𝐼
▪ r is the radius of gyration r = for built-up sections
𝐴
▪ Le is the effective length of member
𝑳𝒆
The ratio determines the axis about which the column buckles
𝒓
𝑳𝒆𝒙 𝑳𝒆𝒚
•If > , then it buckles about the x-x axis
𝒓𝒙 𝒓𝒚
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Effective length, 𝐿𝑒 = 𝑘𝑒𝐿 (isolated member)
▪ Figure 4.6.3.2 (AS4100)
𝜋2 𝐸𝐼
▪ Based on Euler’s buckling theory formula, 𝑃𝑒 =
𝐿2𝑒
Braced members (non-sway) Sway members
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Effective length, 𝐿𝑒 = 𝑘𝑒𝐿 (framed members)
▪ Figure 4.6.3.3 (AS4100)
𝐼
σ
𝐿 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛𝑠
▪ 𝛾= 𝐼
Clause 4.6.3.4
σ 𝛽𝑒
𝐿 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠
▪ Value of 𝛾 represents how ‘flexible’ each end of the column is
▪ 𝛽𝑒 is given in Table 4.6.3.4 (AS4100)
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Modifying factor, 𝛽𝑒
Braced (non-sway) frame Sway frame
Far end
pinned
𝛽𝑒 =1.5 𝛽𝑒 =0.5
Far end
rigidly
connected
𝛽𝑒 =1.0 to a column 𝛽𝑒 =1.0
Far end fixed
𝛽𝑒 =2.0 𝛽𝑒 =0.67
Table 4.6.3.4
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Effective length, 𝐿𝑒 = 𝑘𝑒𝐿 (framed members)
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Effective length, 𝐿𝑒 = 𝑘𝑒𝐿 (framed members – alternative method)
▪ By computer analysis
– Get the axial force N* of the column under design load from computer
linear analysis
– Run a buckling analysis for the frame and obtain the buckling load factor
𝜆𝑐 (e.g. by Spacegass)
– Solve the equation for the effective length factor 𝑘𝑒:
∗
𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼
𝜆𝑐 𝑁 =
𝑘𝑒 𝑙 2
where 𝑙 is the length of column
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Member capacity, Nc
▪ Member capacity is given by 𝑁𝑐 = 𝛼𝑐 𝑁𝑠 where
𝛼𝑐 = 𝑓𝑛{𝜆𝑛 , 𝛼𝑏 }
– Step 1: get 𝜆𝑛 (effect of member length)
– Step 2: get 𝛼𝑏 (effect of manufacturing process)
– Step 3: get 𝛼𝑐 from chart or Table 6.3.3(C) of AS4100
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Section constant, 𝛼𝑏
▪ Tables 6.3.3(A) and 6.3.3(B) of AS4100
▪ Related to section manufacturing process
▪ Effect of residual stress on local buckling
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Member capacity, Nc
▪ Member capacity is given by 𝑁𝑐 = 𝛼𝑐 𝑁𝑠 where
𝛼𝑐 = 𝑓𝑛{𝜆𝑛 , 𝛼𝑏 }
– Step 1: get 𝜆𝑛 (effect of member length)
– Step 2: get 𝛼𝑏 (effect of manufacturing process)
– Step 3: get 𝛼𝑐 from chart or Table 6.3.3(C) of AS4100
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Members with intermediate lateral restraints
▪ To increase member capacity 𝐿𝑒 𝑓𝑦
𝜆𝑛 = 𝑘𝑓
𝑟 250
Intermediate lateral y y
restraint in x-x direction to
reduce the buckling length
at about y-y axis
Lx = 2 Ly
in this illustration
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Summary
Section capacity (Ns)
calculation
Calculate plate slenderness for Choose 𝜆𝑒𝑦 from Table 6.2.4 of
𝑏 𝑓𝑦
each element, 𝜆𝑒 = AS4100 for each element
𝑡 250
Have you Yes
No
checked all 𝜆𝑠 ≤ 𝜆𝑒𝑦
elements?
No
Yes
Calculate the effective
Calculate the effective width for this element
Calculate form area (Ae) for the entire 𝜆𝑒𝑦
factor: kf= Ae/Ag section: from 𝑏𝑒 = 𝑏 ≤𝑏
𝜆𝑒
Ae= ∑bet
Ns= kf fy Ag
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Summary
Member capacity (Nc)
calculation
Calculate member slenderness: 𝜆𝑛 Choose α𝑏 from Table 6.3.3 (A) or
𝐿𝑒 𝑓𝑦 Table 6.3.3 (B) of AS4100
= 𝑘𝑓
𝑟 250
• kf is obtained from the previous diagram. Choose α𝑐 from Table
• Le is the effective length and is obtained 6.3.3 (C) of AS4100
from Figure 4.6.3.2 or 4.6.3.3 associated
with Table 4.6.3.4
Nc= α𝑐 Ns
• Ns is obtained from the
previous diagram.
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