Design of Steel Structures

Compression Members
 Compression Members
Contents:
 Introduction
Reading:
 Compression member Chapters 4 (Compression
 Axial compression Members) of STEEL
 Failure mode DESIGN,6th edition, William
 Column theory
T.Segui P(107-131)
Specification for Structural
 slenderness ratio
Steel Buildings, Chapters E
 Effective Length
(Compression Members).
 AISC Requirement

 AISC Design of

Rolled Shape Column

2
 Introduction
 Compression members are structural elements that are
subjected only to compression forces, that is, loads
are applied along a longitudinal axis through the
centroid of the cross-section.
• In this idealized case, the axial stress f is calculated as

f PA

• Note that the ideal state is never realized in practice

and some eccentricity of load is inevitable. Unless the
moment is negligible, the member should be termed a
beam-column and not a column, where beam-
columns will be addressed later.
 Compression member

In addition to the most common

type of compression member
(vertical element in structure )
compression member include:

 Compression element in
trusses.
 Rigid frame member.
 Arch ribs
 Shells
 Compression member

structures Frames

vertical element in structure Truss bridges

 Compression member

• Compression Members sections.

(a) Rolled W-and S- (b) Double (c) Structural (d) Structural (e) Pipe
sections. angles. tee. tubing section

(f) Built-up section

Compression member
 Axial Compression
 If the axial load P is applied
slowly, it will ultimately become
large enough to cause the member
to become unstable and assume
the shape shown by the dashed
line.

 The member has then buckled and

the corresponding load is termed
the critical buckling load (also
termed the Euler buckling load).
 Failure modes
There are three general mode by
which axially loaded members
can fail :

1-Flexural buckling ( also called

Euler buckling ) is the primary
type of buckling, member are
subjected to flexural and
bending when they become
unstable
 Failure modes
2. Local buckling: This type occur when
some part or parts of the cross section
of a column are so thin that they buckle
locally in compression before the other
mode of buckling can occur.

3. Torsional buckling: may occur in member

that have certain cross sectional configuration
Those member fail by twisting or by
combination of torsional and flexural buckling
Local buckling
 Column theory
Flexural buckling of member
The critical buckling load
Euler formula for buckling load
 2 EI

Pcr
L2
The critical buckling stress for
a column can be rewritten as:

P  2E
Fcr  Acr  (L / A column under a concentric axial
load exhibiting the characteristic
g
deformation of buckling
r) 2
where L/r is the slenderness ratio.
 slenderness ratio

slenderness ratio
L
 r
Where:
L the height of the column

r radius of

gyration

Where r radius of
I
gyration r
 slenderness ratio

L
 r The greater value The
greater buckling

The longer the column becomes for the same cross

section, the greater it becomes its tendency to buckle
and the smaller becomes the load it will carry.

The tendency of a member to buckle is usually

measured by its slenderness ratio.
 )Buckling of a perfect column(
Intermediate Element Slender Element
Short Element

Short
L
Slenderness    rE
Intermediate

Slender
 2E
Euler stress, E 
2
 Effective Length
The Euler equations for the critical buckling load
(Euler buckling load) were derived assuming
 A perfectly straight column
 Axial load with no eccentricity
 Column pinned at both ends
The first two conditions mean that there is no bending
moment in the member before buckling

The requirement for pinned end, is a serious limitation,

and provisions must be made for other support condition
 Effective Length
In practical cases compression members may have
some degree of restraint against rotation at there end

So the length contributing to the calculation of the

critical buckling load will be quite different from that
of pinned end member.
To take into account end condition, the effective
length factor K shall be introduce

Le  K.L K .L
L is the length of member,   r
and should be   200
Effective Length (cont.)

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 Effective Length (cont.)
 The AISC Steel
Manual presents a
table to aid in the
calculation of effective
length.
Theoretical and design
values are
recommended. The
conservative design
values should
generally be used
unless the proposed
end conditions truly
match the theoretical 20
 AISC Requirement
 The basic requirements for compression members
are covered in Chapter E of the AISC Steel Manual.
The basic form of the relationship is
 Checking the Flexural buckling
cPn = c(AgFcr)
Where:
Ag is the gross area of the section
c is the resistance factor for compression members
(c =0.9)
Fcr is the critical buckling stress (inelastic or elastic)
is taken from table (page 65-72) depending on
c Fcr
the value of slenderness ratio 
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SI Units
SI Units
 U.S customary Units

See Steel Construction Manual 15th Edition Pages 435-463

 AISC Requirement

The design strength for compression member

Pu  cPn = c(AgFcr)

Pu  cPn OK

Pu  cPn not
OK
 Local Stability
b

Checking for the local buckling

b h
The width-thickness ratio t and tw d
Must be checked as in table 4-1.
If these ratios are interrogator, then
The Section is not slender
and the local instability is not problem

b
if  t  r The shape is non-slender No buckling
b   The shape is slender There is buckling
if t r
The appropriate compression member limit (lr)
The procedures for computing the design strength

1-Definde Lex , according to end conditions and using the

Ley of the effective length c-c2.2 to find K and using the relation
table

2- Compute (ʎx=KL/rx) and (ʎy=KL/ry)

3- Choosing the maximum value of ʎ ,and Fy to find (c Fcr ) from
tables.
4-compute the design strength c Pn according to the relation

 c Pn cFcr Ag
 AISC Design of
Rolled Shape Column
The general design procedure is:
1. Compute the factor service load Pu using all
appropriate load combinations.
2. Assume a critical stress Fcr based on assumed
3. λ=KL/r=50
4. Compute the gross area Ag min required from
Pu /( cFcr), then find Ag=1.5X Ag min
5. Select a section. Note that the
width/thickness r limitations of AISC Table B4.1
to prevent local buckling must be satisfied.
(cont…)

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 AISC Design of
Rolled Shape Column (cont.)
5. Based on the larger of (KL/r)x or (KL/r)y for the
section selected, compute the critical stress Fcr.
6. Compute the design strength cPn = cFcrAg
for the section.
7. Compare cPn with Pu. When the strength
provided does not exceed the strength required by
more than a few percent, the design would be
acceptable. Otherwise repeat Steps 2 through 7.

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