Mapua Institute of Technology

School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

COMPRESSION MEMBERS

Compression Members / Columns

Euler’s Column Buckling Theory

(For Column hinged at both ends)

where: Pe=Euler’s
Pe=Euler s Critical Load
Fe=Euler’s Critical Stress

But r=√(I/A) therefore where: E= Modulus of Elasticity

= 200,000 Mpa
L= unsupported/unbraced length
r= radius of gyration
L/r=
/ slenderness ratio

Effective Length, Le=k*L

This length approximates the length over which, the
column actually buckles & this may be shorter or longer
than the actual unbraced length.

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Thus;

Effective Length Factors

Buckled Shape of 
Columns

Theoretical 0.5 0.7 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0

k‐Value

Recommended 0.65 0.8 1.2 1.0 2.1 2.0

Design Value

End Support
Translation x x 9 . 9 .
Rotation x 9 . 9 . x

Slenderness Ratio
SRx = (kx Lx )/rx
SRy = (ky Ly )/ry

Limits of Slenderness Ratio (Code Provisions)

kL/r ≤ 200 (for compression members)
L/r
/ ≤ 300 ((for tension members))

Two Groups of Column

1. Long Column
2. Intermediate Column
*These two groups can be identified depending on their
slenderness ratios.

Critical Slenderness Ratio,

Th upper lilimit
The it off elastic
l ti b buckling
kli failure
f il where
h its
it average column
l
stress is equal to 0.5Fy.

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Allowable Compressive Stress, Fa (NSCP)

1. For intermediate Columns (Inelastic Buckling Occurs)

2. For Long Columns (Elastic Buckling Occurs)

Where: is the larger value of

&

Sample Problem 1:
Given: Column with height of 12; fixed-hinged end supports
Req’d: Largest Slenderness Ratio

Bending about xx-axis

axis

Lateral Support Bending about y-axis

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Sample Problem 2: (Investigation)

Check the adequacy of a W21 x 93 A36 column axially loaded with P=1300
KN and laterally unsupported in x & y direction (L=6m).

Properties:
A=17613 mm2
d=549.10 mm
rx=221.17 mm
ry=46.86 mm

Solution:

Compare actual fa vs. Allowable Fa

If fa ≤ Fa ; adequate section

Fa = ?

therefore Intermediate Column,

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

.: Adequate Section ans.

Extension of Previous Problem 2:

What if the column is laterally supported on its minor axis, on its mid-
height? Compute Fa.

Lateral Support

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Solution:
Fa=?

therefore Intermediate Column!

Using the formula,

ans.

.
Sample Problem 3: (Design)
Design a W-section A36 steel column to resist a load of P=360KN.
Height of the column 4.5 m hinged at both ends.
Depth of section is limited to 200mm only.
Choose the most economical section.

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Since the depth is limited to 200mm, we can choose W8 x ? from steel manual..
assume
, kl/r < Cc intermediate column

*assuming 60% - 80% of Fa (Design Experience)

Looking at the steel manual,

WF Section Area (mm2) rx (mm) ry (mm)

W8 x 18 3394 87.12 31.24
W8 x 21 3974 88 21
88.21 31 99
31.99
W8 x 24 4568 86.86 40.83
W8 x 28 5323 87.63 41.15

Try W8 x 24,

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Try W8 x 21

Therefore, Adopt W8 x 24 column ans.

Sample Problem 4:
Check the adequacy of the column section below.
P=2100 KN, Lu=6m, k=0.7, Fy=248MPa.

C12 x 15 ((Properties
p of one channel))
450
12 steel plate

304.8

12.7

77.4

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

C12 x 15 (Properties of one channel)

12 450
steel plate

304.8

12.7

77.4

Solution:

Compare fa vs. Fa ;
if fa < Fa .: Section adequate!

or

Compare Pactual vs. Pallo. ;

if Pactual < Pallo. .: Section adequate!

12 450
steel plate

locate centroid 304.8

12.7

77.4

C12 x 15 (Properties of one channel)

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

12 450
steel plate

304.8

12.7

77 4
77.4

C12 x 15 (Properties of one channel)

Checking now the adequacy of the composite section,

ans.

Or alternatively,
alternatively

ans.

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Sample Problem 5:

Determine the max length of W14x82 section if it is used as a

hinged column to support an axial load of 1200 KN.
Fy=450MPa.
0

W14x82 Properties:
A= 15548 mm2
rx= 153.66 mm
ry= 62.94 mm

Required:
maximum length, L

Solution:
Given:
assuming long column

Check Assumption,

Therefore the max ans.

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Extension of Previous Problem 5:

Determine the max length of W14x82 section if it is used

as a hinged column to support an axial load of 1200 KN.
Fy=248MPa.
Fy=248MPa

W14x82 Properties:
A= 15548 mm2
rx= 153.66 mm
ry= 62.94 mm

Required:
maximum length, L

Solution:
Given:
assuming long column

Check Assumption,

Therefore revise calculations…

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Since intermediate column,

Given:
for intermediate column

Solving for (kL/r),

< Cc
Cc=126.17
126 17 .: OK !

Therefore the max ans.

Column Base Plate

where:

NSCP Code Provision:

On Limestone & Sandstone ………………………….. Fp= 2.75 MPa
On Brick in Cement Mortar …………………………… Fp= 1.72 MPa
On Full Area of Concrete Support …………………. Fp= 0.35F’c
On Less Than Full Area of Concrete Support ….

where:

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Base Plate Thickness Determination

Under a W-Shape Column,

pedestal
B
m

Steel Plate (Base):

W-Section Column:

N d
0.95d

0.8bf m
bf
steel n n
baseplate

Considering the most critical section of the steel base plate,

and analyzing 1mm strip,
t

critical
section

1 mm

(m or n) fp

where:

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Sample Problem 6:

A W14X550, used as a column, is to carry an axial load of

3600 KN. Design a square base plate to support the
column.
l Th base
The b plate
l t rests
t on full
f ll area off a square
concrete compression block w/ f’c= 21 MPa. Use A36 steel
base plate.
W14 X 550 Properties
d= 437 mm
bf= 514 mm

Given:
Solution:

B
m

N d = 514
0 .9 5 d

0 .8 b f m
bf = 437
n n

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Since the base plate is resting on full area of the concrete pedestal,
Fp= 0.35F’c
Given:

Sample Problem 7: (Investigation)

Determine the capacity of a 38mm thick A36 steel

400x540mm base plate. Concrete pedestal is
600x600mm. F’c= 27 MPa. The Column is made of
W14 82 with
W14x82 ith d=
d 363.5mm
363 5 and
d bf= 257.3mm
257 3
600

B = 400 m

600 N = 540 d 0 95d

0.95d

m
bf
n 0.8bf n

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Req’d: Pmax safe

Given:
Solution:
thickness:
a. P capacity based from the strength of steel base plate, baseplate:
pedestal:

Substituting;

b. P capacity based from the strength of concrete pedestal,

Since the base plate is resting on less than full area
of the concrete pedestal, Given:
thickness:
baseplate:
pedestal:
600
B 400
B=400

600 N=540

Therefore, Pmax= 2040.98 KN ans.

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Sample Problem 8: (Design)

Design the most economical A36 steel base plate to resist a column (W14X500)
load P= 3200 KN. F’c= 27 MPa. Concrete pedestal is 700x700mm.
Note: The steel base plate is not resting on full area of the concrete pedestal.

p
W14 X 500 Properties:
700
d= 497.8mm
bf=432.1mm B m

700 N d 0.95d

m
Req’d: bf
BxNxt n 0.8bf n

Solution:

Given:
For the most economical base plate,

since;

------- eqn 1

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

700

B m

700 N d 0.95d

m
bf
n 0.8bf n

From eqn 1;

Check if = 18.9 MPa

<0.7f’c= 18.9 Mpa OK!

Therefore the most economical dimension

of the Base Plate is B=483.75mm & N=610.98mm.

Solving for its most economical thickness,

.: Adopt A36 steel base plate

B=483.75mm, N=610.98mm & t=28.85mm ans.

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]

 Mapua Institute of Technology
School of CE-EnSE-CEM
STEEL & TIMBER DESIGN

Seatwork:
1. Given: A36 Steel Base Plate 500x750x45mm
Circular Pedestal of diameter 1.2m
Wide-Flange Column with d= 431mm and bf= 264.8mm

Required: Pmax if the pedestal is made from:

a. limestone
b. bricks
c. concrete with f’c= 27 Mpa

2. Design the most economical A36 steel Base Plate

to support a W16x100 Column with P=3000 KN if:
a. The base plate rests on full area of concrete pedestal
with f’c= 21 Mpa.
b. The base plate rests on less than full area of concrete
pedestal 700x750mm with f’c= 21 Mpa.

Lecture Notes of Engr. Edgardo S. Cruz, MSCE [email protected]