DESIGN OF

STEEL
STRUCTURES

COMPRESSION MEMBERS
By : Amit
AMIT VERMA

6390530567

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Compression Members
( Lecture -1 )
Strut :
❑ The term strut is commonly used for compression members in roof trusses, as its
B.M = 0.
❑A strut may be used in a vertical position or in an inclined position in roof trusses.
❑ The compression members may be subjected to both axial compression and bending.

Column :

➢ Structural member subjected to compression.

➢ BM can also exist in this member.
➢ Used for compression of frame, rcc or steel frame.

Truss:
➢ it is a structure in which the members are subjected to tension or compression
➢ B.M. = 0 , everywhere

.
Stanchion :

➢ Vertical compression member in

Steel building is called as
stanchion.

Boom :

➢ The principal compression

member in a crane is called as
boom.

Frame :

➢ Structure which is subjected to

B.M. as well as tension or
compression
Modes of Failure of column :

➢ Local buckling.

➢ Flexural buckling.

➢ Torsional buckling.

➢ Flexural torsional buckling.

➢ Squashing
Local Buckling :

➢ failure occurs by buckling of one or more individual plate elements.

Eg. Web or Flange fails locally prior to overall buckling of column.

Flexural Buckling :

➢ Failure occurs by excessive deflection in the plane of weaker principal axis.

Squashing :

➢ When the length is relatively small and the component plate elements are prevented
from local buckling , then column will be able to attain its full strength., i.e. squash
load.
Squash load = Yield stress * Area of cross section
Local buckling.
Torsional Buckling :

➢ This type of failure is caused by twisting about longitudinal axis of the member.
➢ It can occur only in double symmetrical cross section with very slender cross
sectional elements.

Flexural Torsional Buckling :

➢ It is caused by Combination of flexural and torsional buckling of the member

bends and twists simultaneously.
➢ This type of failure can occur in unsymmetrical cross sections and singly
symmetrical cross sections.
COMMON SECTIONS OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS

(a) Structural steel sections

(b,c) Built – Up sections

➢ A tubular section is most efficient and economical for the column free to
buckle in any direction.

➢ The radius of gyration r for the tubular section in all the directions remains
same.

➢ The tubular section has high local buckling strength.

➢ The tubular sections are suitable for medium loads.

➢ A solid round bar having a cross-sectional area equal to that of a tubular

section has radius of gyration, r much smaller than that of tube.

➢ The solid round bar is less economical than the tubular section.
➢ When the length of structural member is about 3 m, then the compressive strengths of
the rods and bars are very small.

➢ Single angle sections are rarely used except in light roof trusses, because of
eccentricity at the end connections.

➢ Tee-sections are often used in roof trusses

Effective length :

In SOM , we use theoretical values,

in design we use IS recommended
values.

For laced columns, above values are

increased by 5%

For battened column , increased by

10 %.

Values of IS code is slightly larger

than the theoretical value to account
for 100% fixity at support.
Note :

▪ Load capacity of column depends upon the end conditions and strongest
column is both ends fixed .

• Most efficient cross section in resisting compression is “ thin hollow

circular section“ or “4 angle- box section” As MOI is maximum , so load
carrying capacity is max.

• Most efficient cross section in resisting bending is I- section as for given

cross section area, section modulus and plastic modulus are maximum for I
– section.
Unsupported length of column

1. It is maximum clear distance between bottom of the floor level

and the top of the beam (here a)

a b
Effective Length of column.

It is the length of column between points of zero moment or distance

between points of contraflexure .
Slenderness Ratio : RADIUS OF GYRATION :

AREA A It is a distance such that the

square multiplied by area gives
moment of inertia about the
CG
given axis.

(γmin)2 * A = I

γmin = (I/A)½

Slenderness Ratio = ( Effective length / radius of gyration )

ANGLE STRUTS

The compression members consisting of single

sections are of two types:

1. Continuous members

2. Discontinuous members
1. Continuous members

➢ The compression members (consisting of single or double angles) which are

continuous over a number of joints are known as continuous members.

➢ The top chord members of truss girders and principal rafters of roof trusses
are continuous members.

➢ The effective length of such compression members is adopted between 0.7 and
1.0 times the distance between the centres of intersections, depending upon
degree of restraint provided.
2. Discontinuous members :

➢ The compression members which are not continuous over a number of joints,
i.e., which extend between two adjacent joints only are known as discontinuous
members.

➢ The discontinuous members may consist of single angle strut or double angle
strut.
➢ When an angle strut is connected to a gusset plate or to any structural
member by one leg, the load transmitted through the strut, is eccentric on the
section of the strut.
➢ Hence , bending stress are developed along with direct stress.
Single angle strut

➢ When single angle discontinuous

strut is connected to a gusset plate
with one rivet as shown above, its
effective length is adopted as
centre to centre of intersection at Leff = L
each end . (Leff = L)
➢ Axial compressive stress σ’ac =
0.8 σac i.e. permissible stress is
reduced by 20 %
➢ However, the slenderness ratio of
such single angle strut should not
exceed 180.
➢ When a single angle discontinuous
strut is connected with two or more
number of rivets or welding as Leff = 0.85L
shown below its (Leff = 0.85L)

➢ And allowable working stress

corresponding to the slenderness
ratio of the member is not reduced.
i.e. σ’ac = σac
 Local Buckling of flange and web plate of I –SECTION.

tf
b’
Width of outstand
is measured from b (Width of flange

outer line of rivet

dw tw from face of the
web.)
to extreme edge for
buit- up section.
To prevent local buckling due to compression as per IS:
800., following conditions must be satisfied :

b/tf > 16 (WSM) , b/tf > 8.4 (LSM)

dw/ tw > 50

If the flange and web plate dimensions exceed the

above limits , the excess width should be neglected (no
need to consider it for area calculation)

Load carrying capacity in compression member :

P = Ag * σac ( σac = 0.6fy )

 Rolled section’s

▪ Rolled section’s are the section’s which are available directly from the
factories Of specified size and shape .

▪ And because of limitation of rolling mills and when rolled sections do not
met the required sectional area or when a special shape of large cross
sectional area is required in two different directions , then in that case BUILT
–UP column sections are used .
 Built-up Columns

❑ Built-up columns are widely used in

steel construction especially when the
effective lengths are great and the
compression forces are light.
❑ They are composed of two or more
parallel main components
interconnected by lacing or batten
plates
❑ The greater the distance between the
chord axes, the greater is the moment
of inertia of the built-up cross section;
❑ the increase in stiffness, however, is
counterbalanced by the increased
weight and cost of the connection of
members.
❑ It should be noted that built-up columns
(especially battened built-up columns) are
more flexible than solid columns with the
same moment of inertia; this must be taken
into account in the design.
Connecting the individual components assists in holding the components in their
respective positions.
The components of a built- up column can be connected by-

(i) lacing and

(ii) battening and

accordingly such columns are called laced columns and battened columns
respectively
Laced Columns:

▪ Lacing consists of connecting

the components of the column
by a system of generally flat
plates. (In some cases angles
and channels are also used as
θ
lacings). θ
▪ These are idealized as truss
elements they are subjected to
either tension or compression.
▪ B.M. = 0 ( for this provide only
1 rivet at each end)
▪ Lacing plates may be 50 mm to
75 mm wide and 8 mm to 10
mm thick
▪ Angles of inclination – Lacing bars,
whether in double or single or double
system shall be inclined at an angle not
less than 40° nor more than 70° to the axis
of the built-up member.

▪ If θ decreases , length of lacing will

increase.

▪ Maximum slenderness ratio is limited to

145.
▪ As far as possible the lacing system shall
be uniform throughout the length of the
column.
▪ Single laced systems on opposite
faces of the components being laced
together shall preferably be in the
same direction so that one is the
shadow of the other instead of being
mutually opposed in direction

▪ Effective length
▪ Single lacing Leff = L1
▪ Double lacing Leff = 0.7L1
▪ For welded lacing Leff = 0.7L1
▪ Minimum Thickness of lacing
bars – The thickness of flat At top and bottom of lacing
lacing bars system ( tie plates ) are provided
tmin = (l1/40) single lacing and which are called as batten plates.
tmin = (l1/ 60) double lacings. Which prevents distortion of the
built- up column.

▪ Rolled sections or tubes of

equivalent strength may be
permitted instead of flats for
lacings
Width of lacing bars :

It depends upon nominal diameter of the rivet.

In case of welding , width of lacing will be 50mm.

Nominal dia of rivet Minimum width of lacing bar

16mm 50mm
18mm 55mm
20mm 60mm
22mm 65mm
• The lacing shall be proportioned to resist a total transverse shear
(Vt = 2.5 % of column load. )
and shall be divided equally among all transverse lacing systems in parallel planes.

So , in each lacing bar transverse shear force is V/2.

▪ For single system of two parallel force system , force in each lacing bar F=
V/(2sinθ)
▪ For double lacing system F= V/(4sinθ)
BATTENS

• Battens are plates or any other

rolled section used to connect the
main components of compression
members.
• Battens should be placed opposite
to each other on the two parallel
faces of compression members.
• Number of battens in a column
should be such that member is
divided into not less than three
bays.
 CYY CYY
▪ It behaves like a small beam
subjected to B.M.
▪ Effective length of battened column
should be increased by 10%. S
▪ Minimum no of battens used = 4.
▪ Effective slenderness ratio =
1.10(maximum normal slenderness
ratio)
▪ Effective depth should not be less
b
than the distance between the α
centroid component members.
(de </ α ) de
Effective depth should not be less than
twice the width of one component in
d
plane of batten(b)
(de </ 2b)
Thickness of Batten :

( t >= α/50 )

Transverse shear force is shared equally by no. (N) of parallel planes.

Transverse shear force on each batten (V/N) .
Battens should be designed for to carry bending moment
and shear force arising from transverse shear force V
which is 2.5% of total column load on compression
member.

Longitudinal shear (V1) = VC/(Nα)

Longitudinal Moment (M) = VC/2N

COLUMN SPLICING .

▪ Splicing is done to increase the

length of column.
▪ The most suitable location is at (H/3)
to (H/4)from top and bottom level
floor.
▪ For machined end , it is assumed that
50% load is transferred through
bearing action and rest 50% through
splice action.

P P/2 bearing action

P/2 splice action

▪ If column ends are not smooth then entire
load is assumed to have been transferred
through splice plate and connections only.

▪ Since 2 splice plates exists hence , each

splice plate carries load of P/4. H/3 TO H/4
Splice plate
▪ If column is subjected to moment M also,
then splice plate must also resist additional
force of (M/H), so maximum force in splice H
plate is = ( P/4 + M/H )

H/3 TO H/4
▪ If shear force is also acting at a
column splice , a web splice must
be done on both the side.

▪ The rivet in web splice are

subjected to double shear and
bearing but rivet in flange splice
are subjected to single shear and
bearing .
END