VELAMMAL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, MADURAI

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE8601 – DESIGN OF STEEL STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
UNIT 4 – COMPRESSION MEMBERS

1. What is meant by short strut?

A strut is supposed to be of a small length and loaded only with a compressive axial
force. It is likely to be conceptually pin jointed at ends. A column is a term that has wider
meaning. It may be of any length. It may be loaded with axial load plus bending moment.

2. What is the purpose of providing anchor bolts in base plate?

Anchor bolt on column base plate plays important role to transfer loads (i.e. compression,
tension and shear) from column to foundation. The main purpose of the anchor bolt is to
hold down the column by transferring tensile loads to the corresponding foundation.

3. State the purpose of column base.

Column bases are used as a steel-concrete interface between steel columns and their
foundations. Their main function is to transmit the structure stresses to the concrete
footing surface and to link the column bottom end to the footing.
4. Evaluate the effective length of column based on end conditions.

5. What is the vertical member in roof truss primarily subjected to compression called as?
Column or Post.
6. State the possible failure mode of an axially loaded column
Local buckling : This type of failure occurs by buckling of one or
more individual plate elements
Squashing : It occurs when the length is relatively small and
its component plate elements are prevented from
local buckling
Overall flexural buckling : This mode of failure normally controls the
design of most compression members
7. How the behaviour of compression member differs based on its length?
The behaviour of compression member differs based on the slenderness ratio (KL)/r
which is dependent on the length of member and its end conditions
8. As per code what is the effective length of column fixed at both ends?
 As per code the effective length of column fixed at both ends is 0.65 L, where L is the
overall length of column in between supports
9. As per code what is the effective length of a cantilever column?
As per code, the effective length of cantilever column is 2L, where L refers to the overall
length of column.
10. What is the basic difference between tension and compression member in the design
aspect?
The following are the difference between compression and tension members in the design
aspect.
Compression member Tension member
i. Fails by buckling. Fails by yielding or rupture.
ii. Design strength is based on buckling Design strength is based on rupture at
classifications. critical sections or due to block shear.
iii. Partial safety factor is used in the Euler’s effective length is used in the
design. design.
11. What is meant by slenderness ratio of a column?
Slenderness ratio of column is defined as the raytio of effective length to corresponding
least radius of gyration of the section, thus
Slenderness ratio = le / r min = (KL) / r min
where L = actual length of compression member
le = KL, effective length based on the end conditions
rmin = appropriate least radius of gyration
12. What is the difference between a beam and a beam column?
A beam is a structural member which is designed basically to resist flexural deformation,
whereas a beam column is designed to resist axial compressive loads along with moments
created due to eccentricity from the beam due to the loads like brick work, loaded on
beam. Strictly speaking a column with only axial compressive load is impractical.
13. State the possible failure modes in an axially loaded column.
The following are the possible failure modes in an axially loaded column.
(a) Local buckling: This occurs due to buckling of one or more individual plate elements.
This type of failure takes place in long or slender columns.
 (b) Squashing or crushing: When the column is relatively small (short column) and it is
not allowed to fail by buckling, the column will fail by crushing at its ends after
attaining its full strength.
(c) Flexural buckling: This mode of failure occurs by forming excessive deflection in the
plane of weaker principal axis.
(d) Torsional buckling: This type of failure occurs by twisting about the shear centre of
the column in its longitudinal axis.
14. What is the amount of transverse shear does the lacing bars in built up columns are
expected to resist?
As per cl.7.6.6.3, the lacing shall be proportioned to resist a total transverse shear, V t at
any point in the member, equal to atleast 2.5 percent of the axial force in the member.
15. What is the effective slenderness ratio of battened columns?
As per cl.7.7.1.4 of IS 800-2007, the effective slenderness ratio (KL/r) e of the battened
columns, shall be taken as 1.1 times the (KL/r) o , the maximum actual slenderness ratio of
the column, to account for shear deformation effects.
16. What are the parameters that have an effect on the column strength?
The following parameters have an effect on the column strength.
1. Material properties such as Young’s modulus and yield stress.
2. Method of manufacturing (whether hot rolled section or cold formed sections).
3. Shape of cross section and the length.
4. Support conditions and imperfection factors.
17. What are the types of base plates used in steel columns?
Slab base and gusseted base are the base plates for the steel columns.
18. What is the imperfection factor given in IS code for rolled sections and welded section?
The imperfection factor α LT as per cl.8.2.2 of IS code is
α LT = 0.21 for rolled steel sections and
α LT = 0.49 for welded steel sections.
19. What is the main purpose of lacings and battens?
The main purpose of lacings and battens is that the assembled or connected built up
columns by using lacings or battens act together as a single unit.
20. What is the limitation in the slenderness ratio of a column connected using lacing
system?
Referring to cl.7.6.6.3, the slenderness ratio (KL/r) of the lacing bars shall not exceed
145.