Structural Steel Design to BS5950

ENCE5204: Steel Design [II]

Design of Compound beams

By:
Dr. Ali Hussein M. Bass
 Compound beam

 Definition: A compound beam consisting of two equal flange plates

welded to a universal beam as shown in Figure (1).

Fig. (1): Compound beam fabricated by welding.

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 Compound beam
 Design considerations:
(1) Section classification
• Compound sections are classified into plastic, compact, semi-compact and
slender in the same way as discussed previously for universal beams.
However, the compound beam is treated as a section built up by welding.
• The manner in which the checks are to be applied set out in Section 3.5.3
of the code is as follows:
1- Whole flange consisting of flange plate and universal beam flange is
checked using b1/T , where; b1 ≡ is the total outstand of the compound
beam flange and T ≡ is the thickness of the original universal beam flange.

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 Compound beam
2- The outstand b2 of the flange plate from the universal beam flange is
checked using b2/Tf , where; Tf ≡ is the thickness of the flange plate.

3- The width/thickness ratio of the flange plate between welds b3/Tf is

checked, where; b3 ≡ is the internal width of the universal beam flange.

4- The universal beam flange itself and the web must also be checked as set
out in Section 3.5.
(2) Moment capacity
 The area of flange plates to be added to a given universal beam to increase
the strength by a required amount may be determined as follows [see
Figure (2)].

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 Compound beam

Fig. (2): Compound beam

Design.

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 Compound beam

 Total plastic modulus required: ………………. Eq. (1)

Where; M ≡ is the applied factored moment.

 If SUB is the plastic modulus for the universal beam, the additional plastic
modulus required is:
………………. Eq. (2)

 Where; B × Tf ≡ is the flange area and D ≡ is the depth of universal beam.

 Suitable dimensions for the flange plates can be quickly established.
(3) Curtailment of flange plates
• For a restrained beam with a uniform load the theoretical cut-off points for
the flange plates can be determined as follows [see Figure 2(b)]:
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 Compound beam

• The moment capacity of the universal beam:

………………. Eq. (3)

• where; ZUB ≡ is the elastic modulus for the universal beam.

• Equate MUB to the moment at P a distance x from the support:

………………. Eq. (4)

• Where; ω ≡ is the factored uniform load and L ≡ is the span of the beam.

• Solve the equation for x. The flange plate should be carried beyond the
theoretical cut-off point so that the weld on the extension can develop the
load in the plate at the theoretical cut-off.

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 Compound beam
(4) Web design
• The universal beam web must be checked for shear. It must also be checked
for buckling and crushing if the beam is supported on a bracket or column
or if a point load is applied to the top flange.

(5) Flange plates to universal beam welds

• The fillet welds between the flange plates and universal beam are designed
to resist horizontal shear using elastic theory [see Figure 2(c)].

• Horizontal shear in each fillet weld:

………………. Eq. (5)

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 Compound beam
 Where; Fv ≡ is the factored shear and Ix ≡ is the moment of inertia about
x–x axis. The other terms have been defined above.
 The leg length can be selected from Table (1). In some cases a very small
fillet weld is required, but the minimum recommended size of 6mm should
be used.
Table (1): Strength of fillet weld (kN/mm run)

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 Example (1)

 Design of a Compound beam

 A compound beam is to carry a uniformly distributed dead load of 400 kN
and an imposed load of 600 kN. The beam is simply supported and has a
span of 11 m. Allow 30 kN for the weight of the beam. The overall depth
must not exceed 700 mm. The length of stiff bearing at the ends is 215.9
mm where the beam is supported on 203 × 203 UC 71 columns. Full lateral
support is provided for the compression flange. Use Grade S275 steel.
(1) Design the beam section and check deflection, assuming a uniform section
throughout.

(2) Determine the theoretical and actual cut-off points for the flange plates and
the possible saving in weight that would result if the flange plates were
curtailed.
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 Compound beam
(3) Check the web for shear, buckling and bearing, assuming that plates are not
curtailed.
(4) Design the flange plate to universal beam welds.
Solution
(1) Design of the beam section
The total factored load carried by the beam = 1.4(400+30) + (1.6×600) =

1562 kN (i.e. 142 kN/m).

Maximum moment = 1562 × 11/8 = 2147.8 kNm.

• The loading, shear force and bending moment diagrams are shown in Figure
3(a).
• Assume that the flanges of the universal beam are thicker than 16 mm:
Thus; py = 265N/mm² (from Table 9, BS 5950)
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 Compound beam

Fig. (3): Compound beam.

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 Compound beam
• Plastic modulus required, Sx = 2147.8 × 10³/265 = 8104.9 cm³.
Try 610 × 229 UB 140; where Sx = 4146 cm³.
The beam section is shown in Figure 3(b).
The additional plastic modulus required:
= 8104.9 − 4146 = 3958.9 cm³
= 2 × 300 × Tf (617 + Tf )/(2 × 10³),
where the flange plate thickness Tf is to be determined for a width of 300 mm.
• This reduces to:
Tf ² + 617Tf − 13196 = 0.
Solving gives; Tf = 20.69 mm.
 Provide plates; 300 mm × 25 mm.
The total depth is 667mm (satisfactory).
• Check the beam dimensions for local buckling:
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 Compound beam
ε = √(275/265) = 1.02
• Universal beam:
Flange: b/T = 115.1/22.1 = 5.21 < 9.0 × 1.02 = 9.18,
Web: d/t = 547.2/13.1 = 41.7 < 80 × 1.02 = 81.6.
• Compound beam flange (see Figure 2):
Flange; b1/T = 150/22.1 = 6.79 < 1.02 × 8.0 = 8.16
b2/Tf = 34.95/25 = 1.40 < 8.16
b3/Tf = 230.1/25 = 9.2 < 28 × 1.02 = 28.56.
• Thus, the section meets the requirements for a plastic section.
• The moment of inertia about the x–x axis for the compound section is
calculated. Note for the universal beam:
• Ix = 111,844 cm³,

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 Compound beam
Ix = 111844 + 2 × 30 × 2.5 × 32.1² + 2 × 30 × 2.5²/12 = 266,483 .
• The deflection due to the unfactored imposed load is;

(2) Curtailment of flange plates

• Moment capacity of the universal beam:
3
Mc = 4146 × 265 × 10 = 1098.7 kNm.
• Referring to Figure 3(a), determine the position of P where the bending
moment in the beam is 1098.7 kNm from the following equation:

781x − 142x²/2 = 1098.7

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 Compound beam
• This reduces to; x² − 11x + 15.47 = 0
x = 1.656 m from each end.
• The compound section will be the elastic range at this point with an
average stress in the plate for the factored loads;

• Force in the flange plate;

3
= 132.4 × 300 × 25 × 10 = 993 kN.
• Assume 6 mm fillet weld, strength 0.92 kN/mm from Table (1).
• Length of weld to develop the force in the plate;
= [993/(2 × 0.92)] + 6 = 546 mm,

Actual cut-off length = 1656 − 546 = 1110 mm.

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 Compound beam

 Cut plates off at 1000 mm from each end.

Saving in material from curtailment:
Area of universal beam = 178.4 cm²,
Area of flange plates = 150 cm².
 Volume of the compound beam with no curtailment of plates;
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= 328.4 × 1100 = 36.12 × 10 cm³.
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 Volume of material saved = 200 × 150 = 3.0 × 10 cm³.
Saving in material = 8.3%
(3) Web in shear, buckling and bearing

(1) Shear capacity (see Figure 3(b)). This is checked on the web of the
universal beam.

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 Compound beam

Fig. (4): Bearing and

Buckling checks.

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 Compound beam
3
Pv = 0.6 × 265 × 617 × 13.1 × 10 = 1285 kN,

Factored shear; Fv = 781 kN. [Shear O.K.]

(2) Web bearing (see Figures 3(b) and 4(a)):
Pbw = (b1 + nk)t × pyw
3
Pbw = (215.9 + 149.75) × 13.1 × 265 × 10
= 1269.3 kN (satisfactory).
(3) Web buckling:

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 Compound beam

Buckling check Not O.K. Web stiffeners required.

(4) Flange plate to universal beam weld (see Figure 4(c)):

• Factored shear at support; Fv = 781 kN

• Provide 6 mm fillet welds, strength 0.92 kN/mm. This is the minimum size
weld to be used.

 Questions ????
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 Remark:
 Fillet Welds:
• Fillet welds are usually specified by the leg length s, e.g. a 6 mm fillet
weld. The actual capacity of the weld is based on the effective throat size a.
The effective throat size should be taken as the perpendicular distance from
the root of the weld to a straight line joining the fusion faces that just lies
within the cross-section of the weld, see Figure (5). The value of a to be
used in calculating weld capacity should be the smaller of a shown in

Figure below and 0.7s.

• The effective length of the weld run should be taken as equal to the overall
length less one leg length s where the weld does not return around a corner.

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 Remark:

• The effective length of weld should be at least 40 mm but not less than 4s.

• The design strength of fillet welds is obtained from Table 37 of BS5950-1.

Fig. (5): Fillet welds – Leg length s and Throat thickness a.

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 Compound beam

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