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Module 5

DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF

COMPRESSION MEMBERS :
COLUMNS

Lesson No. 3 : LRFD - Compressive Strength

For Flexural Buckling Members Without Slender
Elements and With Slender Elements

I. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Know the different equations and formula used in LRFD method based on the
classification of the members..
2. Used the LRFD method
a) In analyzing and computing the nominal and design compressive strength
of a member;
b) In designing structural compression member.

II. OVERVIEW
The AISC Specification provides one equation (the Euler equation) for long columns
with elastic buckling and an empirical parabolic equation for short and intermediate
columns. With these equations, a flexural buckling stress, is determined for a
compression member. Once this stress is computed for a particular member, it is
multiplied by the cross-sectional area of the member to obtain its nominal strength .
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III. COURSE MATERIALS

1.0 GENERAL PROVISION FOR COLUMN FORMULA

The design compressive strength, ∅𝑐 𝑃𝑛 , and the allowable compressive strength

𝑃𝑛 ⁄𝛺𝑐 , are determined as follows.

The nominal compressive strength, 𝑃𝑛 , shall be the lowest value obtained according to
the limit states of flexural buckling, torsional buckling and flexural-torsional buckling.

1) For doubly symmetric and singly symmetric members the limit state of flexural
buckling is applicable.
2) For singly symmetric and unsymmetric members, and certain doubly symmetric
members, such as cruciform or built-up columns, the limit states of torsional or
flexural-torsional buckling are also applicable.

∅𝑐 = 0.90 (LRFD) 𝛺𝑐 = 1.67 (ASD)

The strength requirement in load resistance factor design may be stated

∅𝑐 𝑃𝑛 ≥ 𝑃𝑢
where:
∅𝑐 = 0.90
𝑃𝑛 = nominal compressive strength = 𝐴𝑔 𝐹𝑐𝑟
𝐹𝑐𝑟 = flexural buckling stress
𝑃𝑢 = factored service load

The AISC Specification for compressive strength or flexural buckling stress, 𝐹𝑐𝑟 is
determined as follows:

Eqn (3-2)

Eqn (3-3)
where:
Fe = elastic critical buckling stress (Euler stress) calculated with the effective
length KL
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Eqn (3-4)

These requirements are represented graphically in the Figure below.

AISC Equations (3-2 and (3-3) are a condensed version of five equations that cover
five ranges of KL/r. These equations are based on experimental and theoretical studies
that account for the effects of residual stresses and an initial out-of straightness ogf
L/1500 whete is the member length. Although AISC does not require an upper limit on
slenderness ratio KL/r, an upper limit of 200 is recommended. This is a practical upper
limit because compression members that are any more slender will have little strength
and will not be economical.

2.0 LOCAL STABILITY

The strength corresponding to any overall buckling mode such as flexural buckling,
cannot be developed if the elements of the cross section are so thin that local buckling
occurs. This type of instability is a localized buckling or wrinkling at an isolated location.
If it occurs, the cross section is no longer fully effective, and the member has failed. I-
shaped cross sections with thin flanges or webs are susceptible to this phenomenon,
and their use should be avoided whenever possible. Otherwise, the compressive
strength given by AISC Equations E3-2 and E3-3 must be reduced. The measure of this
susceptibility is the width-to-thickness ratio of each cross-sectional element. Two types
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of elements must be considered: unstiffened elements, which are unsupported along

one edge parallel to the direction of load, and stiffened elements, which are supported
along both edges.
Limiting values of width-to-thickness ratios are given in the table 2, “Classification
of Sections for Local Buckling.” For compression members, shapes are classified as
slender or nonslender. If a shape is slender, its strength limit state is local buckling, and
the corresponding reduced strength must be computed. The width-to-thickness ratio is
given the generic symbol, λ Depending on the particular cross-sectional element, λ for
I- and H-shapes is either the ratio b / t or h / tw, both of which are defined presently. If λ
is greater than the specified limit ,denoted , λ 𝑟 the shape is slender and the potential for
buckling must be accounted for.
AISC Table 2 shows the upper limit, λ 𝑟 for nonslender members of various
cross-sectional shapes. If λ ≤ λ 𝑟 , the shape is nonslender. Otherwise, the shape is
slender. The table is divided into two parts: unstiffened elements and stiffened
elements. (For beams, a shape can be compact, noncompact, or slender, and the
limiting values of λ are given in AISC Table 2(b.

For I-shapes, the projecting flange is considered to be an unstiffened element, and its
width can be taken as half of the full nominal width. Using AISC notation gives

where bf and tf are the width and thickness of the flange. The upper limit is

The webs of I shapes are stiffened elements, and the stiffened width is the distance
between the roots of the flanges. The width-to-thickness parameter is

where h is the distance between the roots of the flanges, and tw is the web thickness.
The upper limit is

Stiffened and unstiffened elements of various cross-sectional shapes are illustrated in

Table 2. The appropriate compression member limit, lr, from AISC B4.1 is given for
each case.
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3.0 CLASSIFICATION OF SECTIONS FOR LOCAL BUCKLING (Note: This is

Section B4 in the Specification for Structural Steel Buildings)

“Sections are classified as compact, noncompact, or slender-element sections. For

a section to qualify as compact its flanges must be continuously connected to the
web or webs and the width-thickness ratios of its compression elements must not
exceed the limiting width-thickness ratios λp from Table 2. If the width-thickness
ratio of one or more compression elements exceeds λp, but does not exceed λr
from Table 2, the section is noncompact. If the width-thickness ratio of any element
exceeds λr, the section is referred to as a slender-element section.”
NOTE: Table 2 is Table B4.1 in the Specification

3.1 Unstiffened Elements

For unstiffened elements supported along only one edge parallel to the
direction of the compression force, the width shall be taken as follows:
(a) For flanges of I-shaped members and tees, the width b is one-half the
full-flange width, bf .
(b) For legs of angles and flanges of channels and zees, the width b is the
full nominal dimension.
(c) For plates, the width b is the distance from the free edge to the first
row of fasteners or line of welds.
(d) For stems of tees, d is taken as the full nominal depth of the section.

3.2 Stiffened Elements

For stiffened elements supported along two edges parallel to the direction of
the compression force, the width shall be taken as follows:
(a) For webs of rolled or formed sections, h is the clear distance between
flanges less the fillet or corner radius at each flange; hc is twice the
distance from the centroid to the inside face of the compression flange
less the fillet or corner radius.
(b) For webs of built-up sections, h is the distance between adjacent lines
of fasteners or the clear distance between flanges when welds are
used, and hc is twice the distance from the centroid to the nearest line
of fasteners at the compression flange or the inside face of the
compression flange when welds are used; hp is twice the distance
from the plastic neutral axis to the nearest line of fasteners at the
compression flange or the inside face of the compression flange when
welds are used.
(c) For flange or diaphragm plates in built-up sections, the width b is the
distance between adjacent lines of fasteners or lines of welds.
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(d) For flanges of rectangular hollow structural sections (HSS), the width b
is the clear distance between webs less the inside corner radius on
each side. For webs of rectangular HSS, h is the clear distance
between the flanges less the inside corner radius on each side. If the
corner radius is not known, b and h shall be taken as the
corresponding outside dimension minus three times the thickness. The
thickness, t, shall be taken as the design wall thickness,
Please refer to Table 2 for the graphic representation of stiffened and
unstiffened element dimension.

Table 2. Limiting Width-Thickness Ratios for Compression Elements

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4.0 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH FOR FLEXURAL BUCKLING MEMBERS

WITHOUT SLENDER ELEMENTS

This section applies to compression members with compact and noncompact

sections, as defined in Section 8.2, for uniformly compressed elements.

The nominal compressive strength, Pn, shall be determined based on the limit
state of flexural buckling.

Eqn (3-1)

The flexural buckling stress, Fcr, is determined as follows:

Eqn (3-2)

Eqn (3-3)
where:
Fe = elastic critical buckling stress (Euler stress) calculated with the effective
length KL

Eqn (3-4)

IMPORTANT :
Many of the shapes commonly used as columns are not slender, and the reduction will
not be needed. This includes most (but not all) W-shapes. However, a large number of
hollow structural shapes (HSS), double angles, and tees have slender elements.

5.0 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH FOR FLEXURAL BUCKLING MEMBERS WITH

SLENDER ELEMENTS

This Section applies to compression members with slender section as defined in

Section 2,0 for uniformly compressed elements.
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The nominal compressive strength, Pn, for compression members with slender
sections shall be determined based on the limit states of flexural, torsional and
flexural-torsional buckling.

Eqn (5-1)

Eqn (5-2)

Eqn (5-3)

where

Fe = elastic critical buckling stress, calculated using Eqns (3-4) and (4-
4) for doubly symmetric members, Eqns (3-4) and (4-5) for
singly symmetric members, and Eqn (4-6) for unsymmetric
members, except nfor single angles where Fe is calculated
using Eqn (3-4).
Q = 1.0 for members with compact and noncompact sections, as
defined in Section 2.0, for uniformly compressed elements
Q= QsQa for members with slender-element sections, as defined in
Section 2.0, for uniformly compressed elements.

Note: For cross sections composed of only unstiffened slender elements,

Q = Qs (Qa= 1.0). For cross sections composed of only stiffened
slender elements,
Q = Qa (Qs = 1.0). For cross sections composed of both stiffened
and unstiffened slender elements, Q = QsQa.

5.1 Slender Unstiffened Elements, Qs

The reduction factor Qs for slender unstiffened elements is defined as follows:

(a) For flanges, angles, and plates projecting from rolled columns or
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other compression members:

`
Eqn (5.4)

Eqn (5-5)

Eqn (5-6)

(b) For flanges, angles, and plates projecting from built-up

columns or other compression members:

Eqn (5-7)

Eqn (5-8)

Eqn (5-9)

where

and shall not be taken less than 0.35 nor greater than
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0.76 for calculation purposes

(c) For single angles

Eqn (5-10)

Eqn (5-11)

Eqn (5-12)

where: b = full width of longest angle leg, in. (mm)

(d) For stems of tees

Eqn (5-13)

Eqn (5-14)
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Eqn (5-15)

where
b = width of unstiffened compression element, as defined in Section
B4,in. (mm)
d = the full nominal depth of tee, in. (mm)
t = thickness of element, in. (mm)

5. 2 Slender Stiffened Elements, Qa

The reduction factor, Qa, for slender stiffened elements is defined as follows

Eqn (5-16)
where
A = total cross-sectional area of member, in.2 (mm2)
Aeff= summation of the effective areas of the cross section based on
the reduced effective width, be, in.2 (mm2)

The reduced effective width, be, is determined as follows:

a For uniformly compressed slender elements, with

except flangeof square and rectangular sections of uniform

thickness:

Eqn (5-17)

where
f is taken as Fcr with Fcr calculated based on Q = 1.0.

b. For flanges of square and rectangular slender-element sections of

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uniform thickness with

Eqn(5-18)

where

a. For axially-loaded circular sections:

When

Eqn (5-19)

where
D = outside diameter, in. (mm)
t = wall thickness, in. (mm)