3.

0 Design of compression members

A strut is a member subject to direct compression only.
A column, refers to members subject to a combination of compressive loading and bending.
Most real struts and columns can neither be regarded as slender nor stocky,
Stocky struts will fail by crushing or squashing of the material. For stocky struts the
‘squash load’,Ps is given by the simple formula

Slender struts will fail by buckling.

For elastic slender struts pinned at each end, the ‘Euler load’, at which a perfect strut buckles
elastically is given by;

If the compressive strength, pc, which is given by

Are plotted against λ (Fig. 3.1), the area above the two dotted lines represents an impossible
situation in respect of these struts.

Fig 3.1
Failure line for real struts lies along a series of lines such as a, b, c and d in Fig. 3.1
Table 3.1 , specifies which of the lines is appropriate for the shape of section, and Tables
24(a), (b), (c) and (d) enable values of pc to be read off appropriate to the section used.

Table 3.1 Strut table selection (based on Table 23, BS 5950)

Effective length
The compressive strength of struts is primarily related to their slenderness ratio.
The slenderness ratio, λ, is given by;

The effective length is simply a function of the actual length of the member and the
restraint at the member ends.
Table 22 of BS 5950, reproduced above as Table 3.2 stipulates conservative assumptions
of effective length LE from which the slenderness λ can be calculated.

Table 3.2 Nominal effective length, LE, for a compression member (Table 22, BS 5950)
 Figure 3.2

EXAMPLE 3.1
A proposed 5 metre long internal column in a ‘rigid’ jointed steel structure is to be loaded
concentrically with 1000 kN dead and 1000 kN imposed load (Fig. 3.3 ). Assuming that
fixity at the top and bottom of the column gives effective rotational restraints, design
column sections assuming the structure will be (a) braced and (b) unbraced.

Fig. 3.3
Braced column
Design axial loading
Factored loading,
Fc (1.4 1000) (1.6 1000) 3000 kN
Effective length
For the braced case the column is assumed to be effectively held in position at both ends, and restrained in
direction at both ends. It will buckle about the weak (y–y) axis. From Table 22(BS 5950)
Therefore, the effective length, LE, is
LE 0.7L 0.7 5 3.5 m
Section selection
This column design can only really be done by trial and error.

Initial trial. Try 254 × 254 × 107 UC:

From Table 23, use Table 24(c) of BS 5950 from which pc = 208 N/mm2.
UC section is not slender since b/T < 15ε = 15 × (275/265)0.5 = 15.28 and d/t < 40ε = 40.74
Table 11, BS 5950 From clause 4.7.4 of BS 5950, compression resistance of column, Pc, is

Second trial. Try 305 × 305 × 118 UC:

Then from Table 24(c) of BS 5950 pc = 222 N/mm2. UC section is not slender then

Unbraced column
For the unbraced case, LE 1.2L 6.0 metres from Table 22, and the economic member would
appear to be
305 x 305 x 158 UC:

Then from Table 21, pc = 165 N/mm2. Section is not slender

Hence, it can immediately be seen that for a given axial load, a bigger steel section will be
required if the column is unbraced
Columns with bending moments

Cross-section capacity check

Generally, except for class 4 slender cross-sections, clause 4.8.3.2 states that the following relationship should be
satisfied

See clause 4.8.3.2 (c) for slender members

Buckling resistance check

Clause 4.8.3.3.1 of BS 5950
Involves checking that the following relationships are both satisfied:
Table 3.3 Equivalent uniform moment factor m for flexural buckling (Table 26, BS 5950)
Example 3.2 Column resisting an axial load and bending (BS 5950)
Select a suitable column section in grade S275 steel to support a factored axial concentric load of
2000 kN and factored bending moments of 100 kN m about the major axis, and 20 kN m about the
minor axis (Fig. 3.4 ), applied at both ends of the column. The column is 10 m long and is fully
fixed against rotation at top and bottom, and the floors it supports are braced against sway.

Fig 3.4
Initial section selection
BUCKLING RESISTANCE CHECK
In-plane buckling
effective length LE = 0.7L = 7 m table 22

From Table 23, for buckling about the x–x axis and y–y axis use, respectively, Table 24(b) of BS 5950 from which
pcx 157 N/mm2, and Table 24(c) of BS 5950 from which pcy 139 N/mm2. Then

From Table 20 pb = 196 N/mm2

Ratio of end moments about both major axes, 1. Hence from Table 18 , mLT 1
Buckling resistance check
In-plane buckling
From Table 22, effective length L E = 0.7L = 7 m

From Table 4.23, for buckling about the x–x axis and y–y axis use, respectively, Table
24(b) of BS 5950 from which pcx = 190 N/mm2, and Table 24(c) of BS 5950 from which
pcy = 169 N/mm2. Then

From Table 20, pb = 220 N/mm2

 SUMMARY OF DESIGN PROCEDURES FOR COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Axially loaded members
1. Determine ultimate axial load Fc.
2. Select trial section and check it is non-slender.
3. Determine rx, ry and Ag from steel tables.
4. Determine effective lengths, LEX and LEY, using Table 22.
5. Calculate slenderness ratios, λEX = LEX/rx) and λEY (= LEY/ry).
6. Select suitable strut curves from Table 23
7. Determine compressive strength, pc, using Table 24 or similar.
8. Calculate compression resistance of member, Pc= Agpc.
9. Check Fc ≤ Pc. If unsatisfactory return to 2
Members subject to axial load and bending
1. Determine ultimate axial load, Fc, and bending moments, Mx and My.
2. Select and classify trial section.
3. Calculate moment capacities of section, Mcx and Mcy. If either Mx > Mcx or My > Mcy return
to 2.
4. Check cross-section capacity of section via equation 4.32. If unsatisfactory return to 2.
5. Determine effective lengths, LEX and LEY, using Table 22.
6. Calculate slenderness ratios, λEX (= LEX/rx) and λEY (= LEY/ry).
7. Select suitable strut curves from Table 23
8. Determine the major and minor axes compressive strengths, pcx and pcy, using Table 24,or similar.
9. Calculate compressive resistances, Pcx (= pcx Ag) and Pcy (= pcy Ag).
10. Evaluate buckling resistance of section, Mb.
11. Determine equivalent uniform moment factors for flexural buckling, mx and my, using Table 26
12. Check buckling resistance of member .If unsatisfactory return to 2.

Exercise
Design of a steel column in ‘simple’ construction (BS 5950)
Select a suitable column section in S275 steel to support the ultimate loads from beams A and B
shown in Fig. 3.5. Assume the column is 7 m long and is effectively held in position at both ends
but only restrained in direction at the bottom

Fig 3.5
Design of column baseplates
Clause 4.13 gives guidance on the design of concentrically loaded column slab baseplates,
The plan area of the baseplate is calculated by assuming
i. the nominal bearing pressure between the baseplate and support is uniform and
ii. the applied load acts over a portion of the baseplate known as the effective area, the
extent of which for UB and UCs is as indicated on Fig. 3.6

Fig 3.6
For concrete foundations the bearing strength may be taken as 0.6 times the characteristic
cube strength of the concrete base or the bedding material (i.e. 0.6fcu), whichever is the
lesser.
The effective area of the baseplate, Abe, is then obtained from

The required minimum baseplate thickness, tp, is given by

where
c is the largest perpendicular distance from the edge of the effective portion of the baseplate to
the face of the column cross-section (Fig. 4.32)
ω pressure on the underside of the plate assuming a uniform distribution throughout the
effective portion, but ≤ 0.6fcu
pyp design strength of the baseplate which may be taken from Table 9
Example 3.3 Design of a steel column baseplate (BS 5950)
Design a baseplate for the axially loaded column shown below assuming it is supported on
concrete of compression characteristic strength 30 N/mm2.