MOD 3

Compression members
• A structural member which is straight and is subjected to compressive forces along
its axis is termed as a compression member.

Types of compression members

• Column
• Stanchion
• Principal rafter
• Strut
• Boom

• Compression members – short, long, intermediate 1

Stanchion
Boom

Strut Rafter
Compression members

Columns and stanchion

• The vertical compressive member in RCC buildings is generally termed as column
whereas for steel building it is called stanchion.

Strut
• The compressive member in a roof truss or bracing is called as strut

Principal rafter
• Top chord member in roof truss

Boom 6
• The principal compression member in a crane is called boom.
Modes of failure of a column

• Squashing
• Local buckling
• Overall flexural buckling
• Torsional buckling
• Flexural-torsional buckling

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Modes of failure of a column

Squashing
• If the length of the compression member is relatively small, then the column will
be able to attain its full strength or ‘squash load’
• Squash load = yield strength x cross sectional area

Local buckling
• The individual elements of a compressive member such as web, flange etc. may
buckle locally. This is known as local buckling

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Modes of failure of a column

Flexural buckling
• It is the deflection caused by bending or flexure about the
axis corresponding to the largest slenderness ratio.
• This is usually the minor principal axis- the one with
smallest radius of gyration.
• Compression members with any type of cross sectional
configuration can fail in this manner.

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Modes of failure of a column

Torsional buckling
• In flexural buckling, the sections displace from their original position
but translation without any rotation.
• Thin wall members with open cross-sectional shape are sometimes
weak in torsion and hence may buckle by twisting rather than bending.
• Torsional buckling occurs when the torsional rigidity of the member is
appreciable smaller than its bending rigidity.
• This type of failure is caused by twisting about the longitudinal axis of
the member.

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Modes of failure of a column

Flexural-torsional buckling
• This type of failure is caused by a combination of flexural buckling and torsional
buckling.
• The member bends and twists simultaneously.
• Usually occurs in unsymmetrical cross-sections

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Effective length

• The effective length of a compression member is the distance between the

contraflexure points.
• It is derived from actual length and end conditions.
Rotation Translation
Fixed Fixed

Free Fixed

Fixed Free

Free Free No support 10

Effective length

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Effective length

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IS 800:2007 PAGE 45

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Slenderness ratio

• The slenderness ratio of a member is the ratio of the effective length to the
appropriate radius of gyration.
• 𝜆 = 𝑘𝐿
𝑅

• To minimize steel requirements in column design, the slenderness ratio should be

kept as small as possible.
• The maximum possible slenderness ratio for compression members given in Table 3
IS 800:2007 pg-20

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Various cross-section

• The strength of compression members vary inversely to the slenderness ratio.

• Rods and bars – withstand very little compression when length is more.
Recommended for lengths less than 3 m only.
• Tubular sections are most suitable for small loads and lengths. Eg. Roof trusses and
bracings
• Single angle sections in general avoided- for long lengths
• Equal angles are more desirable and economical than unequal ones their least radius
of gyration is greater for the same area of steel.
• Built up sections – large structures
• Double angles back to back or facing one another are most suited for trusses

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Various cross-section

• Single angle sections in general avoided- for long lengths

• Equal angles are more desirable and economical than unequal ones their least radius
of gyration is greater for the same area of steel.
• Double angles back to back or facing one another are most suited for trusses

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Various cross-section

• Cruciform or star arrangement of

two angle sections is most effective
(equal radii of gyration in both
directions)
• Back to back channels seldom
recommended (smaller radius of
gyration)
• Face to face channels recommended
• Built up sections – large structures

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Load carrying capacity of column
Load = stress x area
P = fcd x Ae

where
• Ae= area of compression member (SP 6)
• fcd = design compressive stress

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Load carrying capacity of column
Step 1: Effective area Ae
SP 6

Step 2: Buckling class (Table 10)

• IS 800:2007 divides various cross-sections into four buckling classes a,b,c and d
• Table 10 in IS 800:2007

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Load carrying capacity of column

Step 3: Slenderness ratio

𝑘𝐿
𝜆=
𝑅

Step 4: Design compressive stress values corresponding to slenderness ratio

(IS 800:2007 page-40 to 43)

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Load carrying capacity of column

Step 5: Load carrying capacity or factored load (Clause 7.1.2)

• P = fcd x Ae

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Lacings

• Flat or angle sections are normally used

as lacings.
• The purpose of lacing is to hold the
various parts of a column straight,
parallel, at a correct distance apart and to
equalize the stress distribution between
its various parts.
• Single or double lacings can be provided
and are designed as compression
members.
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Batten
• Battens are plates or any other rolled sections used
to connect the main components of compression
members.
• Battens should be placed opposite to each other on
the two parallel faces and should be spaced and
proportioned uniformly throughout.
• Battens provided at the ends of columns are called
end battens and all other battens are called
intermediate battens.
• Battened columns have same strength as laced
columns but are uneconomical and used rarely.
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Design of Lacings and
Battens
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Design of Laced columns

• Design of column section

• Lacing
• Design of lacing
• Design of connection between section and lacing bar
• Check for strength of lacing bar

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Design of Laced columns
Design of column section
• Step 1 : Assume Fcd value
• Step 2: Effective area
• Step 3: Selection of section
• Step 4: Actual fcd
• Step 5: Actual load
• Step 6: Spacing between section

Lacing
• Step 1: Horizontal distance
• Step 2: Vertical distance
• Step 3: length of lacing bar
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• Step 4: Check for spacing of lacing bar (IS 800 Page 50, clause 7.6.5)
Design of Laced columns
Design of lacing
• Step 1: Transverse shear (IS 800 page 50, cl.[Link])
• Step 2: Thickness of lacing bar (IS 800 page 50, cl.7.6.3)
• Step 3: Width of lacing bar ((IS 800 page 50, cl.7.6.2)
• Step 4: Slenderness ratio of lacing bar (IS 800 page 50, cl.[Link])

Design of connection between section and lacing bar

• Shear capacity, bearing capacity
• No. of bolts

Check for strength of lacing bar

• P= fcd x Ae 9
Design of Battened columns

• Design of column section

• Batten
• Design of batten

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Design of Battened columns
Design of column section
• Step 1 : Assume Fcd value
• Step 2: Effective area
• Step 3: Selection of section
• Step 4: Actual fcd
• Step 5: Actual load
• Step 6: Spacing between section

Batten
• Step 1: Horizontal distance
• Step 2: Vertical distance
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Design of Battened columns
Design of batten
• Step 1: Transverse shear (IS 800 page 51, cl.7.7.2)
• Step 2: Moment
• Step 3: size
• Step 4: End batten (cl.[Link])
• Step 5: Effective depth

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