Steel Structure Design

Complete Step-by-Step Notes & Explanations

Topics: Truss Analysis | Compression Members | Tension Members | Beam Design
Based on IS 800 | June 2026
PAGE 1 — Revision: Truss Analysis + Compression Members
Introduction

PART A: Truss Reactions (Bottom Chord / Top Chord)

When you have a truss with n equal panels and equal point loads P at each panel point:
RA = (n - x) * P / nP RB = x / nP
What this means:
• A truss has n panels with loads P at each node
• RA and RB are the support reactions at left and right ends
• These are simple statics — Sum of vertical forces = 0, and take moments

CONCEPT: In any simply supported truss, total load = n*P, and reactions depend on how loads are
distributed symmetrically or asymmetrically.

If load is to the left of member U2U3

This refers to the Method of Sections in truss analysis.
• When you cut a truss and take a free body diagram, you check which loads are on the left side
of your cut
• Member U2U3 is a top chord member (U = upper chord node)
• The position of loads relative to your cut section determines the force in that member

For First Inclined Member — Sum V = 0

Boxed Formula:
Force = (mP - P) / (nP * sin(theta))
Explanation:
• For an inclined member (diagonal), you resolve forces vertically
• Sum V = 0 means sum of vertical forces = zero
• The inclined member carries a vertical component = Force * sin(theta)
• So: Force * sin(theta) = shear at that section
• Therefore: Force = Shear / sin(theta)

KEY CONCEPT: Diagonal members in trusses carry shear force. You find their force by dividing
the shear at that section by sin(theta).
PART B: Design of Compression Members
This is a major topic — how to design steel columns/struts.

Compressive Stress
When a member is pushed (compressed), it develops compressive stress = Load / Area

Buckling (Steel)
Buckling = When a slender column under compression suddenly bends sideways and fails —
even before reaching yield stress.
fy = 250 MPa (yield strength of steel)
Why buckling matters:
• A short stocky column fails by crushing (yielding)
• A long slender column fails by BUCKLING at a much LOWER load
• So you cannot just use fy directly — a reduction must be applied

Load = fy x Area — BUT with Reduction

Load = fy * Area * chi (chi = Reduction Factor)
Where chi (X) = Reduction Factor (always between 0 and 1):
• chi = 1 --> no buckling, full strength used (very short column)
• chi < 1 --> buckling reduces the capacity
• chi --> 0 --> very slender column, almost no capacity

Design Compressive Stress Formula

fcd = fy * chi / gamma_mo
Where:
• fy = yield strength = 250 MPa
• chi = reduction factor (accounts for buckling)
• gamma_mo = partial safety factor = 1.10 (as per IS 800)

Chi (X) Formula

chi = 1 / [phi + (phi^2 - lambda^2)^0.5]
This formula comes from the Euler-Johnson curve and accounts for:
• Initial imperfections in the column
• Residual stresses from manufacturing
 • The theoretical Euler buckling load

Buckling Classes: a, b, c, d
IS 800 defines 4 buckling classes based on the cross-section shape and axis of buckling:

Class Imperfection Factor (alpha) Description

a 0.21 Best — least imperfection
b 0.34 Common rolled sections
c (MOST 0.49 Used for building sections
COMMON)
d 0.76 Worst — most imperfection

Why different classes? Different sections have different residual stresses and initial crookedness. For
most standard building columns, class C is used.
PAGE 2 — Worked Example: Two Channel Sections (ISMC 300)

Problem Setup
Two ISMC 300 channel sections placed back-to-back (toe to toe), connected by a spacing plate of
width S.

Given properties of ONE ISMC 300:

Property Value
Area 4630 mm²
bf (flange width) 90 mm
Cf (centroid from back of web) 23.5 mm
d (depth) 300 mm
Izz (strong axis) 6420 x 10^4 mm^4
Iyy (weak axis) 313 x 10^4 mm^4

Assume S = 280 mm (gap between the two channels)

Why Find S? — To make Ixx = Iyy

Goal: Find the spacing S between the two channels such that the moment of inertia is equal about both
axes.
Why? Because the slenderness ratio lambda = KL/r is maximum about the weaker axis. If Ixx =
Iyy, then rxx = ryy, meaning the column buckles equally in both directions — most efficient use
of material.

Finding Ixx (Strong Axis)

For two channels + connecting plates (using parallel axis theorem):
Ixx = 2 * Izz + contribution of plates
Result note: x_bar * Ixx = 9132.805 (keep in terms of S for exam)
y_bar = S/2 = 140 mm

Finding Iyy (Weak Axis — needs Parallel Axis Theorem)

Iyy = 2 * [313x10^4 + 4630*(S/2 - 23.5)^2] + 6S^3/12
Breaking this down:
• 313 x 10^4 = own Iyy of one channel about its own centroid
• 4630 * (S/2 - 23.5)^2 = parallel axis term (shifting centroid)
• S/2 = half the total spacing (combined centroid location)
• 23.5 mm = Cf (channel centroid is 23.5mm from its back)
• 6S^3/12 = inertia of the connecting plates
PAGE 3 — Solving for S and Computing Slenderness Ratio

Equating Ixx = Iyy → S = 280 mm

After expanding and equating both equations, S comes out to approximately 280 mm. This confirms the
assumption made at the start.

Final Section Properties

Property Value
Width 280 mm
Depth 300 mm
Ixx 1611.7 x 10^6 mm^4
Iyy 142.91 x 10^6 mm^4
Boundary Condition Pinned-Pinned (K = 1.0)
Assumed Length 5m

Radius of Gyration
ry = sqrt(Iyy / A)
= sqrt(142.91x10^6 / (4630*2 + 280*6))
= sqrt(142.91x10^6 / 10940)
= 114.3 mm

Total Area = 2 channels + connecting plates = 2 x 4630 + 280 x 6 = 10,940 mm²

Slenderness Ratio (lambda)

lambda = KL/r = (1 * 5000) / 114.3 = 43.74

General Rule for Slenderness Ratio:

lambda Range Column Type Implication
< 40 Very stocky Near full yield strength
40 - 100 Intermediate Moderate buckling reduction
> 120 Very slender Heavy buckling reduction
lambda = 43.74 is LOW — column is not very slender — less buckling concern — higher fcd.
PAGE 4 — Getting fcd and Load Capacity

From IS 800 Table (Buckling Class C, lambda = 43.74)

fcd = 90 MPa
(You look up IS 800 table with lambda and buckling class to get fcd directly)

Load Capacity Calculation

Load = fcd * Total Area
= 90 * (4630*2 + 280*6)
= 90 * 10940
= 984,600 N ~ 985 kN

Design of Tension Member — Introduction

Topic shifts to tension members — members that are PULLED (stretched).

The sketch shows ISMB 300 with plates, width = 280 mm.

Tension member failure modes:

• Gross section yielding
• Net section fracture (at bolt holes)
• Block shear
PAGE 5 — Tension Member Design + Beam Design Introduction

Tension Member: ISMB 300

Assumed Length = 10 m
Property Value
Area (A) 7480 mm²
Izz 12600 x 10^4 mm^4
Iyy 2200 x 10^4 mm^4

Minimum Radius of Gyration

rmin = sqrt(Iyy / A)
= sqrt(2200x10^4 / 7480)
= 54.23 mm

Slenderness Check for Tension Member

lambda = KL/r = 1 * 10000 / 54.23 = 184.3

Why check lambda for a tension member?

In tension we check lambda because a long tension member can also buckle due to its own self-
weight. A long member sags under self-weight and can become unstable.
IS 800 limits: lambda <= 400 for tension members (vs 180 for compression members)

Tension Capacity
T = A * fy = 7480 * 250 = 1,870,000 N = 1870 kN
(Gross section yielding capacity — simplified formula)

Design of Beam — Cross Beam of a Bridge

Problem: Design a cross beam (floor beam) of a bridge subjected to a single axle bogie load.

Given Data:
Parameter Value
Distance between stringers 3m
Distance between x-girders 5m
Slab depth 200 mm
Wearing coat (wc) 75 mm
Axle load (each wheel) 10 T = 100 kN
Wheel spacing 1.22 m
PAGE 6 — Load Calculation and Bending Moment

Dead Load Calculation

DL of slab = 0.5 * 0.2 * 5 * 25 = 25 kN/m
(tributary width = 0.5, slab depth = 0.2m, span = 5m, unit weight of concrete = 25 kN/m³)

DL of wearing coat = 0.075 * 22 * 5 = 8.25 kN/m

(WC thickness = 75mm, unit weight = 22 kN/m³)

Total DL (factored) = 52 kN/m

(1.5 x 25 + 1.75 x 8.25 = 52 kN/m approximately, after applying load factors)

Live Load: Two Point Loads of 10T each

10T = approximately 100 kN per wheel. Wheels are 1.22 m apart on the 3 m span.

Finding reactions using statics:

• R1 = 13.2 (from taking moments about one end)
• R2 = 6.8

Maximum Live Load Moment (using Influence Lines)

M_max(LL) = 10 * 0.6732 + 10 * 0.017 = 69 kNm
(Using influence line ordinates at load positions)

Dead Load Moment

M_DL = w * L^2 / 8 = 52 * 3^2 / 8 = 58.5 kNm
(UDL moment formula = wL^2/8)

Total Design Moment

M_total = (69 * 1.5) + 58.5 = 103.5 + 58.5 = 162 kNm
(Live load is multiplied by impact factor 1.5 for bridge loading)
PAGE 7 — Section Selection and Classification

Shear Force Calculation

V_DL = 52 * 3/2 = 78 kN (dead load shear, simply supported)

Live load shear using influence line:

V_LL = 1*10 + 0.357*10 = 13.57 --> factored = 135 kN

Total Shear = 78 + 1.5 * 135 = 280.5 kN

Selected Section: ISLB 350

Property Value
h (total depth) 350 mm
bf (flange width) 165 mm
tf (flange thickness) 11.4 mm
r (root radius) 16 mm
tw (web thickness) 7.4 mm
Izz 13200 x 10^4 mm^4
Zp (plastic section modulus) 851.11 x 10^3 mm^3
Depth of web (d_web) 350 - 2(11.4+16) = 295.2 mm

Section Classification
Step 1: Calculate epsilon (e):
epsilon = sqrt(250/fy) = sqrt(250/250) = 1.0
(Since fy = 250 MPa for standard steel, epsilon = 1.0)

Step 2: Flange classification:

bf/2 / tf = (165/2) / 11.4 = 82.5/11.4 = 7.23 < 9.4 * epsilon = 9.4
--> PLASTIC section for flange

Step 3: Web classification:

d / tw = 295.2 / 7.4 = 39.89 < 84 * epsilon = 84
 --> PLASTIC section for web

Section Classification Table:

Limit Plastic Compact Semi-compact
Flange (b/t) < 9.4e < 10.5e < 15.7e
Web (d/t) < 84e < 105e < 126e

RESULT: Both web and flange are PLASTIC — full plastic moment capacity can be used.
PAGE 8 — Moment and Shear Capacity Checks

Required Plastic Section Modulus

Zp_required = M * gamma_mo / fy
= 162 * 1.1 / 250 * 10^6
= 712.8 * 10^3 mm^3

Check: 712.8 * 10^3 < 851 * 10^3 (provided) --> OK

Moment Capacity
Md = beta_b * Zp * fy / gamma_mo
= 1.0 * 851*10^3 * 250 / 1.1
= 193.43 kNm > 162 kNm --> OK

Where:
• beta_b = 1.0 for plastic sections
• gamma_mo = 1.1 (partial safety factor for material)

Shear Capacity Check

Vd = fy / (sqrt(3) * gamma_mo) * h * tw
= 250 / (1.732 * 1.1) * 350 * 7.4
= 340 kN > 280 kN --> OK

The formula uses fy/sqrt(3) because steel yields in shear at fy/sqrt(3) — this comes from the Von Mises
yield criterion.
KEY FORMULAS SUMMARY

Formula Purpose
lambda = KL/r Slenderness ratio
fcd = fy * chi / gamma_mo Design compressive stress
chi = 1 / [phi + (phi^2 - lambda^2)^0.5] Buckling reduction factor
Md = beta_b * Zp * fy / gamma_mo Moment capacity of beam
Vd = fy * h * tw / (sqrt(3) * gamma_mo) Shear capacity of beam
T = Ag * fy / gamma_mo Tension capacity (gross yielding)
epsilon = sqrt(250/fy) Section classification parameter
ry = sqrt(Iyy/A) Radius of gyration
POTENTIAL EXAM QUESTIONS

Based on these notes, the following questions can be expected:

• What is buckling and why does it reduce the load capacity of a compression member?
• What are the 4 buckling classes in IS 800 and what factors determine which class to use?
• Design a double channel section column for equal buckling in both directions — how do you find
spacing S?
• What is the significance of epsilon in section classification?
• A beam has M = 200 kNm — check if ISLB 400 is adequate (moment + shear capacity).
• What is the difference between Zp (plastic) and Ze (elastic) section modulus?
• Why do tension members also have a slenderness ratio limit?
• Derive the shear capacity formula using the Von Mises yield criterion.
• Calculate the load capacity of two ISMC 300 back-to-back channels with S = 280mm, length =
5m.
• What is the formula for dead load moment in a simply supported beam and derive it from first
principles?