Structures

Data Book
for Part I of the
Engineering Tripos

2018 Edition

Cambridge University Engineering Department

 Table of Contents
1. Physical properties of structural materials 1
2. Stress and strain 1
2.1. Notation for stress .................................................................................................. 1
2.2. Strain definition ...................................................................................................... 1
2.3. Stress-strain relations for isotropic elastic solids ................................................... 1
2.4. Complementary shear ............................................................................................. 2
2.5. Planar transformation equations for stress ............................................................. 2
2.6. Mohr's circle of stress ............................................................................................. 2
2.7. Planar transformation equations for strain ............................................................. 3
2.8. Mohr's circle of strain ............................................................................................. 3
2.9. Principal stresses in 3 dimensions .......................................................................... 4
2.10. Yield criteria for isotropic solids ............................................................................ 4

3. Stresses in thin-walled circular pressure vessels with closed ends 4

4. Beam behaviour 4
4.1. Databook sign convention ...................................................................................... 4
4.2. Compatibility .......................................................................................................... 5
4.3. Equilibrium............................................................................................................. 5
4.4. Elastic bending formulae ........................................................................................ 5
4.5. Formulae for elastic analysis .................................................................................. 6
4.6. Plastic bending ....................................................................................................... 8
4.7. Torsion formulae .................................................................................................... 8

5. Euler buckling 10
6. Pin-jointed trusses – statical determinacy 10
7. Equation of virtual work 10
8. Cables 11
8.1. Flexible cable in frictional contact with a curved surface ....................................11
8.2. Flexible cable between supports subjected to a uniformly distributed load.........11

9. Soil mechanics 12
9.1. Definitions ............................................................................................................12
9.2. Classification of particle sizes ..............................................................................12
9.3. Groundwater seepage ...........................................................................................13
9.4. Stresses in soils.....................................................................................................13
9.5. Undrained strength of soil: Cohesion hypothesis (Tresca) ..................................14
9.6. Drained strength of soil: Friction hypothesis (Coulomb).....................................14

10. Design of reinforced concrete 15

10.1. Design Equations ..................................................................................................15
10.2. Available steel types .............................................................................................16
10.3. Standard bar sizes and reinforcement areas per metre width ...............................16
11. Typical properties and forms of structural materials 17
11.1. Mechanical properties of steel and aluminium.....................................................17
11.2. Mechanical properties of glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) ..........................17
11.3. Structural steel sections (hot-rolled).....................................................................18
11.4. Aluminium sections (extrusions)..........................................................................26
11.5. Glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) sections (pultrusions)* .............................28
1. Physical properties of structural materials
Representative values to be used in calculations (further details in Materials Data Book and
Section 10)
Steel Aluminium Concrete* Softwood* Water units
Alloy along
grain
Young’s modulus E 210 70 30 9 - GPa
Shear modulus G 81 26 13 - - GPa
Bulk modulus K 175 69 14 - 2.2 GPa
Poisson’s ratio  0.30 0.33 0.15 - -
Thermal expansion  11 23 12 - 60 106 K1
Density  7840 2700 2400 - 1000 kg m–3
* Typical values
For isotropic solids,
E E
G ; K
2 1    31  2 
2. Stress and strain
2.1. Notation for stress
xx is the normal stress on the x face acting in the x direction.
xy is the shear stress on the x face acting in the y direction.
In this data book, with the exception of Section 9, tensile stresses are defined as positive.

2.2. Strain definition

xx is the normal strain in the x direction.
xy is the shear strain between the x and y faces.
u u v
 xx  ;  xy   etc.
x y x
where: u, v are the small displacement components with respect to rectangular co-ordinates
x, y.

2.3. Stress-strain relations for isotropic elastic solids

 xx 
1
E
 
 xx   yy   zz   T etc.
1
 xy   xy etc.
G
where: is the temperature change.
For plane stress with the z face unstressed and  = 0, the inverse relationship is

 xx 
E
 xx   yy 
1  
etc.
2

1
 2.4. Complementary shear
From equilibrium of a small element,
 xy   yx etc.
From its definition,
 xy   yx etc.

2.5. Planar transformation equations for stress

yy
bb
yx ba
ab aa
y xy
b
xx xx a
x 
xy aa
yx ab ba
bb
yy

From equilibrium of an elementary triangle,

 aa   xx cos 2   yy sin 2  2 xy sin cos

 ab   xx sin cos   yy sin cos   xy cos 2  sin 2 
2.6. Mohr's circle of stress
A plot of normal stress against shear stress on a face for varying  gives a circle, provided a
special sign convention is used:
For Mohr's circle, shear stress is plotted positive when it is clockwise

(yy , yx)

(bb , ba)

O
2 (aa , -ab)

(xx , -xy)

The stresses on perpendicular faces, (xx, xy) and (yy, yx), plot at the opposite ends of a
diameter. If new faces are considered at angle  (see Section 2.5), the stresses on the new faces
can be obtained by rotating the diameter of Mohr’s circle by 2 in the same direction.

2
 2.7. Planar transformation equations for strain
u v
xy = y + x

v
yy = y
bb
u
1 y v ab aa
x 1
1
y
1 u b
x xx = x a

By geometry,
 aa   xx cos 2   yy sin 2   xy sin cos

 ab  2 xx sin cos  2 yy sin cos   xy cos 2  sin 2 
2.8. Mohr's circle of strain
A plot of normal strain against half shear strain for varying  gives a circle, if the sign
convention for shear strains is the same as for corresponding shear stresses:

/2 (yy , yx /2)

(bb , ba /2)


O
2
(aa , -ab /2)

(xx , -xy /2)

The strains in perpendicular directions, (xx, xy/2) and (yy, yx/2), plot at the opposite ends of
a diameter. If new faces are considered at angle (see Section 2.7), the strains in the new
directions can be obtained by rotating the diameter of Mohr’s circle by 2 in the same direction.

3
 2.9. Principal stresses in 3 dimensions
The principal stresses can be calculated as the eigenvalues of the stress matrix , and the
principal directions are the corresponding eigenvectors.

 
 xx  xy  xz 
   yx  yy  yz 
  zx  zy  zz 
 

2.10. Yield criteria for isotropic solids

Tresca's hypothesis:
max   1   2 ,  2   3 ,  3   1   Y
Von Mises' hypothesis:
 1   2 2   2   3 2   3   1 2  2Y 2
where: Y is the current yield stress in simple tension
1, 2, 3 are the principal stresses.

3. Stresses in thin-walled circular pressure vessels with closed

ends
pr pr
h  ; l 
t 2t
where: p is the internal gauge pressure
r is the radius of the vessel
t is the wall thickness
h is the hoop stress
l is the longitudinal stress.

4. Beam behaviour

4.1. Databook sign convention

M S
P P
+ve +ve +ve
S M
rotation displacement s, x

4
 4.2. Compatibility
d 1
  
ds R
where:  is the curvature
R is the local radius of curvature
s is a distance along a beam
 is the angle turned by tangent to the curve.

For plane sections remaining plane

  y
where:  is the strain due to the curvature
y is the distance from the centroidal axis.

For a beam that has small transverse deflections v(x) from the x-axis
dv d 2v
  ;  
dx dx 2

4.3. Equilibrium
S w S + dS . x
dx
M M + dM . x
dx x
x
dS dM
w ; S
dx dx

where: M is the bending moment

S is the transverse shear force
w is the transverse external load per unit length of beam.

4.4. Elastic bending formulae

4.4.1. Longitudinal stresses
 M
  E  ; I   y 2 dA
y I
M  Z e max

 d 2v 
For an initially straight beam: M = EI   
 dx 2 
 

where: y is the distance from the centroidal axis

 is change of curvature from an initially unstressed configuration
Ze is the elastic section modulus
max is the stress at the outermost fibre
I is the second moment of area about a principal axis through the centroid (see
also Mechanics Data Book).

5
Values of I for simple shapes
Solid circular section Thin-walled circular section Solid rectangle
b
ro r h
x + x x + x x x
t

 ro 4 bh 3
I xx  I xx   r t 3 I xx 
4 12
4.4.2. Transverse shear
If a free body is formed by cutting out part of the cross-section of a beam,
S S Ac y
q
I  y dA  I
Ac

where: q is the total longitudinal shear force per unit longitudinal length of the beam
(shear flow)
Ac is the area of the cut off portion of the cross-section
Ac y is the first moment of area of the cut off portion about the centroidal axis.
At the cut, the shear stress is, on average:
q

a
where: a is the length of the cut in the plane of the cross-section.
4.5. Formulae for elastic analysis
4.5.1. Deflections for statically determinate structures

l end rotation end deflection

Wl 2
Wl 3
W 2 EI 3EI
W=wl
Wl 2 wl 3 Wl 3 wl 4
 
6 EI 6 EI 8EI 8EI

M Ml 2
Ml
EI 2 EI
W
end rotation central deflection
l/2 l/2 Wl 2 Wl 3
16 EI 48EI

W = wl
Wl 2 wl 3 5Wl 3 5wl 4
 
24 EI 24 EI 384 EI 384 EI

Ml
M 
 /2  3EI

6
4.5.2. Clamping moments for statically indeterminate structures

MA MB
W
l/2 l/2 Wl Wl
MA MB
8 8
W
a b Wb 2 a Wa 2 b
MA MB
l2 l2

W = wl Wl wl 2 Wl wl 2
MA MB  
12 12 12 12

MB 6 EI 6 EI
MA  2
l l2

MA MB 2 EI 4 EI
 l l

4.5.3. Bending moment values for selected statically indeterminate cases

MA
W = wl
MA Wl wl 2

l 8 8

MB
A W = wl B C
Wl wl 2
l

l 16 16

4.5.4. Bending moments at mid-span for simply supported beams

MMID

W
Wl
4
l/2 l/2
W = wl
Wl wl 2

8 8

7
 4.6. Plastic bending
For an initially unstressed beam, first yield in bending
M y  Ze y
where: My is the moment at first yield
Ze is the elastic section modulus.

For a beam fully yielded in bending, carrying no axial load, the neutral axis is at the equal-area
axis, and
M p  Z p y ; Z p   y dA
where: Mp is the plastic moment
Zp is the plastic section modulus.

For cross-sections that can be easily split into regions that are fully yielded in either tension or
compression,
Z p   Ai yi
where: Ai is the area of a region
yi is the distance from the beam's equal-area axis to the centroid of the region.

Values of Ze and Zp for simple shapes

Solid circular section Thin-walled circular section Solid rectangle

b
ro r h
x + x x + x x x
t

 ro 3 bh 2
Ze  Ze   r t 2
Ze 
4 6
3
4 ro bh 2
Zp  Z p  4 r 2t Zp 
3 4

4.7. Torsion formulae

4.7.1. Circular shafts
For an elastic shaft,
 T
 ; J   r 2 dA
r J
T  G J
where: T is the applied torque
 is the angle of twist per unit length
r is the radius
J is the polar second moment of area.

8
Values of J for simple circular shapes

Solid circular section Thick-walled circular section Thin-walled circular section

ro ro r
+ r+i +

 ro 4  (ro4  ri4 )
J J J  2 r 3t
2 2

4.7.2. Thin walled tubes (i.e. closed sections) of arbitrary cross-section

By equilibrium,
T
q
2 Ae
By kinematics,


 ds
2 Ae

For an elastic tube,

4 Ae2
T G 
ds
t
where: q is the shear flow = t
Ae is the area enclosed by the cross-section.

4.7.3. Thin-walled open sections

1
T  G bt 3
3
where: b is the length, and
t is the thickness of a region of the cross-section; t << b.

9
5. Euler buckling
For a perfect elastic pin-ended compression member (strut),
 2 EI
PE 
L2
where: PE is the Euler buckling load
EI is the bending stiffness of the strut about the appropriate axis
L is the length of the strut

PE  2E
E  
A L k 2

where: E is the Euler buckling stress

A is the cross-sectional area of the strut
k is the radius of gyration = I A .

6. Pin-jointed trusses – statical determinacy

For a pin-jointed assembly (Maxwell’s rule, modified):

s – m = b + r – Dj

where: the pin jointed assembly is in D dimensions (2 or 3) with b bars and j joints
r is the number of restraints on joint displacement
s is the number of redundancies (states of self-stress)
m is the number of independent mechanisms (degrees of freedom).

7. Equation of virtual work

For a pin-jointed framework, for any system of external forces W at the joints in equilibrium
with bar tensions P, and any system of joint displacements  compatible with member
extensions e,

equilibrium set
W     P  e
external forces members

compatible set

For other kinds of structure the equation is similar: external virtual work equals internal virtual
work, provided that all the relevant contributing terms are included.

On L.H.S.: forcedisplacement, and/or couplerotation, or pressureswept volume, etc.

On R.H.S.: tensionextension, and/or bending momentcurvature s, and/or V, or V,
etc.

10
8. Cables

8.1. Flexible cable in frictional contact with a curved surface

T2  T1e 
where: T1 and T2 are the cable tensions on either side of the contact
 is the coefficient of friction between the surface and the cable
 is the angle subtended by the contact.

8.2. Flexible cable between supports subjected to a uniformly distributed

load
2
 L2   dy 
2
4 d2
T  w    x2 ;
 2d 
 
s
 1    dx  2 L 
 dx  3 L
for small d/L

where: T is the tension in the cable

w is the load per unit horizontal length
2L is the length between supports
d is the sag at midspan
x is the horizontal distance from the centre
s is the cable length.

11
9. Soil mechanics

9.1. Definitions

Va Gas Wa  0
considered Vv V
w Liquid Ww
as V Wt  Ws + Ww
t Solid
Vs (specific Ws = Gs Vs w
gravity Gs )

Soil structure Volumes Weights

Specific Gravity of soil solids Gs

V
Voids ratio: e  v Unit weight of water w = 9.81 kN m–3
Vs
W
Water content: w w
Ws
V G
Degree of saturation: Sr  w  w s
Vv e
W  G  S r e 
Bulk unit weight of soil:  t  w s
Vt 1  e
W  G
Dry unit weight of soil:   s  w s
Vt 1  e
s  G 
Unit weight of dry soil:   w s
Vt 1  e
 G  1
Buoyant unit weight of soil     w  w s
1  e
ID 
emax  e
Relative density
emax  emin 
where: emax is the maximum voids ratio achievable in a quick tilt test, and
emin is the minimum voids ratio achievable by vibratory compaction.

9.2. Classification of particle sizes

Clay smaller than 0.002 mm (two microns) Gravel between 2 and 60 mm

Silt between 0.002 and 0.06 mm Cobbles between 60 and 200 mm
Sand between 0.06 and 2 mm Boulders larger than 200 mm

D equivalent diameter of soil particle

D10, D60 particle size such that 10% (or 60 %) by weight of a soil sample is composed of
finer grains.

12
 9.3. Groundwater seepage

porewater Head h  u / w
h
pressure u h Potential h h y
Hydraulic gradient i  h
y
datum
Darcy’s law for laminar flow:
v = ki
where: v is superficial seepage velocity
k is coefficient of permeability.

Typical values:
clays : k between 1011 and 109 m s–1
1 micron < D10 < 10 mm : k approximately 0.01(D10 in mm)2 m s–1
D10 >10 mm : non-laminar flow.

9.4. Stresses in soils

9.4.1. Sign convention
The normal sign convention for soil mechanics is to denote compressive stresses as
positive. Hence in Section 9.4 only, compressive stresses are positive quantities.

9.4.2. Principle of effective stress (saturated soil)

Total stress Effective stress Pore water
components components pressure

    ' + u
    ' + 

(The dash on the effective shear stress components is normally omitted).

9.4.3. Plane strain stresses in soil: Definitions


Mohr’s circle of stress:

t
mobilised angle of shearing ϕʹ  
O
3 1
mean effective stress s   ( 1   3 ) / 2
mobilised shear strength t  ( 1   3 ) / 2  ( 1   3 ) / 2
t 1   3
sin    
s  1   3

13
 9.5. Undrained strength of soil: Cohesion hypothesis (Tresca)
Undrained behaviour is exhibited by clays in the short term.

In constant-volume tests on clay, failure occurs when t reaches tmax=cu

where: cu is the undrained shear strength, which depends primarily on the voids ratio e.

The active and passive total horizontal stresses (𝜎𝑎 and 𝜎𝑝 ) are related to the vertical total
stress 𝜎𝑣 by

𝜎𝑎 = 𝜎𝑣 − 2𝑐𝑢
𝜎𝑝 = 𝜎𝑣 + 2𝑐𝑢

9.6. Drained strength of soil: Friction hypothesis (Coulomb)

Drained behaviour is exhibited by sands in the short term and all soils in the long-
term.

Earth pressure coefficient K

𝜎ℎ′ = 𝐾𝜎𝑣′

1−sin 𝜙′
Active pressure (𝜎𝑣′ > 𝜎ℎ′ ) 𝐾𝑎 = 1+sin 𝜙′
1+sin 𝜙′
Passive pressure (𝜎𝑣′ < 𝜎ℎ′ ) 𝐾𝑝 = 1−sin 𝜙′

[Assuming principal stresses are vertical and horizontal]

Angle of shearing resistance:

At peak strength ϕʹmax
At large strain ϕʹcrit (at critical state)

In any shear test on soil, failure occurs when 'reaches 'max, and

  crit
max   dila
 tancy

where: 'crit is the ultimate angle of shearing resistance of a random aggregate deforming at
constant volume, and 'dilatancy  0 as ID  0, or s' becomes large.

Typical properties for a quartz sand;

'crit =33° , 'max =53° (ID =1, s' < 150 kN m–2).

14
10. Design of reinforced concrete

Design compressive strength of concrete is based on the characteristic cylinder strength fck:
𝑓𝑐𝑘
𝑓𝑐𝑑 = 𝛼𝑐𝑐
1.5
cc = 0.85 for compression in flexure and axial loading and cc =1.0 for other phenomena

Design tensile strength of steel is based on the characteristic tensile yield stress of steel fyk:
𝑓𝑦𝑘
𝑓𝑦𝑑 =
1.15

10.1. Design Equations

At failure in bending, the stress in the concrete = 0.6 fcd over the whole area of concrete in
compression and the stress in the steel = fyd.

Moment capacity of singly reinforced beam

𝑥
𝑀 = 𝑓𝑦𝑑 𝐴𝑠 (𝑑 − 2)
𝑓 𝐴
𝑥 = 1.67 𝑓𝑦𝑑 ( 𝑏𝑠 ) ( 0.5d to avoid over reinforcement)
𝑐𝑑

Moment capacity of double reinforced beam (if compression reinforcement is

yielding)
𝑥
𝑀 = 0.6𝑓𝑐𝑑 𝑏𝑥 (𝑑 − ) + 𝐴′𝑠 𝑓𝑦𝑑 (𝑑 − 𝑑′ )
2

15
 Shear capacity of beams
Shear capacity of unreinforced webs:
0.18 1
𝑉𝑅𝑑,𝑐 = (𝑘(100𝜌𝑙 𝑓𝑐𝑘 )3 ) 𝑏𝑤 𝑑
𝛾𝑐
1/2
≥ 0.035𝑘 3/2 𝑓𝑐𝑘 𝑏𝑤 𝑑

Where: 𝑘 = 1 + √200⁄𝑑 ≤ 2.0 [ d in mm ]

bw is the width of the web and l is the reinforcement ratio of the anchored steel:

𝜌𝑙 = 𝐴𝑠 ⁄(𝑏𝑤 𝑑) ≤ 0.02

If this resistance is insufficient to carry the applied load, internal stirrups are required,
designed (assuming a 45 degrees truss angle) according to:

𝐴𝑠𝑤 𝑓𝑦𝑑 (0.9𝑑)

𝑉𝑠 = where Asw is the area of the stirrup legs
1.15𝑠
and s is the stirrup spacing

𝑓𝑐,𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 = (0.9𝑏𝑑) where 𝑓𝑐,𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 0.4𝑓𝑐𝑘 (1 − 𝑓𝑐𝑘 /250)
2

The shear resistance is controlled by the smaller of Vs or Vmax.

10.2. Available steel types

Deformed high yield steel fyk = 500 N mm–2

Plain mild steel fyk = 250 N mm–2

10.3. Standard bar sizes and reinforcement areas per metre width

Diameter (mm) 6 8 10 12 16 20 25 32 40
Area (mm2) 28 50 78 113 201 314 491 804 1256

Spacing of bars (mm)

75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300
Bar Dia.
(mm)
6 377 283 226 189 162 142 126 113 103 94.3
8 671 503 402 335 287 252 224 201 183 168
10 1050 785 628 523 449 393 349 314 285 262
12 1510 1130 905 754 646 566 503 452 411 377
16 2680 2010 1610 1340 1150 1010 894 804 731 670
20 4190 3140 2510 2090 1800 1570 1400 1260 1140 1050
25 6550 4910 3930 3270 2810 2450 2180 1960 1790 1640
32 10700 8040 6430 5360 4600 4020 3570 3220 2920 2680
40 16800 12600 10100 8380 7180 6280 5580 5030 4570 4190
Areas calculated to 3 significant figures

16
11. Typical properties and forms of structural materials

The following selection of mechanical properties and sections is for teaching purposes only.
When designing any structure, reference should be made to the relevant British or European
Standard.

11.1. Mechanical properties of steel and aluminium

Structural Steel Aluminium

Grade 43 Grade 50 Alloy Alloy
(BS EN - S275) (BS EN - S355) 6082- T6 5251 - H24
Yield stress y 275* 355* 255* 185*
(MPa)
Typical form Hot-rolled sections and plate Extruded Plate, sheet
sections, plate
* Typical values

11.2. Mechanical properties of glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP)

Properties of GFRP can vary widely. One particular example is as follows:

Glass fibre in Polyester Matrix

Fibreforce Composites Ltd - Force 800 – Mat/roving
Longitudinal Tensile
Properties In-plane
Shear Density
Modulus Breaking Modulus
Stress
E (GPa)  t (MPa) G (GPa)  (kg m–3)
17.2 207 2.9 1800

17
 11.3. Structural steel sections (hot-rolled)
___________________________________________________________________________
Pages 14-21 are reproduced and adapted from Steelwork Design Guide to BS5950: Part 1:
1990 – Volume 1, Section Properties and Member Capacities (5th Edition), by kind permission
of the Director, The Steel Construction Institute, Ascot, Berkshire.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

UNIVERSAL BEAMS

Note: In the Section Tables in 10.3 and 10.4, the torsional constant J is defined by the equation
J  T /(G ) and will not be the polar second moment of area (unless the cross-section is
circular).

18
UNIVERSAL BEAMS

19
UNIVERSAL COLUMNS

20
CHANNELS

21
 EQUAL ANGLES

DIMENSIONS AND PROPERTIES

22
CIRCULAR HOLLOW SECTIONS

DIMENSIONS AND PROPERTIES

23
SQUARE HOLLOW SECTIONS

DIMENSIONS AND PROPERTIES

24
RECTANGULAR HOLLOW SECTIONS

DIMENSIONS AND PROPERTIES

25
 11.4. Aluminium sections (extrusions)
When designing with aluminium there is limited use of standard sections since the extrusion
process is very versatile and it is possible to achieve a wide variety of section shapes [1]:
Standard profiles are covered by British Standard BS1161 [2].
I-Beams
b y
t2

90º R shear centre position

a x x
t1

t2

R = 1.5t1 y
Moduli of
Size Thickness Mass/unit Area of Centroid Second moments Radii of gyration Torsion
section
length section of area constant
(mm) (mm) (kg/m) (mm2  102) (mm) (mm4  104) (mm) (mm4  104)
(mm3  103)
web flange
ab W A cx and cy Ix Iy rx ry Zx Zy J
t1 t2
60  30 4 6 1.59 5.83 0 31.6 2.76 23.3 6.89 10.5 1.84 0.753
80  40 5 7 2.54 9.38 0 91.6 7.63 31.2 9.02 22.9 3.82 1.69
100  50 6 8 3.72 13.7 0 210 17.0 39.2 11.1 42.1 6.80 3.30
120  60 6 9 4.77 17.6 0 403 32.8 47.8 13.6 67.2 10.9 4.76
140  70 7 10 6.33 23.4 0 725 57.9 55.7 15.7 104 16.5 8.00
160  80 7 11 7.64 28.2 0 1170 94.6 64.5 18.3 147 23.7 10.8

Channel Sections
b y
cy

90º
t2
t1
a
x x

R t2 cc
shear centre position

R = 1.5t1 y
Shear
Area
Mass/ Second Torsion centre
Size Thickness of Centroid Radii of Moduli of
unit moments of constant from
section gyration section
length area (mm4  back of
(mm) (mm) (mm2  (mm) (mm) (mm3  103)
(kg/m) (mm4  104) 104) section
102)
(mm)
web flange
ab W A cx cy Ix Iy rx ry Zx Zy J cc
t1 t2
60  30 5 6 1.69 6.24 0 9.87 32.2 5.03 22.7 8.98 10.7 2.50 0.690 11.7
80  35 5 7 2.29 8.44 0 11.3 79.8 9.57 30.8 10.6 20.0 4.04 1.12 13.8
100  40 6 8 3.20 11.8 0 12.4 171 16.9 38.1 11.9 34.2 6.12 2.07 15.2
120  50 6 9 4.19 15.5 0 15.9 339 36.8 46.8 15.4 56.5 10.8 3.22 19.7
140  60 7 10 5.66 20.9 0 18.9 625 71.5 54.7 18.5 89.2 17.4 5.51 23.6
160  70 7 10 6.58 24.3 0 21.8 970 116 63.2 21.8 121 24.0 6.41 27.6
180  75 8 11 8.06 29.8 0 22.7 1480 159 70.5 23.1 164 30.5 9.63 29.0
200  80 8 12 9.19 33.9 0 24.5 2110 210 78.8 24.9 211 37.8 12.4 31.3
240  100 9 13 12.5 46.0 0 30.3 4170 450 95.2 31.2 345 64.6 20.2 39.2

26
 Lipped Channel Sections
y *A = 74.00t2
b 3t R = 2t
t a = 32t
b = 16t
3t cx = 0
2t cy = 5.36t
x x cc = 6.91t
a t cc Ix = 12371t4
Iy = 2407t4
2t t rx = 12.93t
R shear centre position ry = 5.70t
cy Zx = 773t3
Zy = 226t3
y J = 41.29t4
*Excludes small areas present at
2
internal radii (4× 0 . ) 0 8 6 t

Mass/ Area of Second Torsion

Size Thickness Centroid Radii of Moduli of Shear centre
unit section moments of constant
gyration section from back of
length (mm2  area (mm4 
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm  10 )
3 3
section (mm)
(kg/m) 102) (mm4  104) 103)
ab t W A cx cy Ix Iy rx ry Zx Zy J cc
80  40 2.5 1.25 4.62 0 13.4 48.3 9.40 32.3 14.2 12.1 3.53 1.61 17.3
100  50 3.13 1.96 7.23 0 16.8 118 23.0 40.4 17.8 23.6 6.90 3.94 21.6
120  60 3.75 2.82 10.4 0 20.1 245 47.6 48.5 21.4 40.8 11.9 8.16 25.9
140  70 4.38 3.84 14.2 0 23.5 453 88.2 56.6 24.9 64.8 18.9 15.1 30.2

Equal Bulb Angle Sections

3t
1.5t y
v u
4.12t 45º

a t
3t x x
45º
R
cx
R 3t t
3t
4.12t cy
shear centre position u v
b 1.5t y
u-u and v-v are principal axes
*A = 54.92t2 cx = 6.07t rx = 6.89t Zu = 285t3
R = 2t cy = 6.07t ry = 6.89t Zv = 138t3
a = b = 20t Ix = 2605t4 ru = 8.57t α = 45º
*Excludes small areas present Iy = 2605t4 rv = 4.64t tanα = 1
at internal radii (4×0.086t2) Iu = 4030t4 Zx = 187t3 J = 51.32t4
Iv = 1180t4 Zy = 187t3

Thick- Mass/ Area of Torsion

Size Centroid Second moments of
ness unit section Radii of gyration Moduli of section constant
area
length (mm2  (mm) (mm3  103) (mm4 
(mm) (mm) (mm4  104)
(mm) (kg/m) 102) 104)
Ix and rx and Zx and
ab t W A cx and cy Iu Iv ru rv Zu Zv J
Iy ry Zy
50  50 2.5 0.930 3.43 15.2 10.2 15.7 4.61 17.2 21.4 11.6 2.92 4.45 2.16 0.200
60  60 3 1.34 4.94 18.2 21.1 32.6 9.56 20.7 25.7 13.9 5.05 7.70 3.73 0.416
80  80 4 2.38 8.79 24.3 66.7 103 30.2 27.6 34.3 18.6 12.0 18.2 8.82 1.31
100  100 5 3.72 13.7 30.3 163 252 73.8 34.4 42.8 23.2 23.4 35.6 17.2 3.21
120  120 6 5.36 19.8 36.4 338 522 153 41.3 51.4 27.8 40.4 61.6 29.8 6.65

[1] Dwight, J.B. (1999), Aluminium Design and Construction, E&FN Spon, London and New York.
[2] British Standards Institute, (1977), Specification for Aluminium Alloy Sections for Structural Purposes,
BS1161:1977, British Standards Institute, UK.

27
 11.5. Glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) sections (pultrusions)*

A wide variety of shapes is also possible with the pultrusion process and each GFRP
manufacturer will produce a different standard product range. Typical examples:

Y Y Y
B B D
t t
D X X D X X D X X

t
T T
Y Y Y

I- Beams Channels Square Hollow Sections

I-Beams
Section Depth Width Web Flange Area
Designation D B t T Ixx Iyy A
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (cm4) (cm4) (cm2)
53  50 53 50 7 7 40.8 14.7 9.73
102  51 102 51 6.35 6.35 186 14.2 12.1
150  150 150 150 10 10 1660 564 43.0
200  200 200 200 10 10 4100 1330 58.0

Channels
Section Depth Width Web Flange Area
Designation D B t T Ixx Iyy A
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (cm4) (cm4) (cm2)
50.8  25.4 50.8 25.4 3.2 3.2 11.6 1.82 3.05
73  25 73 25 5.0 5.0 39.4 2.76 5.65
100  40 100 40 5.0 5.0 121 11.9 8.50
200  50 200 50 10 10 1390 48.0 28.0
200  60 200 60 8.0 8.0 1300 68.9 24.3
500  60 500 60 7.0 7.0 11800 73.9 42.4

Square Hollow Sections

Designation
Size Thickness Area
A Ixx = Iyy
D D t (cm2) (cm4)
(mm) (mm)
31.8  31.8 3.0 3.46 4.83
44.0  44.0 6.0 9.12 22.5
51.0  51.0 3.2 6.12 23.4
100  100 4.0 15.3 236

* The GFRP section details are based on information provided by Fibreforce Composites Ltd,
Runcorn, Cheshire.

28