CIVL3404/4404, Semester 1, 2025: Tutorial 3 Solutions
Q1:
Calculate the section capacity Ns of Grade 350 (AS3679.1) steel heavily welded cross-section
shown in Fig. 3.1.
bf
Properties:
tf d = 320mm
bf = 220mm
tf = 20mm
tw = 12mm
Ag=8000mm2
tw r = 98.6mm
d x
ry = 47.2mm
Figure 3.1
The steel is Grade 350 (AS3679.1), refer to table 2.1 AS4100, for web 𝑓𝑦𝑤 = 𝑓𝑦𝑓 = 340𝑀𝑃𝑎
① ②
Flange slenderness: 104
220 − 12 ①
300
③
𝑏𝑓 = = 104
2
②
340
𝜆𝑒 = 𝑏⁄𝑡 √(𝑓𝑦𝑓 ⁄250) = 104/20×√( ) = 6.06
250
The flange element is unstiffened (i.e. one longitudinal edge only supported) and is a part of
heavily welded (HW) section. So the value of the plate element yield slenderness limit 𝜆𝑒𝑦 is
𝜆𝑒𝑦 = 14 𝐴𝑆4100 𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 6.2.4
𝜆𝑒 = 5.2 < 𝜆𝑒𝑦 = 14 𝑂𝐾 (𝑛𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑)
Web slenderness:
𝑏𝑤 = 320 − 20 = 300
𝜆𝑒 = 𝑏⁄𝑡 √(𝑓𝑦𝑓 ⁄250) = 300/12×√(340⁄250) = 29.15
The web element is unstiffened (i.e. one longitudinal edge only supported) and is a heavily
welded (HW) section. So the value of the plate element yield slenderness limit 𝜆𝑒𝑦 for a flat
element is
𝜆𝑒𝑦 = 14 𝐴𝑆4100 𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 6.2.4
𝜆𝑒 = 29.15 > 𝜆𝑒𝑦 = 14
𝑏𝑒 = 𝑏(𝜆𝑒𝑦 ⁄𝜆𝑒 ) → 𝑏𝑒𝑤 = 𝑏𝑤 (𝜆𝑒𝑦 ⁄𝜆𝑒 ) = 300×(14⁄29.15) = 144.08𝑚𝑚
220 ⨯ 20 ++144.08
𝐴𝑒 = ∑ 𝑏𝑒𝑖 𝑡𝑖 = 104×20×2 ⨯12 ==
144.08×12 5889𝑚𝑚2
6128.96mm2
𝐴𝑔 = ∑ 𝑏𝑖 𝑡𝑖 = 104×20×2 + 300×12 = 7760𝑚𝑚2
5889
𝑘𝑓 = 𝐴𝑒 ⁄𝐴𝑔 = 6128.96/8000=0.766
= 0.759
7760
Notice that Ag in kf is different with Ag in Ns. To ensure Kf is equal to 1 when no reduction in
each element, the Ag in kf doesn’t count the corner parts.
𝑁𝑠 = 𝑘𝑓 𝐴𝑔 𝑓𝑦 = 0.766
0.759×8000×340×10−3 = 2083.85
2064.48𝑘𝑁
Example 5 - Design a Universal Column Compression Member
Q2:
A concentrically loaded compression member of Grade 300PLUS steel is restrained so that
its effective lengths are lex = 10.0 m and ley = 5.0 m. If the nominal dead and live axial loads
are 600 kN and 1200 kN respectively, design a suitable UC section.
1. Calculate the design axial force N* (AS1170.0) for the permanent and imposed action load
combination
N* = 1.2G + 1.5Q = 1.2 × 600 + 1.5 × 1200 = 2520 kN
2. Guess a trial section
Guess fy = 280MPa, kf = 1.0, αb = 0, λn = 80
From Table 6.3.3(3), αc = 0.681
N* ≤ φNc = φαc Nsc = φαc k f A n fy
N* 2520 x 10 3
∴ An ≥ = = 14684 mm 2
φαc k f fy 0.9 x 0.681 x 1.0 x 280
3. Try using a 310 UC118
Geometric Data
From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural
Steel Products" 4th Edition
d = 315 mm
bf = 307 mm
tf = 18.7 mm
tw = 11.9 mm
A = 15000 mm2
rx = 136 mm
ry = 77.5 mm
a. Determine the form factor kf (Section 6.2.2)
From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural Steel Products" 4th Edition,
fy = 280 MPa
kf = 1.0
b. Calculate the modified member slenderness λn (Clause 6.3.3)
⎛l ⎞ fy ⎛ 10000 ⎞ 280
λ nx = ⎜⎜ ex ⎟⎟ k f = ⎜ ⎟ 1.0 = 77.8
⎝ rx ⎠ 250 ⎝ 136 ⎠ 250
⎛ l ey ⎞ fy ⎛ 5000 ⎞ 280
λ ny = ⎜ ⎟ kf = ⎜ ⎟ 1.0 = 68.3
⎜r ⎟ 250 ⎝ 77.5 ⎠ 250
⎝ y ⎠
∴ λn = 77.8 since x-axis buckling controls.
c. Calculate the compression member section constant αb and member
slenderness reduction factor αc
From Table 6.3.3(1), αb = 0
From Table 6.3.3(3) using linear interpolation,
0.715 − 0.681
αc = 0.715 − x (77.8 − 75) = 0.696
(80 − 75)
d. Determine the design member compression capacity φN c (Clause 6.3.3)
φNcx = φαc k f A n fy = 0.9 × 0.696 × 1.0 × 15000 × 280 / 103
= 2631 > N* = 2550 kN SATISFACTORY
Hence adopt a 310 UC118 section.
e. Using the Design Capacity Tables, Student Edition 2009, Table 6.3, φNcx = 2630 kN
ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100 - 11 -