Chapter Three
Compression Members
Instructor Daniel.H 1
Introduction
• A structural member is considered to be a
compression member if it is designed primarily to
resist axial compression, though some bending may
also be present and accounted for in the design.
• If the bending action is quite significant, the member
is termed as a beam-column and designed in a
different way as will be shown later in Chapter Five.
• The two main differences between tension and
compression members are:
– Tension members are held straight by means of
tensile loads, while in the case of compression
members, the compressive loads tend to bend the
member out of the plane of loading.
– For riveted or bolted connections, the net area will
govern the strength of a tension member, while for
compression members the rivets are assumed to fill
the holes.
Instructor Daniel.H 2
Cont…
• Compression members can fail by yielding, inelastic buckling, or
elastic buckling depending on the slenderness ratio of the members
as well as in local buckling that is usually influenced by the relative
thickness of the component elements that constitute the cross
section (width-to-thickness ratio (b/t) of the element).
• Most compression members used in construction have
intermediate slenderness ratios, and so the predominant mode of
failure is inelastic buckling.
• Member buckling can occur in one of three different modes:
flexural, torsional, and flexural-torsional.
– Flexural buckling occurs in members with doubly symmetric or doubly
anti-symmetric cross sections such as I and Z sections, and in members
with singly symmetric sections such as C, T, equal-legged L and double L.
– Torsional buckling occurs in members with very thin walls.
– Flexural-torsional buckling occurs in members with singly symmetric
cross sections such as C, T, equal-legged L, double L
Instructor Daniel.H 3
Dimensions of sections
Instructor Daniel.H 4
Classification of Sections
• Different standards and codes stipulate various classification
although they generally coverage to two main modes of
classification-either into
– four classes (as in, for example, the EBCS3 1995) or
– three classes (as in, for example, the AISC Standard).
• The EBCS 3 1995 classifies sections into four categories.
– Class 1 cross sections, also known as plastic sections can develop their
plastic moment resistance (fy times plastic modulus) with the rotation
capacity required for plastic analysis. Only cross sections falling in this
class may only be used for plastic design.
– Class 2 cross sections can develop their plastic moment resistance but
with limited rotation capacity. Cross-sections falling in this group are
also known as compact sections.
– Class 3 cross sections are those which can reach their “yield” moment
(fy times elastic modulus) but local buckling prevents the development
of the plastic moment resistance. Cross-sections falling in this group
are also known as semi-compact sections.
– Class 4 cross sections, also known as thin-walled cross-sections, are
those in which local buckling is liable to prevent the development of
the “yield” moment; i.e., premature buckling occurs before yield is
reached.
Instructor Daniel.H 5
Cont…
Limiting Width-Thickness Ratios for Compression Elements (those exceeding these limits are taken as Class 4 section)
Section Element Ratio Checked Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
General - None Assumed Class 3
Rectangular - None Assumed Class 2
d/tw (rolled)
Web 33 44 51
d/tw (welded)
I - shape
c/tf (rolled) 10 11 15
Flange
c/tf (welded) 9 10 15
Web d/tw 33 38 42
Box (b-3tf)/tf (rolled) 42 42 42
Flange
b/tf (welded) 42 42 42
Web d/tw 33 38 42
Channel
Flange b/tf 10 11 15
Web h/tw 33 38 42
T-Shape b/2tf (rolled) 10 11 15
Flange
b/2tf (welded) 9 10 14
h/t 15.0
Angle - NA NA
(b+h)/(2t) 11.5
Round Bar - None Assumed Class 1
Pipe - d/t 502 702 902
h/t 15.0
Double Angle - NA NA
(b+h)/(2t) 11.5
Instructor Daniel.H 6
Classifications
• The section dimensions used in the above table are given in
the Fig. below.
• If the section dimensions satisfy the limits shown in the
tables, the section is classified as Class 1, Class2, or Class3
as applicable.
• If a section fails to satisfy the limits for class 3 sections, it is
classified as Class 4.
• One of the major factors in determining the limiting width-
thickness ratio is the parameter.
•
Parameter Steel Grade
Fe 360 Fe 430 Fe 510
table fy 235 275 355
1 0.92 0.81
Instructor Daniel.H 7
Cont…
• Reduction factor
• The effective widths of flange
elements may be based on the
stress ratio determined for
the gross cross-section.
• The effective width of a web
element should be based on
the stress ratio determined
for a cross-section comprising
the effective area of the
compression flange but the
gross area of the web and •
tension flange.
• In the Table below, it is
recommended to determine
the reduction factor as
follows:
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Effective width of Class 4 cross-sections.
T
• a) Internal compression element b) Outstand compression element
Instructor Daniel.H 9
Properties of materials
• Radii of Gyration of Common
Sections: - Whatsoever the section
may be for design purposes, its radii
of gyration about the principal axes
are required so that the least radius of
gyration may be obtained and used to
find slenderness ratio. The radii of
gyration of commonly used sections
can be obtained from any standard
books.
• Effective Length Factor: - The
effective length factor K is a factor
which, when multiplied by the actual
unbraced length L of an end-restrained
compression member, will yield an
equivalent pinned-ended member
whose buckling strength is the same as
that of the original end-restrained
member.
• For a prismatic member, the
effective length factor can be
determined from Fig below
Instructor Daniel.H 10
Cont…
• The effect of end restraint is
quantified by the two end
restraint factors GA and GB
where the subscripts A and
B refer to the joints at the
two ends of the member
being considered and G is
defined as:
• K factor alignment
Instructor Daniel.H 11
Cont…
• Note that if the end of the member is fixed, the theoretical value of
G is 0, but a G value of 1 is recommended for use.
• On the other hand, if the end of the member is pinned, the
theoretical value of G is infinity, but a G value of 10 is
recommended for use.
• The rational behind the foregoing recommendations is that no
support in reality can be truly fixed or pinned.
• Once the G factors are calculated, the effective length factor can be
obtained from the appropriate alignment chart.
• Although the charts were developed assuming elastic behaviour for
all members, inelasticity in the columns can be accounted for by
multiply the end-restrained factors by the quantity Et/ E, where Et is
the tangent modulus.
• Limiting Slenderness Ratio: - The governing slenderness ratio (KL/r)
of compression members preferably should not exceed 200.
Instructor Daniel.H 12
Design Criteria for Compression Members
• Compression members are to be designed in such a way that both the cross-
sections resistance to applied loads be established and member capacity verified
against possible buckling failures.
• Ethiopian Building Code Standard EBCS 3 1995
1. Resistance of Cross section
A. Compression
• According to the EBCS 3 specification, axially loaded compression members
designed to resist a factored axial force of [Link], must satisfy the condition:
[Link], [Link] (3.4)
• Where [Link] = design compression resistance of the cross-section, taken as a
smaller of either the design plastic resistance Npl, RD of the gross section or the
design local buckling resistance N0,Rd of the gross section
• Again, Npl,Rd and N0,Rd are determined as in the following expressions:
• The partial safety factors are MO = 1.1 and M1 = 1.1.
Instructor Daniel.H 13
Cont…
B. Flexural Buckling
• Axially loaded compression members designed to resist a factored axial
force of [Link], calculated using appropriate load combinations must satisfy
the condition:
[Link] Nb, Rd (3.5a)
– Where Nb, Rd = design flexural buckling resistance of the cross-section to be
determined from:
A fy
N b , Rd A (3.5b)
M1
Where:
– A = 1 for Class 1,2,3 cross-sections
– = Aeff/ A for Class 4 cross-sections
– Aeff is the effective cross-section for Class 4 cross-sections
– A = gross area
– = a reduction factor accounting for buckling
– = 1.0 for 0.2
1
but 1 for 0.2 3.0
2 2 0.5
Instructor Daniel.H 14
Cont…
• In which: 0.5 1 0.2 2
Leff 1 fy A 0.5
A Af y / N er A ; 1 93.9 ; 235
r E 1 E / f y 5 fy
– Leff = effective length of member
– Ner = the elastic critical force for the relevant buckling mode
– r = radius of gyration of the gross section
– = an imperfection factor as in the following tables:
Buckling curve a B c d
0.21 0.34 0.49 0.76
• Values of the reduction factor can easily be obtained
for the appropriate non-dimensional slenderness ̅
from Table 3.5 while for flexural buckling, the
approximate curve shall be determined from Table 3.4
Instructor Daniel.H 15
C. Torsional and Flexural-torsional buckling
• The resistance to these buckling modes may be determined as in for the
flexural buckling discussed above by introducing a substitution for ̅ by
the greater ̅T or ̅FT and taking = 0.34
fy A fy A
• Where: FT . .. (3.6)
T
T
FT
In which:
– A = 1 for Class 1,2,3 cross-sections
– = Aeff/A for Class 4 cross-sections
– Where Aeff is the effective cross-section for Class 4 cross-sections
1 2 EI w 2E
T G1t Ey
Ar 2 0 L2 et
L
ey / ry
2
FT
1
Ey T T 4 Ey T
2
2
Ey
– A = cross-sectional area of gross section
– E = Modulus of elasticity
– G = Shear modulus
Instructor Daniel.H 16
Table 3.4 Selection of buckling Table 3.5 Reduction factors
curve for a cross section
Reduction factor
Curve a Curve b Curve c Curve d
0,2 1,0000 1,0000 1,0000 1,0000
0,3 0,9775 0,9641 0,9491 0,9235
0,4 0,9528 0,9261 0,8973 0,8504
0,5 0,9243 0,8842 0,8430 0,7793
0,6 0,8900 0,8371 0,7854 0,7100
0,7 0,8477 0,7837 0,7247 0,6431
0,8 0,7957 0,7245 0,6622 0,5797
0,9 0,7339 0,6612 0,5998 0,5208
1,0 0,6656 0,5970 0,5399 0,4671
1,1 0,5960 0,5352 0,4842 0,4189
1,2 0,5300 0,4781 0,4338 0,3762
1,3 0,4703 0,4269 0,3888 0,3385
1,4 0,4179 0,3817 0,3492 0,3055
1,5 0,3724 0,3422 0,3145 0,2766
1,6 0,3332 0,3079 0,2842 0,2512
1,7 0,2994 0,2781 0,2577 0,2289
1,8 0,2702 0,2521 0,2345 0,2093
1,9 0,2449 0,2294 0,2141 0,1920
2,0 0,2229 0,2095 0,1962 0,1766
2,1 0,2036 0,1920 0,1803 0,1630
2,2 0,1867 0,1765 0,1662 0,1508
2,3 0,1717 0,1628 0,1537 0,1399
2,4 0,1585 0,1506 0,1425 0,1302
2,5 0,1467 0,1397 0,1325 0,1214
2,6 0,1362 0,1299 0,1234 0,1134
2,7 0,1267 0,1211 0,1153 0,1062
2,8 0,1182 0,1132 0,1079 0,0997
2,9 0,1105 0,1060 0,1012 0,0937
3,0 0,1036 0,0994 0,0951 0,0882
Instructor Daniel.H 17
Built-up Compression Members
• For a built-up member to fully effective the following conditions must be satisfied.
1. The ends of the built-up member must be prevented from slippage during buckling.
2. Adequate fasteners must be provided along the length of the member.
3. The fasteners must be able to provided sufficient gripping force on all the
component shapes being connected.
• While condition 1 is mandatory, conditions 2 and 3 can be violated in design. If
condition 2 or condition 3 is violated, the built-up member is not fully effective, The
modified slenderness ratio (KL/r)m is given as follows
• Condition 2 Violated. If intermittent welds or fully tightened bolts are used:
h / 2rib 2
2
a
2
KL KL
r m
r
0 0.82
1 ( h / 2rib ) 2 r
i
• Condition 3 Violated. If snug-tight bolts are used,
2
a
2
KL KL
0
r
r m r i
– (KL/r)0 = (KL/r)x if the buckling axis is the x axis
– (Kl/r)0 = (KL/r)y if the buckling axis is the y axis
– a = the distance between fasteners measured along the longitudinal axis of the member
– ri = the minimum radius of gyration of the component element
– rib = the radius of gyration of the component element relative to its centroidal axis
parallel to the member axis of buckling.
– h = the distance between centroid of component elements perpendicular to the
member buckling axis.
Instructor Daniel.H 18
Thanks
Instructor Daniel.H
19