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Steel Column Design by ASD/LRFD Steel

Construction Manual

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Steel Column Design by

ASD/LRFD Steel Construction Manual
13th Edition
By Duane Nickols
Compression members are commonly used in structures. Columns are
a type of compression member used to support beams, girders, floors,
roofs and other areas. Compression members are also used in trusses.
Compression members can be subjected to axial compression,
eccentric compression or combined axial compression and flexure. This
tends to buckle the compression member.
Camber, is the bending of a beam to help compensate for deflection.
You do not camber a column. That would make it tend to buckle and
buckle in a certain direction.
Compressive strength depends on the axis of bending and the type of
end connections. A W section has an x-axis and a y-axis. The x-axis is
parallel to the flanges and the y-axis is parallel to and goes through
the web. The x-axis is the strong axis and the y-axis is the weak axis.
Bucking will occur about the weak axis.
The type of end connection determines the effective length factor, K.
There are three basic types of end connections used in most buildings.

Fixed-fixed
Pinned-pinned
Fixed-pinned

Recommended design K values are given in the following table and the
recommended K values should be used instead of the theoretical K
values.

Case (a) has fixed, fixed connections

Case (b) has pinned, fixed connections
Case (d) has pinned, pinned connections
If the column is used in a frame, we would use a different method to
determine the K value. The effective length is KL. KL/r is the
slenderness ratio. Section E2 of the specification says that KL/r should
be less than 200.
Section E1 of the specification explains how to calculate the design
compressive strength and the allowable compressive strength.

A W section is doubly symmetrical.

Section B4 of the specification says that compression members are
classified for local buckling as compact, non-compact or slenderelements. Most W sections are compact. Section E7 of the specification
says there is a reduction factor, Q. It says that Q=1 for compact and
non-compact but is less than 1 for slender-elements.
Table B4.1, case 3 says a member is non-compact if

b = < 0.56 E
and case 10, if h = r < 1.49 E .
r
t
Fy
tw
Fy
Section E3 of the specification shows how to calculate the compressive
strength of most compression members since most W sections are
compact. The equations in section E3 are the basis of Table 4-22 in the
Steel Manual. If you want to determine the available compressive
strength of a section, use Table 4-22 and determine the available
critical stress. Multiply the available critical stress by the gross area to
calculate the available compressive stress.

Design of columns by formulas involves trial-and-error. Table 4-1

helps with the design of W sections in axial compression. Table 4-22
also helps with the design of compression members with minimum
yield strengths of 35 ksi, 36 ksi, 42 ksi, 46 ksi and 50 ksi. Most W
sections would have a yield stress of 36 ksi or 50 ksi.
Example 1
Select an ASTM A992 (Fy=50 ksi) W section column to carry an axial
dead load of 150 kips and live load of 400 kips. The column is 30 long
and is pinned at the top and bottom. The limit is a 14 member.
LRFD
Pu = 1.2 D + 1.6 L = (1.2 150 kips) + (1.6 400 k ) = 820 k
ASD
Pa = D + L = 150 k + 400 k = 550 k

Assume KL/r=50

Fe =

2E

= 114 ksi
2
KL

r
Fy

Fcr = 0.658 Fe Fy = 41.6 ksi

LRFD

ASD

Fcr 41.6 ksi

=
= 24.9 ksi
c
1.67

c Fcr = 0.9 (41.6 ksi) = 37.5 ksi

Areq =

Pu
820 k
=
= 21.9 in 2
c Fcr 37.5 ksi

Areq =

c Pa
550 k
=
= 22.0 in 2
Fcr
24.9 ksi

Try W14 X 82

Ag=24 in2, rx=6.05 in, ry=2.48 in

KL 1.0 (30 ft ) (12 in / ft )

=
= 59.5
rx
6.05 in
KL 1.0 (30 ft ) (12 in / ft )
=
= 145.2 use larger
ry
2.48 in
Fe =

2E

= 13.583 ksi
(145.2) 2
Fcr = 0.877 Fe = 0.877 (13.583 ksi) = 11.912 ksi
5

LRFD

ASD

Fcr 11.912 ksi

=
= 7.133 ksi

1.67
Pn Fcr
=
Ag = 7.133 ksi (24 in 2 ) = 171 k

171 k < 550 k

NG

Fcr = 0.9 (11.912 ksi) = 10.72 ksi

Pn = Fcr Ag = (10.72 ksi) (24 in 2 ) = 231 k
231 k < 820 k

NG

Try a larger section, W14 X 132

Ag=38.8 in2, rx=6.28 in, ry=3.76 in

KL 1.0 (30 ft ) (12 in / ft )

=
= 57.32
rx
6.28 in
KL 1.0 (30 ft ) (12 in / ft )
=
= 95.74 use larger
ry
3.76 in
Fe =

2E

( r)
KL

2 (29,000 ksi)

(95.74)2

Fy

= 31.22 ksi

50

Fcr = (0.658 Fe ) Fy = (0.658 31.22 ) 50 ksi = 25.579 ksi

LRFD

ASD

Fcr = 0.9 (25.579 ksi) = 23.02 ksi

Pn = Fcr Ag = (23.02 ksi) (38.8 in 2 ) = 893 k
893 k > 820 k

OK

Fcr 25.579 ksi

=
= 15.31 ksi

1.67
Pn Fcr
=
( Ag ) = (15.31 ksi) (38.8 in 2 ) = 594 k

594 k > 550 k

OK

Table 4-1 of the Steel Manual has Pn=892 k and Pn/=594 k. Using
Table 4-1 would have been much easier to select a column than
designing by trial-and-error. Table 4-22 shows Fcr=22.9 ksi and
Fcr/=15.3 ksi. So, what we did checks.
Be sure to go to the AISC web site and print the errata for the
1st printing and the 2nd printing because Table 4-22 has
changed.
Part of table 4-22: See my version for part of Table 4-22

Using Table 4-1, you just find Pn/c > Pa for KL = 30 ft. That is 594 k >
550 k and cPn >Pu for KL = 30 ft. That is 893 k > 820 k. A W14X 132
will work.
Part of Table 4-1 See my version for part of Table 4-1
4-13
W14X
145
KL
0
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40

132

ASD
Pn/c
1278
1248
1237
1225
1211
1196
1180
1162
1143
1122
1101
1078
1055
1031
1006
980
927
872
816
759
703
647
593
540
489
441

LRFD
cPn
1922
1876
1860
1841
1821
1798
1773
1746
1717
1687
1655
1621
1586
1549
1512
1473
1393
1310
1226
1141
1056
973
891
812
735
663

ASD
Pn/c
1162
1131
1120
1108
1094
1078
1062
1044
1024
1004
982
960
937
913
888
862
810
756
702
648
594
542
491
442
397
358

120
LRFD
cPn
1746
1700
1683
1665
1644
1621
1596
1568
1540
1509
1477
1443
1408
1372
1334
1296
1218
1137
1055
974
893
814
738
665
596
538

ASD
Pn/c
1057
1029
1019
1007
994
980
965
948
931
912
892
872
850
828
805
782
734
685
635
586
537
489
443
398
357
322

109
LRFD
cPn
1589
1546
1531
1514
1495
1473
1450
1425
1399
1371
1341
1310
1278
1245
1211
1176
1103
1030
955
880
807
735
665
599
536
484

ASD
Pn/c
958
932
923
913
901
888
874
859
843
826
808
789
770
750
729
708
664
620
574
529
485
441
399
359
322
290

99
LRFD
cPn
1440
1401
1388
1372
1354
1335
1314
1291
1267
1241
1215
1186
1157
1127
1096
1064
998
931
863
796
729
663
600
540
484
437

ASD
Pn/c
871
848
839
830
819
807
794
780
766
750
733
716
698
680
661
642
602
561
519
478
438
398
360
323
290
261

90
LRFD
cPn
1310
1274
1261
1247
1231
1213
1194
1173
1151
1127
1102
1077
1050
1022
994
964
904
843
781
719
658
598
541
486
435
393

ASD
Pn/c
793
772
764
755
745
735
723
710
697
682
667
652
635
618
601
583
547
509
472
434
397
361
326
293
262
237

LRFD
cPn
1193
1160
1148
1135
1120
1104
1087
1067
1047
1026
1003
979
955
929
903
877
822
766
709
653
597
543
490
440
394
356

Ag

42.7

38.8

35.3

32

29.1

26.5

ry

3.98

3.76

3.74

3.73

3.71

3.7

A W12X 170 will also work Pn/c > Pa is 600 k > 550 k and cPn >Pu is
902 k > 820 k for KL = 30 ft.
W12X
190
KL
0
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
22
24
26
28
30
32

ASD
Pn/c
1671
1612
1591
1567
1541
1512
1481
1447
1412
1374
1335
1294
1252
1210
1166
1121
1031
941
852
765
681
601

170
LRFD
cPn
2511
2422
2391
2356
2316
2273
2226
2175
2122
2065
2007
1945
1883
1818
1752
1685
1550
1414
1280
1149
1024
903

ASD
Pn/c
1497
1443
1424
1403
1379
1352
1324
1293
1261
1227
1191
1154
1116
1077
1038
997
916
834
754
675
600
528

152
LRFD
cPn
2250
2169
2141
2108
2072
2033
1990
1944
1895
1844
1790
1735
1678
1619
1559
1499
1376
1254
1133
1015
902
794

ASD
Pn/c
1338
1289
1272
1253
1231
1207
1181
1153
1124
1093
1060
1027
992
957
921
885
811
737
665
595
527
464

136
LRFD
cPn
2012
1938
1912
1883
1850
1814
1775
1733
1689
1642
1594
1543
1492
1439
1385
1330
1219
1108
999
894
793
697

ASD
Pn/c
1195
1150
1134
1117
1097
1075
1052
1026
1000
972
942
912
881
849
816
784
717
651
586
523
462
406

LRFD
cPn
1796
1729
1705
1678
1649
1616
1580
1543
1502
1460
1416
1371
1324
1276
1227
1178
1078
978
880
786
695
610

ASD
Pn/c
1057
1017
1003
987
969
949
928
905
881
856
830
803
775
746
717
688
628
569
511
455
402
353

These are the lightest two sections that will support the required load.
The W14 section is 132 pounds / foot and the W12 section is
170 pounds / foot so we would probably choose the W 14 section since
it is so much lighter.
Example 1a
Now lets change the first problem and brace the column at the mid
point in the Y-direction. That means KLy= 15 ft but Lx= 30 ft. Our
Pu=820 k and Pa=550 k. Now the rx/ry ratio is 1.66 so
KLx=30.0 ft/1.66= 18 ft. We use Table 4-1 for the largest KL of 15 ft
or 18 ft, so that would be 18 ft. Start on page 4-21 for KL = 18 ft and
look for the first Pn/c > Pa = 550 k and cPn >Pu =820 k.
That would be a W10X 112 with Pn/c =613 k and cPn >Pu =921 k.
4-19
W10X
112
KL
0
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40

ASD
Pn/c
985
934
917
897
875
851
825
798
769
739
708
677
645
613
580
548
485
423
366
315
274
241
213
190
171
154

100
LRFD
cPn
1481
1404
1378
1348
1315
1279
1240
1199
1156
1111
1065
1017
969
921
872
824
728
636
548
473
412
362
321
286
257
232

ASD
Pn/c
880
834
818
800
780
758
734
709
683
656
628
600
571
542
512
483
426
371
319
275
239
210
186
166
149
135

88
LRFD
cPn
1323
1253
1229
1202
1172
1139
1103
1066
1027
986
944
901
858
814
770
726
640
558
479
413
360
316
280
250
224
202

ASD
Pn/c
775
734
720
703
685
666
645
623
600
575
551
525
499
474
448
422
371
323
277
239
208
183
162
144
129
117

77
LRFD
cPn
1166
1103
1082
1057
1030
1001
969
936
901
865
828
789
751
712
673
634
558
485
416
358
312
274
243
217
195
176

ASD
Pn/c
677
640
627
612
596
579
560
541
520
499
477
454
431
409
386
363
318
276
236
203
177
156
138
123
110
100

68
LRFD
cPn
1017
962
942
921
896
870
842
813
782
749
716
683
648
614
580
545
479
415
355
306
266
234
207
185
166
150

ASD
Pn/c
599
566
554
542
527
512
495
478
459
440
421
401
380
360
340
320
280
242
207
179
156
137
121
108
97.0
87.5

60
LRFD
cPn
900
851
833
814
793
769
744
718
690
662
632
602
572
541
511
480
421
364
311
268
234
206
182
162
146
132

ASD
Pn/c
527
498
487
476
463
449
435
419
402
386
368
350
332
314
296
279
244
210
179
155
135
118
105
93.6
84.0
75.8

LRFD
cPn
792
748
732
715
696
675
653
630
605
579
553
527
500
473
445
419
366
316
270
233
203
178
158
141
126
114

Ag

32.9

29.4

25.9

22.6

20

17.6

ry

2.68

2.65

2.63

2.6

2.59

2.57

Following the table, we find a W12X 96 with Pn/c =591 k and cPn
>Pu =888 k.

96
KL
0
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40

ASD
Pn/c
844
811
800
787
772
756
739
720
701
680
659
637
614
591
567
543
495
447
401
356
312
274
243
217
195
176

87
LRFD
cPn
1269
1220
1202
1183
1161
1137
1110
1083
1053
1022
990
957
923
888
852
816
744
672
602
535
469
413
365
326
293
264

ASD
Pn/c
766
736
726
714
700
685
670
653
635
616
596
576
555
534
512
490
446
403
360
319
280
246
218
194
174
157

LRFD
cPn
1152
1107
1091
1073
1052
1030
1006
981
954
925
896
865
834
802
770
737
671
605
541
480
421
370
327
292
262
237

W12X
79
ASD
LRFD
Pn/c
cPn
695
1044
667
1002
657
988
646
971
634
953
620
932
606
910
590
887
574
862
556
836
538
809
520
781
501
753
481
723
462
694
442
664
402
604
362
544
323
486
286
430
250
376
220
331
195
293
174
261
156
234
141
212

72
ASD
Pn/c
632
606
597
587
576
564
550
536
521
505
489
472
455
437
419
401
364
328
292
259
226
199
176
157
141
127

65
LRFD
cPn
950
911
898
883
866
847
827
806
783
759
735
709
683
656
629
602
547
493
440
389
340
299
265
236
212
191

ASD
Pn/c
572
549
540
531
521
510
497
484
470
456
441
426
410
393
377
360
327
294
262
231
202
178
157
140
126
114

LRFD
cPn
860
825
812
798
783
766
747
728
707
685
663
640
616
591
567
542
492
442
394
348
304
267
236
211
189
171

Ag

28.2

25.6

23.2

21.1

19.1

ry

3.09

3.07

3.05

3.04

3.02

10

Following the table, a W 14X 90 of Pn/c =618 k and cPn =929 k will
work.
W14X
145
KL
0
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40

ASD
Pn/c
1278
1248
1237
1225
1211
1196
1180
1162
1143
1122
1101
1078
1055
1031
1006
980
927
872
816
759
703
647
593
540
489
441

132
LRFD
cPn
1922
1876
1860
1841
1821
1798
1773
1746
1717
1687
1655
1621
1586
1549
1512
1473
1393
1310
1226
1141
1056
973
891
812
735
663

ASD
Pn/c
1162
1131
1120
1108
1094
1078
1062
1044
1024
1004
982
960
937
913
888
862
810
756
702
648
594
542
491
442
397
358

120
LRFD
cPn
1746
1700
1683
1665
1644
1621
1596
1568
1540
1509
1477
1443
1408
1372
1334
1296
1218
1137
1055
974
893
814
738
665
596
538

ASD
Pn/c
1057
1029
1019
1007
994
980
965
948
931
912
892
872
850
828
805
782
734
685
635
586
537
489
443
398
357
322

109
LRFD
cPn
1589
1546
1531
1514
1495
1473
1450
1425
1399
1371
1341
1310
1278
1245
1211
1176
1103
1030
955
880
807
735
665
599
536
484

ASD
Pn/c
958
932
923
913
901
888
874
859
843
826
808
789
770
750
729
708
664
620
574
529
485
441
399
359
322
290

99
LRFD
cPn
1440
1401
1388
1372
1354
1335
1314
1291
1267
1241
1215
1186
1157
1127
1096
1064
998
931
863
796
729
663
600
540
484
437

ASD
Pn/c
871
848
839
830
819
807
794
780
766
750
733
716
698
680
661
642
602
561
519
478
438
398
360
323
290
261

90
LRFD
cPn
1310
1274
1261
1247
1231
1213
1194
1173
1151
1127
1102
1077
1050
1022
994
964
904
843
781
719
658
598
541
486
435
393

ASD
Pn/c
793
772
764
755
745
735
723
710
697
682
667
652
635
618
601
583
547
509
472
434
397
361
326
293
262
237

LRFD
cPn
1193
1160
1148
1135
1120
1104
1087
1067
1047
1026
1003
979
955
929
903
877
822
766
709
653
597
543
490
440
394
356

Ag

42.7

38.8

35.3

32

29.1

26.5

ry

3.98

3.76

3.74

3.73

3.71

3.7

We would probably use the W14X 90 section since it is the lightest.

The other tables in the Steel Manual are for different sections.

Table
Table
Table
Table
Table
Table
Table
Table

4-2 HP
4-3 Rectangular HSS
4-4 Square HSS
4-5 Round HSS
4-6 Pipe
4-7 WT
4-8 to 4-10 Double Angles
4-11 to 4-12 Single Angles

So Table 4-1 is very useful in designing W section columns. Table 4-22

is more for analysis of a column to determine its available compressive
strength.

11

Example 2
Calculate the available compressive strength of a W14X 12 column
with an unbraced length of 28 feet in both directions. The material is
ASTM A992, Fy = 50 ksi and Fu = 65 ksi. Assume the column is
pinned-pinned so K=1.0.

Ag = 35.3 in2, rx = 6.25 in and ry = 3.74 in

KL 1.0 (28 ft ) (12 in / ft )

=
= 53.76
rx
6.24 in
KL 1.0 (28 ft ) (12 in / ft )
=
= 89.84
ry
3.74 in
Fe =

2E
( KL / r ) 2

Fcr = 0.658

Fy / Fe

2 (29,000 ksi)
89.84

]F = [0.658

= 35.462 ksi

50 / 35.462

use larger

]50 ksi = 27.712 ksi

LRFD

Pn = Fcr Ag = 0.9 (27.712 ksi) (35.3 in 2 ) = 880 k

ASD
Pn Fcr
27.712 ksi
=
Ag =
(35.3 in 2 ) = 586 k

1.67

Lets use Table 4-22 to verify these values. KL/r = 89.84. Enter the
table for 50 ksi steel and determine the values for Fcr/ and Fcr that
correspond to KL/r of 89 and 90. Then we interpolate to get the Fcr/
and Fcr values for KL/r of 89.84. We multiply these values by Ag
(gross area) to get Pn/ and Pn.

12

KL/r

Fcr/

Fcr

89

16.8

25.2

89.84

90

16.6

24.9

(89.84 89)
(16.8 16.6) = 0.168 ksi
(90 89)

Fcr
= (16.8 0.168) = 16.632 ksi

Pn Fcr
=
Ag = (16.632 ksi) (35.3 in 2 ) = 587 k close to 586 k OK

(89.84 89)
=
(25.2 24.9) = 0.252 ksi
(90 89)
Fcr = (25.2 0.252) = 24.948 ksi

Pn = Fcr Ag = (24.948 ksi) (35.3 in 2 ) = 881 k close to 880 k

13

Table 4-1 also verifies these values. Enter the table for KL = 28 ft and
determine the values Pn/ and Pn for W14X 120. Pn/=586 k and
Pn=880 k

Example 3
Calculate the available strength of a W14X 99 with Lx= 30 ft and
Ly= 15 ft. The material is ASTM A992 so Fy= 50 ksi. Assume the
connections are pinned-pinned so K=1.0.

Ag= 29.1 in2, rx= 6.17 in and ry=3.71 in.

14

Now we calculate KL/r and determine which to use to enter table 4-22.
KL x 1.0 (30 ft ) (12 in / ft )
=
= 58.347 use larger
6.17 in
rx
KL y
ry

1.0 (15 ft ) (12 in / ft )

= 48.518
3.71in

Interpolate values Fcr/ and Fcr from Table 4-22 for KL/r = 58.347

ASD

Fcr
= 23.3306 ksi

Pn Fcr
=
Ag = (23.3306 ksi) (29.1in 2 ) = 679 k

LRFD

Fcr = 35.0959 ksi

Pn = Fcr Ag = (35.0959 ksi) (29.1in 2 ) = 1021 k

15

Now to use Table 4-1, rx/ry=1.66 so KL = (30 ft)/1.66 = 18 ft. Enter

Table 4-1 for KL= 18 ft and W14X 99.

Pn/=680 k and Pn=1022 k which are very close to 679 k and 1021 k
form table 4-22.
Conclusion
You can use the equations in section E3 of the specification to design
columns by trial-and-error or to analyze the nominal compressive
strength of columns. These equations are for axial compressive loads
on W sections. Table 4-1 is used to assist with the design of W
sections under axial compression loads for Fy= 50 ksi. Table 4-22 is
used to calculate the critical stress for Fy= 35 ksi, 36 ksi, 42 ksi, 48 ksi
and 50 ksi. The critical stress times the gross area give the
compressive strength of the column.
Steel is recyclable material.

16

This is a plot of a part of Table 4-22 for ASD values.

ASD Flexural Buckling Stress vs KL/r
35.0

Flexural Buckling Stress (ksi)

30.0

25.0

20.0

15.0

10.0

5.0

0.0
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

KL/r
Fy=36 ksi

Fy=50 ksi

It appears that we use equation E3-2 for calculating Fcr to about

KL/r = 120 and then we use equation E3-3 to calculate Fcr to
KL/r = 200. LRFD values would plot about the same.

17

200