Prof. Dr.

Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

BEAM COLUMNS
Beam columns are structural members that are
subjected to a combination of bending and axial
stresses.
The structural behaviour resembles
simultaneously to that of a beam and a column.
Majority of the steel building frames have
columns that carry sizable bending moments in
addition to the usual compressive loads.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

The sources of this bending moment are shown in

Figure 5.1 and explained below:
P

e
P

e
M=Pe

a) Out-Of-Plumb

b) Initial Crookedness

c) Eccentric Load

Figure 5.1. Sources of Eccentricity in Columns.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

It is almost impossible to erect the columns

perfectly vertical and centre loads exactly on
columns.
Columns may be initially crooked or have other
flaws with the result that lateral bending is
produced.
In some cases, crane beams parallel to columnsline and other perpendicular beams rest on brackets
projecting out from columns. This produces high
values of bending moments.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

Wind and other lateral loads act within the

column height and produce bending.
The bending moments from the beams are
transferred to columns if the connections are
rigid.
CONTROLLING DESIGN FACTOR:
SECOND ORDER EFFECTS
The elastic analysis carried out to calculate
deflections and member forces for the given
loads is called 1st order and analysis.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

The high axial load present in the column

combined with this elastic deflection produces
extra bending moment in the column, as is clear
from Figure 5.2.
The analysis of structure including this extra
moment is called 2nd order analysis.
Similarly, other higher order analysis may also be
performed.
In practice, usually 2nd order analysis is
sufficiently accurate with the high order results of
much lesser numerical value.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

P
M

Maximum lateral
deflection due to
bending moment
(M)

Deflected shape
or elastic curve
due to applied
bending moment
(M)
Extra moment = P,
P which produces more
deflections

Figure 5.2. Eccentricity Due to First Order Deflections.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

The phenomenon in which the moments are

automatically increased in a column beyond the
usual analysis for loads is called moment
magnification or 2nd order effects.
The moment magnification depends on many
factors but, in some cases, it may be higher
enough to double the 1st order moments or even
more.
In majority of practical cases, this magnification
is appreciable and must always be considered for
a safe design.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

1st order deflection produced within a member

() usually has a smaller 2nd order effect called P effect, whereas magnification due to sides-way
() is much larger denoted by P- effect (refer to
Figure 5.3).
P-Delta effect is defined as the secondary effect
of column axial loads and lateral deflections on
the moments in members.
The calculations for actual 2nd order analysis are
usually lengthy and can only be performed on
computers.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

For manual calculations, empirical methods are

used to approximately cater for these effects in
design.
2nd order effects are more pronounced when loads
closer to buckling loads are applied and hence the
empirical moment magnification formula contains
a ratio of applied load to elastic buckling load.
The factored applied load should, in all cases, be
lesser than 75% of the elastic critical buckling load
but is usually kept much lesser than this limiting
value.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

INTERACTION EQUATION AND

INTERACTION DIAGRAM
The combined stress at any
point in a member subjected to
bending and direct stress, as in
Figure 5.3, is obtained by the
formula:
P
Mxy
f =

Ix
A

Extra Moment
M = P

M yx
Iy

Figure 5.3.
A Deflected Beam-Column.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

For a safe design, the maximum compressive

stress (f) must not exceed the allowable material
stress (Fall) as follows:
P
Mxy
f =

Ix
A

M yx
Iy

Mx
P
My
+ S F
+
AFall
S y Fall
x
all
P
My
Mx
+
+ M
Pmax
M x , max
y , max

Fall

This equation is called interaction equation

showing interaction of axial force and bending
moment in an easy way.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

If this equation is plotted against the various terms

selected on different axis, we get an interaction
curve or an interaction surface depending on
whether there are two or three terms in the
equation, respectively.
1.0

1.0
0,0
Figure 5.4. A Typical Interaction Curve.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

Pr = required axial compressive strength

(Pu in LRFD)
Pc = available axial compressive
strength
= cPn, c = 0.90 (LRFD)
= Pn / c, c = 1.67 (ASD)
Mr = required flexural strength (Mu in
LRFD)
available flexural strength
Mc =
= bMn, b = 0.90 (LRFD)
= Mn / b, b = 1.67 (ASD)

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

AISC INTERACTION EQUATIONS

The following interaction equations are
applicable for doubly and singly symmetric
members:
If

Pr
Pc

0.2, axial load is considerable, and

following equation is to be satisfied:

Pr 8 M rx M ry
+
+
Pc 9 M cx M cy

1.0

Pr
< 0.2, axial load is lesser, beam
Pc

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

If

action is dominant, and the applicable

equation is:
Pr M rx M ry
+
+
2 Pc M cx M cy

1.0

MOMENT ADJUSTMENT FACTOR

(Cmx or Cmy)
Moment adjustment factor (Cm) is based on
the rotational restraint at the member ends
and on the moment gradient in the members.
It is only defined for no-sway cases.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

1.
For restrained compression members in
frames braced against joint translation (no
sidesway) and not subjected to transverse loading
between their supports in the plane of bending:
M1
Cm = 0.6 0.4
M2
where M1 is the smaller end moment and M2 is
the larger end moment.
M 1 / M 2 is positive when member is bent in

reverse curvature and it it is negative when

member is bent in single curvature (Figure 5.5b).

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

P
M2

M1

a) Reverse Curvature

M2

M1

b) Single Curvature

Figure 5.5. Columns Bent in Reverse and Single Curvatures.

When transverse load is applied between the

supports but or sway is prevented,
for members with restrained ends
Cm = 0.85
for members with unrestrained ends Cm = 1.0

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

K-VALUES FOR FRAME BEAM-COLUMNS

K-values for frame columns with partially fixed

ends should be evaluated using alignment charts
given in Reference-1.
However, if details of adjoining members are not
given, following approximate estimate may be
used:
K = 1.2 1.5 if sidesway is permitted with
partially fixed ends
K =1
if sidesway is prevented but end
conditions are not mentioned

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

MOMENT MAGNIFICATION FACTORS

Moment magnification factors (B1 and B2) are
used to empirically estimate the magnification
produced in the column moments due to 2nd order
effects.
These are separately calculated for sway or lateral
translation case (lt-case) and for no-sway or no
translation case (nt-case).
Accordingly, the frame is to be separately
analysed for loads producing sway and not
producing sway.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

Ml t =
B2

Mnt =

B1

moment due to lateral loads producing

appreciable lateral translation.
moment magnification factor to take
care of Pu effects for sway and
deflections due to lateral loads.
the moment resulting from gravity
loads, not producing appreciable lateral
translation.
moment magnification factor to take
care of Pu effects for no translation
loads.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

Mr

Pr

required magnified flexural strength

for second order effects

B1 Mnt + B2 Mlt

=
=

required magnified axial strength

Pnt + B2 Plt

No-Sway Magnification
B1

Cm
=
1 Pr Pe1

1.0

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

where
=

1.0 (LRFD) and 1.60 (ASD)

Pe1 = Euler buckling strength for

braced frame
=

2 EI / (K1 L)2

K1 =
effective length factor in the
plane of bending for no lateral
translation, equal to 1.0 or a
smaller value by detailed analysis

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

Sway Magnification
The sway magnification factor, B2, can be
determined from one of the following formulas:
1
B2 =
Pnt
1
Pe 2
where,

Pnt =

1.0 (LRFD) and 1.60 (ASD)

total vertical load supported by
the story, kN, including gravity loads

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

Pe2 =

elastic critical buckling

resistance for the story
determined by sidesway
buckling analysis
=

2 EI / (K2 L)2

where I and K2 is calculated in the plane of

bending for the unbraced conditions

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

SELECTION OF TRIAL BEAMCOLUMN SECTION

The only way by which interaction of axial
compression and bending moment can be
considered, is to satisfy the interaction equation.
However, in order to satisfy these equations, a
trial section is needed.
For this trial section, maximum axial compressive
strength and bending strengths may be
determined.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

The difficulty in selection of a trial section for a

beam column is that whether it is selected based
on area of cross-section or the section modulus.
No direct method is available to calculate the
required values of the area and the section
modulus in such cases.
For selection of trial section, the beam-column
is temporarily changed into a pure column by
approximately converting the effect of bending
moments into an equivalent axial load.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

Peq

=
=

equivalent or effective axial load

Pr + Mrx mx + Mry my

mx (for first trial) =

my (for first trial) =
mx

my

8.5 0.7K1xLx

17 1.4K1yLy

10 14(d / 1000)2 0.7K1xLx

20 28(d / 1000)2 1.4K1yLy

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

The above equation is evaluated for Peq and a

column section is selected from the
concentrically loaded column tables for that
load.
The equation for Peq is solved again using a
revised value of m.
Another section is selected and checks are then
applied for this trial section.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqi

WEB LOCAL STABILITY

For stiffened webs in combined flexural and axial
compression:
Pu
E 2.75 Pu
1
If
0.125 p = 3.76

b Py
Fy
b Py
2.75 Pu
For A36 steel, p = 106.7 1 P
If

Pu
b Py

> 0.125

p =

For A36 steel, p

E
1.12
Fy

2.33 Pu

b Py

Pu

31.8 2.33

b Py

where = h / tw and Py = Fy Ag

1.49 E

Fy

42.3