BASIC COLUMN STRENGTH

Assumptions
A. With regard to material
• Uniform compressive σ-ε properties thru-out the section
• No initial internal stress exist, due to cooling (after
rolling and welding)
B. With regard to shape and condition
• Column is perfectly straight and prismatic
• Load resultant acts at the centroidal axis of the member
until it begins to bend.
• The end conditions must be determinate so that a definite
equivalent pinned length may be established.
 BASIC COLUMN STRENGTH

Assumptions

C. With regard to buckling

• Small deflection theory of ordinary bending is applicable
and shear may be neglected.
• Twisting and distortion of the cross section does not
occur during bending
 INELASTIC BUCKLING

• explains what happens at the σ-ε transition curve

• Non slender columns buckle when some of their fibers are
inelastic ( Einelastic < Eelastic)
A. Basic Tangent Modulus (Engesser)
• The column remains straight up to the instant of failure
and the modulus of elasticity at failure is the tangent to
the σ-ε curve.
 INELASTIC BUCKLING

B. Double Modulus (Engesser)

• The modulus of elasticity may be elastic at the tension
side and inelastic at compression side at the instant of
failure due to bending.
 INELASTIC BUCKLING

A. Shanley Concept
• Resolved the apparent inconsistencies in the above
theories and today the basic tangent modulus concept
was accepted as the correct one for inelastic buckling.

Note ; For practical purpose the increase in capacity from Pcr

to Ps is neglected and hence the Tangent Modulus Load
may be considered as the critical load at which bending
begins.
 COLUMN TEST RESULTS

The column concepts were generally accepted but still gave

computed strengths higher than test values. These are the
reasons why basically, the EULER buckling strength values
are higher than test values.

A. Initial crookedness of the member

B. Accidental eccentricities of the load
C. End restraint
D. Local buckling
E. RESIDUAL STRESS
 RESIDUAL STRESS

- explains why σ-ε curve becomes non linear beyond

proportional limit.
- stresses that remains in a member after it has been formed
into a finished product, it also results from plastic
deformation.
- several causes of residual stresses
• Uneven cooling which occurs after hot rolling of
structural shapes
• Cold bending or cambering during fabrication
• Punching of holes and cutting operations during
fabrication
• Welding
Compression Member - Columns
 COLUMN STABILITY

A. Flexural Buckling
• Elastic Buckling
• Inelastic Buckling Common to beams
• Yielding
B. Local Buckling
C. Torsional / Lateral Torsional Buckling
AISC Requirements

Nominal Compressive Strength

CRITICAL BUCKLING
STRESS

Pn  Fcr Ag
AISC Equation
 AISC Requirements

LRFD Criteria
Pu  c Pn

Pu  Sum of factored loads (Required Strength)

c  Reduction Factor for compression  0.90

c Pn  Design Capacity
LRFD Column Strength Curve

INELASTIC
BUCKLING
ELASTIC
BUCKLING
 LRFD Column Formula

 Fy
 KL E

 0.658 F 
e
Fy if  4.71
 
 r Fy


Fcr   or Fe  0.44 Fy




 0.877 Fe otherwise
To avoid very slender sections
KL
 200
r
 Local Stability

Local Stability:
If elements of cross section are so slender, LOCAL buckling occurs prior to column failure.
The strength in the global buckling mode cannot be developed

Localized
Buckling

Localized
Buckling
 Local Stability
Those which are supported
at both ends
 Stiffened Elements

Those which are NOT

• Unstiffened Elements supported at both ends
 Local Stability

If local buckling occurs cross section is not fully effective

Avoid whenever possible

Measure of susceptibility to local buckling

Width-Thickness ratio of each cross sectional element: l

If cross section has slender elements - l lr

Reduce Axial Strength
AISC Slenderness Limits
Slenderness Parameter - Limiting Values
AISC Slenderness limits
 LRFD Column Formula with
Local Plate Buckling

Q = Qa*Qs
Reduction Factor Q:

 QFy
 KL E

 0.658 F e
QFy if  4.71
 
 r QFy


Fcr   or Fe  0.44QFy




 0.877 Fe otherwise

Note : the shape factor Q beside parameter Fy

 Slender Cross Sectional Element:
Strength Reduction

Reduction Factor or Shape factor Q:  QFy

 KL E
 0.658 F  Fy if  4.71
e

 
 r QFy
Q=QsQa 
Fcr   or Fe  0.44QFy

Unstiffened Stiffened Shape 

Shape factor factor  0.877 Fe otherwise

Note the shape factor Q beside

the parameter Fy.

Note : Qs, Qa , B4.1 – B4.2

 COLUMN STABILITY

A. Column Buckling
• Elastic Buckling
• Inelastic Buckling
• Yielding
B. Local Buckling
C. Torsional, Lateral/Torsional Buckling
 Torsional & Flexural Torsional Buckling

When an axially loaded member becomes unstable globally

(no local buckling) it buckles one of the three ways

• Flexural Buckling
• Torsional Buckling
• Flexural-Torsional
Buckling
 Torsional Buckling

Twisting about longitudinal axis of member

Only with doubly symmetrical cross sections with slender cross-
sectional elements

Cruciform shape particularly

vulnerable

Standard Hot-Rolled Shapes are

NOT susceptible

Built-Up Members should be

investigated
 Flexural Torsional Buckling

Combination of Flexural and Torsional Buckling

Only with unsymmetrical cross sections

1 Axis of Symmetry: channels, structural

tees, double-angle, equal
length single angles

No Axis of Symmetry: unequal length single

angles
 Torsional Buckling

  2 ECw  1
Fe   
Eq. E4-4

 K z L   GJ  I x  I y
2

Cw = Warping Constant (in6)

Kz = Effective Length Factor for Torsional Buckling
(based on end restraints against twisting)
G = Shear Modulus (11,200 ksi for structural steel)
J = Torsional Constant
Lateral Torsional Buckling 1-Axis of Symmetry

 Fey  Fez   4 Fey Fez H

2

Fe    1  1   AISC Eq. E4-5

 2 H   Fey  Fez 

 2E   2 ECw  1
Fey  Fez    GJ 
K y L ry 
2

 z K L 2 2
 Ag r o
xo2  yo2 2 Ix  I y
H  1 2
r x y 
o
2
o
2
o
r o
Ag

xo , yo Coordinates of shear center w.r.t centroid of section

Lateral Torsional Buckling No Axis of Symmetry

Fe  Fex Fe  Fey Fe  Fez  

2 Fe is the lowest root of the

F Fe  Fey   
2  xo  Cubic equation
e
 ro 
2
 yo 
F Fe  Fex    0
e
2

 ro  AISC Eq. E4-6

 In Summary - Definition of Fe

Fe: Elastic Buckling Stress corresponding to the controlling mode of

failure (flexural, torsional or flexural torsional)

Theory of Elastic Stability (Timoshenko & Gere 1961)

Flexural Buckling Torsional Buckling Flexural Torsional Flexural Torsional

2-axis of symmetry Buckling Buckling
1 axis of symmetry No axis of symmetry

 2E AISC Eqtn AISC Eqtn AISC Eqtn

Fe 
KL / r 2 E4-4 E4-5 E4-6
 Column Strength

 Fy


 0.658 Fe  Fy if Fe  0.44 Fy
  
 
Fcr  



0.877 Fe otherwise

Pn  Fcr Ag
 EXAMPLE

Compute the compressive strength of a WT12x81 of A992 steel.

Assume (KxL) = 25.5 ft, (KyL) = 20 ft, and (Kz L) = 20 ft

FLEXURAL Buckling – X axis

WT 12X81 KL K x L 25.5  12
   87.43  200 OK
Ag=23.9 in2
r rx 3.50
E 29,000
rx=3.50 in 4.71  4.71  113  87.43 Inelastic Buckling
Fy 50
ry=3.05 in
 2E  2 29,000
Fe    37.44 ksi
KL r  2
87.43
2

 Fy   50 
   
Fcr  0.658  Fe 
Fy  0.658  37.44 
(50)  28.59 ksi

Pn  Fcr Ag  28.59(23.9)  683.3 kips

 EXAMPLE

FLEXURAL TORSIONAL Buckling – Y axis (axis of symmetry)

WT 12X81 K y L 20  12
  78.69  200 OK
ry 3.05
Ag=23.9 in2
 2E  2 29,000
Fey 
K L r    46.22 ksi
rx=3.50 in
ry=3.05 in y y
2
78.69 2

y=2.70 in
Shear Center
tf=1.22 in
2 Ix  Iy
Ix=293 in4
r x y 
o
2
o
2
o
Ag
Iy=221 in4 x0  0
293  221
J=9.22 in4  0  ( 2.09 ) 
2
 25.87
tf 23.9
y0  y 
Cw=43.8 in6 2
 EXAMPLE

FLEXURAL TORSIONAL Buckling – Y axis (axis of symmetry)

WT 12X81

Ag=23.9 in2
  2 ECw  1
rx=3.50 in
Fez    GJ 
ry=3.05 in 
 z K L 2 2
 Ag r o
y=2.70 in
  2 (29,000)( 43.8)  1
  11,200(9.22)
tf=1.22 in

Ix=293 in4
 20 12 2
 23 .9 25 .87 2

Iy=221 in4
 167.4ksi
J=9.22 in4

Cw=43.8 in6
 EXAMPLE

FLEXURAL TORSIONAL Buckling – Y axis (axis of symmetry)

xo2  yo2 0  2.090 

WT 12X81 2
H  1 2
 1  0.8312
Ag=23.9 in2
r o 25.87
rx=3.50 in

 Fey  Fez   
ry=3.05 in
4 Fey Fez H
y=2.70 in Fe    1  1  
tf=1.22 in  2 H   Fey  Fez 
46.22  167 .4  446.22 167 .4 0.8312  
Ix=293 in4

 1  1  
20.8312   46.22  167 .4 
Iy=221 in4 2

J=9.22 in4

 53.63ksi
Cw=43.8 in6
 EXAMPLE

FLEXURAL TORSIONAL Buckling – Y axis (axis of symmetry)

WT 12X81
Elastic or Inelastic LTB?
Ag=23.9 in2
0.44 Fy  0.44(50)  22.0ksi  Fe  43.63
rx=3.50 in
ry=3.05 in
 Fy

y=2.70 in 
 0.658 Fe  Fy if Fe  0.44 Fy
  
 
tf=1.22 in

Ix=293 in4 Fcr 

Iy=221 in4


J=9.22 in4 
0.877 Fe otherwise
Cw=43.8 in6
 EXAMPLE

FLEXURAL TORSIONAL Buckling – Y axis (axis of symmetry)

WT 12X81
 Fy

Fcr   0.658 F  Fy
e
Ag=23.9 in2
 
rx=3.50 in  
ry=3.05 in  50

y=2.70 in   0.658 43.63 50  28.59 ksi
tf=1.22 in
 
Ix=293 in4 Pn  Fcr Ag  30.95(2.70)  739.7kips
Iy=221 in4
Compare to FLEXURAL Buckling – X axis
J=9.22 in4
Pn  Fcr Ag  21.82(23.9)  683.3 kips
Cw=43.8 in6
 Column Design Tables

Assumption : Strength Governed by Flexural Buckling

Check Local Buckling

Column Design Tables

Design strength of selected shapes for effective length KL

Table 4-1 to 4-2, (pp 4-10 to 4-316)

Critical Stress for Slenderness KL/r

table 4.22 pp (4-318 to 4-322)
 EXAMPLE

Compute the available compressive strength of a W14x74 A992

steel compression member. Assume pinned ends and L=20 ft.
Use (a) Table 4-22 and (b) column load tables

(a) LRFD - Table 4-22 – pp 4-318

KL KL (1)( 20)(12)
Maximum    96.77  200
r ry 2.48
Fy=50 ksi

Table has integer values of (KL/r) Round up or interpolate

Pcr  22.67ksi
Pn  Pcr Ag  22.67(21.8)  494ksi
 EXAMPLE

Compute the available compressive strength of a W14x74 A992

steel compression member. Assume pinned ends and L=20 ft.
Use (a) Table 4-22 and (b) column load tables

(b) LRFD Column Load Tables

Tabular values based on minimum radius of gyration

Maximum KL  (1)( 20)  20 ft Fy=50 ksi

c Pn  494 kips
 Example II

A W12x58, 24 feet long in pinned at both ends and braced

in the weak direction at the third points. A992 steel is
used. Determine available compressive strength
K x L 1( 24 )(12 )
  54.55  200
rx 5.28
Ag  17
K y L 1(8)(12)
rx  5.28   38.25  200
ry 2.51

Enter table 4.22 with KL/r=54.55 (LRFD)

ry  2.51
Pcr  36.24ksi
Pn  Pcr Ag  36.24(17 )
 616 kips
 Example II

A W12x58, 24 feet long in pinned at both ends and braced

in the weak direction at the third points. A992 steel is
used. Determine available compressive strength
K x L 1( 24 )(12 )
  54.55  200
rx 5.28
Ag  17
K y L 1(8)(12)
rx  5.28   38.25  200
ry 2.51

Enter table 4.22 with KL/r=54.55 (ASD)

ry  2.51
Fcr
 24.09 ksi
c
Pn Fcr
 Ag  410 kips
c c
 Example II

A W12x58, 24 feet long in pinned at both ends and braced

in the weak direction at the third points. A992 steel is
used. Determine available compressive strength
K x L 1( 24 )(12 )
  54.55  200 CAN I USE Column Load Tables?
rx 5.28

K y L 1(8)(12)
  38.25  200 Not Directly because they are
ry 2.51 based on min r (y axis buckling)

If x-axis buckling enter table with

KxL
KL 
rx ry
 Example II

A W12x58, 24 feet long in pinned at both ends and braced

in the weak direction at the third points. A992 steel is
used. Determine available compressive strength
K x L 1( 24 )(12 ) X-axis buckling enter table with
  54.55  200
rx 5.28
K x L (1)( 24)
K y L 1(8)(12) KL    11.43 ft
  38.25  200 rx ry 2.1
ry 2.51

Pn  616kips