Lecture 33 – Steel Columns & Compression Members

Similar to wood columns (or any column in general), steel columns are susceptible
to buckling if not adequately laterally braced. The load-carrying capacity of
compression members is inversely proportional to the slenderness ratio, which is
defined as:

kL
Slenderness ratio = < 200
r

where:
k = modification factor based on column end conditions (see below)

L = unbraced length between lateral supports, inches

r = radius of gyration
I
=
A
= from properties in textbook appendix

Lecture 33 - Page 1 of 13
A graph of the load-carrying capacity of a column vs. the slenderness ratio is
shown below:

Column load capacity

kL
r

Column Shapes

The most efficient shape of a column section is square, circular or any

symmetric shape such that one axis is not significantly weaker than
another. Sections that are efficient as beams are NOT efficient as
columns, and vice versa.

W12x65 W12x14

6” dia. pipe C6x8.2 channel

HSS 6x6x¼ HSS 6x3x¼

Good column sections Poor column sections

Lecture 33 - Page 2 of 13
Allowable Loads in Columns and Compression Members

The allowable axial compressive load, Pallow, is determined as:

Pallow = FaAg

where:
Pallow = allowable axial compressive load, kips

Fa = allowable axial stress, KSI

2
kL / r
1 2
Fy
2C c Fy = steel yield stress, KSI
=
5 3 kL / r kL / r
3 = 36 KSI for A36 steel
3 = 50 KSI for A992 steel
3 8C c 8C c
= 50 KSI for A572 steel
= 46 KSI for A500 steel
2
2 E
Cc =
Fy

If kL/r > Cc, then:

12 2 E
Fa = 2
23 kL / r

Ag = gross cross-sectional area of member, in2

Lecture 33 - Page 3 of 13
Example 1
GIVEN: A W10x45 column using A992 steel is laterally braced at 14’-0” for
both the X and Y axes. Use “k” = 1.0.
REQUIRED: Determine the allowable axial compressive load, Pallow that
can be applied to the column.

Step 1 – Determine the largest slenderness ratio kL/r:

a) Check Weak Axis:

kL (1.0)(14' x12" / ft )
=
ry 2.01in

= 83.6 Use this value

b) Check Strong axis:

kL (1.0)(14' x12" / ft )
=
rx 4.33in

= 38.8

Step 2 – Determine Cc:

2
2 E
Cc =
Fy

2
2 (29000 KSI )
=
50 KSI

= 107

Lecture 33 - Page 4 of 13
Step 3 – Determine Fa:

Since Cc > kL/r then:

2
kL / r
1 2
Fy
2C c
Fa = 3
5 3 kL / r kL / r
3
3 8C c 8C c

2
83.6
1 50 KSI
2(107) 2
= 3
5 3 83.6 83.6
3 8(107) 8(107) 3

= 18.28 KSI

Step 4 – Determine Pallow:

Pallow = FaAg

= 18.28 KSI(13.3 in2)

Pallow = 243 kips

Lecture 33 - Page 5 of 13
Allowable Axial Stress Tables:

For convenience, the long calculations used to determine the allowable

axial stress, Fa, have been summarized in the following tables (for Fy = 36
kL
KSI and 50 KSI steels) based on MAXIMUM values:
r

Fy = 36 KSI

Lecture 33 - Page 6 of 13
 Fy = 50 KSI

Lecture 33 - Page 7 of 13
Example 2
GIVEN: The W10x45 A992 column from Example 1.
REQUIRED: Using the allowable axial stress table, determine Pallow.

Step 1 – Determine Fa @ kL/r = 83.6 from table above (Fy = 50 KSI):

Interpolating, Fa 18.30 KSI

Step 2 – Determine Pallow:

Pallow = FaAg

= 18.30 KSI(13.3 in2)

Pallow = 243 kips (same answer as in Example 1)

Example 3
GIVEN: The free-standing 6” diameter standard weight ASTM A501 (Fy = 36 KSI)
steel column supports a sign weighing 9000 lbs. For simplicity, disregard col. wt.
REQUIRED: Determine if the column is adequate to carry the load.

Sign

15’-0”
Ground

Step 1 – Determine the maximum kL/r:

Since the pipe is symmetric about both axes, only need to check kL/r
for either axes.

From “k” table above, 1 since column is free-standing end conditions

is type “e” use k = 2.10

kL (2.10)(15' x12" / ft )
= = 168
ry 2.25in

Step 2 – Determine Fa @ kL/r = 168:

From table above (Fy = 36 KSI) Fa = 5.29 KSI

Step 3 – Determine Pallow:

Pallow = FaAg
= 5.29 KSI(5.58 in2) = 29.5 kips
Since Pallow = 29.5 kips > 9 kips column is acceptable

Lecture 33 - Page 8 of 13
Column Load Tables

The simplest method of designing axially-loaded steel column is by use of

the column load tables. Simply determine the effective length kL in terms of
feet and select the column with a given allowable axial load that is greater
than the actual load. The tables are based on buckling about the weak axis
of the column section.

Lecture 33 - Page 9 of 13
Lecture 33 - Page 10 of 13
Lecture 33 - Page 11 of 13
Example 4
GIVEN: A column has an axial load of 200 kips and a kL = 14’-0”.
REQUIRED:
1) Design the lightest weight wide flange column using A992 steel (Fy =
50 KSI).
2) Design the lightest weight standard weight steel pipe column using
A501 steel (Fy = 36 KSI).

Step 1 – Design lightest wide-flange shape using Fy = 50 KSI:

Using the column load tables above @ kL = 14’-0”:

Possibilities:

Column Designation: Pallow: Weight (lb. per foot):

W8x40 217 kips 40
W10x39 207 kips 39

The lightest wide flange = W10x39

Step 2 – Design lightest standard weight pipe using Fy = 36 KSI:

Using the column load tables above @ kL = 14’-0”:

Possibilities:

Column Designation: Pallow: Weight (lb. per foot):

10” Diameter 223 kips 40.48
12” Diameter 282 kips 49.56

The lightest pipe = 10” Diameter

As can be seen in the example above, circular pipe columns have as

much (or more) load-carrying capacity as an equal-weight Wide
Flange shape of higher grade steel. Pipe columns are VERY
EFFICIENT.

Lecture 33 - Page 12 of 13
 Column Base Plate Bolting Requirements

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that a

minimum of 4 anchor bolts be used to fasten column base plates to the
concrete. This is in response to inadequate anchorage from the
traditionally-used 2 anchor bolt requirement. For this requirement, W8, W6
and W4 wide flange shapes are very difficult to squeeze 4 anchor bolts and
are therefore not recommended for columns anymore.

Column axial load

Base plate acts like a

“footing” spreading out the
load to the concrete footing

Lecture 33 - Page 13 of 13