h) When these values have been obtained the equation in f) should be checked.

If the
relationship shown is not satisfied a larger section or higher grade of steel should be
chosen and the calculations repeated.

Column splices will normally be provided every two or three storeys up the building to facilitate
transport, handling and erection – the length of column between splices usually being termed a
‘lift’. Advantage can be taken of these splices by reducing the column size in the upper storeys.
Each change of section size will have to be checked using the procedure given above. Only the
bottom storey of each ‘lift’ needs to be checked providing there are no significant differences in
storey height or nominal moments at the higher levels in the same ‘lift’. Where it is economical
to do so, a single section size can be used for the full height of the building.

10.4.2 Alternative design procedure for calculation of compressive resistance Pc

for columns
As an alternative procedure to that described in Section 10.4.1g) the compressive resistance Pc of
a column may be obtained from:

Pc =Ag pc

where Ag is the gross sectional area of the trial section

pc is the compressive strength

The alternative procedure is as follows.

a) Choose a trial section avoiding slender sections and obtain the design strength py from
Table 2 according to the thickness of the flanges and grade of steel of the chosen section.
UB sections acting as columns will normally be heavier than UC sections, unless there is
a dominant moment effect.
b) Calculate the slenderness λ by dividing the effective length LE obtained as in Section 10.2
by the radius of gyration of the chosen section about the relevant axis.
c) Determine pc from Appendix D according to the type of section, axis of buckling,
slenderness and the appropriate design strength py; for intermediate values of λ
interpolation may be used.
d) To interpret these tables it should be noted that the definitions of I- and H-sections are
as follows:
e) I-sections have a central web and two equal flanges, with an overall depth greater than
1.2 times the width of the flanges
f) H-sections have a central web and two equal flanges, with an overall depth not greater
than 1.2 times the width of the flanges.
g) Calculate the compressive resistance Pc from Ag pc.

The scope of Appendix D includes the design of rolled I- or H-sections with welded flange plates
using the appropriate plate type as shown in Fig. 16.

IStructE/ICE Manual for the design of steelwork building structures 3rd edition 55