Determine the value of the moment capacity Mcx about its major axis from:

Mcx = py Sx, but G 1.2py Zx for plastic or compact sections

= py Zx for semi-compact

where Sx is the plastic modulus of the section about the major axis
Zx is the elastic modulus of the section about the major axis
py is the design strength of the steel obtained from Table 2 according
to the steel grade and flange thickness

It should be noted that py Sx will govern for UB sections, except as noted previously.
Alternatively, Mcx may be obtained from the blue book where the second moments of
area are also given.

For slender sections an effective section is necessary, and BS 5950-1:20001 should be

consulted.

In Appendix A tables are provided that give the resistance moments Mcx and the second
moments of area I for a range of commonly used UB sections. A section may therefore be
chosen from these tables which satisfies the two criteria for bending and deflection.

d) Calculate the shear capacity Pv of the section chosen from Pv= 0.6pyAv where py is
obtained from Table 2, and Av is the shear area defined as follows:
• rolled I, H and channel sections, load parallel to web = tD
• rectangular hollow sections, load parallel to webs = AD/(D+B)
• rolled tee sections, load parallel to web = tD
• circular hollow sections = 0.6A
• solid bars and plates = 0.9A
• any other case refer to BS 5950-1:20001

where t is the web thickness

D is the overall depth of the section
B is the overall breadth of the section
A is the area of the cross-section

Alternatively Pv may be obtained from the blue book.

For rolled sections, if the depth of the web d is greater than 70tε the web should be
checked for shear buckling – refer to BS 5950-1:20001. However, none of the common
rolled sections listed in Appendix A exceed this limit.

No further checks are required if the shear force Fv G 0.6Pv

IStructE/ICE Manual for the design of steelwork building structures 3rd edition 11