Design of steel beams LRFD-AISC

A Lecture edited

By
Assistant Prof. Dr. Ehab B. Matar

Objectives
The objectives of this lecture is to:1. Understanding the behavior of steel beams
under bending moments and shear
2. Identifying the different modes of failure for
laterally supported or laterally un-supported
steel beams
3. Practicing for the different code provisions
for the design of steel beams

Reference
AISC- Specification for structural steel
buildings- March, 2005
Steel Structures, Design and Behavior, by,
Charles G. Salmon, John E. Johnson, Faris A.
Malhas- Pearson Prentice Hall, 5th edition,
2009

Result of ignorance with code

Provisions

Load and Resistance Factor Design

(LRFD)
.Rn i .Q i
where :
is the strength reduction factor
Rn is the nominal strength or member capacity

i is the overload factor

Qi is the relevant service load

Resistance factor
For tension members
=0.90 for yielding limit state
=0.75 for fracture limit state

For beams =0.9 for shear and bending

For compression members =0.85
For fasteners =0.75

Load combinations for LRFD

Qi and i for various load combinations as follows:
1.4*D
1.2*D+1.6L+0.5(Lr or S or R)
1.2D+1.6(Lr or S or R)+(0.5L or 0.8W)
1.2D+1.3W+0.5L+0.5(Lr or S or R)
1.2D1.0E+0.5L+ 0.2S
0.9D(1.3W or 1.0E)
Where, D: Dead load, L: Live load, Lr: roof live load,
W: wind load, E: earthquake load, S: Snow load,
R: Rain water load

Beams
Beams is a general word that can be applied to:
Girders: which is the most important supporting element
frequently spaced at wide distances
Joists: the less important beams closely spaced with a truss
type webs
Purlins: roof beams spaning between trusses
Stringers: longitudinal bridge beams spanning between X
girders
Girts: horizontal wall beams supporting corrugated sheets
at side walls of factories
Lintels: members supporting a wall over a window or door

Examples for joists, lintels, purlins and

side girts

Modes of failure for beams

Failure of beams subjected to major axis bending
can take the following modes:1. Occurrence of local buckling for the
compression flange
2. Occurrence of lateral torsional buckling
3. Occurrence of warping
4. Occurrence of shear buckling
5. Exceeding the serviceability limits (deflection,
vibration,etc.)

Bending &
local buckling

Bending: local buckling collapse

example from the JHU structures lab.

ELASTIC CRITICAL BUCKLING OF STIFFENED PLATE

f cr

2
E
=k
2
12(1- )(w / t ) 2

FREQUENTLY USED k VALUES

Section Class

Class 1: Compact sections which achieve full plastic moment

capacity without local buckling
Class 2: Non-compact sections which achieve yield moment
capacity without local buckling
Class 3: Slender sections which cannot achieve yield moment
capacity without local buckling

Local buckling

Effect of local and dis-torsional buckling on

beams capacity
14

Pcrd
12

Py

10

local
distortional

0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

Local Buckling limits AISC- SI units (N,mm)

Section
class
Compact p

Part
Web

Stress
Profile
Simple bending
Axial Comp.

Non-Compact
r

d w / tw 3.76 E / Fy 1690 / Fy

NA

Flange

Uniform Comp. C / t f 0.38 E / Fy 170 / Fy

Web

Simple bending d w / tw 5.7 E / Fy

Axial Comp.

Flange

Uniform Comp.

Rolled
Sec.&
B.U.S

d w / tw 1.49 E / Fy

C / t f 1.0 E / Fy

C / t f 0.95 kc E / FL

Note

Rolled
Sec.
B.U.S

Kc=4/SQRT(dw/tw) but shall not be taken less than 0.35 nor greater
than 0.76
FL=0.7Fy for minor axis bending , major axis bending of slender web
built up I shaped members and major axis bending of compact and
non-compact web built up I shaped members with Sxt/Sxc0.7 (where
Sxt and Sxc are the elastic section modulus of tension and
compression flanges in symmetrical I section

Width /thickness ratio r for non-compact sections for

beams with different steel yield strength
Fy (Mpa)

248

345

380

448

Rolled
sections,
unstiffened
flange
bf/2tf

Web
hw/tw

Welded sections

h/tw

Kc=4/SQR
T(hw/tw)

Flange unstiffened
welded
B.U.S.
bf/2tf

Flange
stiffened
box
section
bf/2tf

27.7

161.7
100
40

0.35
0.4
0.63

21.7
23.2
29.2

39.7

161.7

22.3

137.2
100
40

0.35
0.4
0.63

16.6
17.7
22.3

33.7

137.2

21.0

130.8
100
40

0.35
0.4
0.63

15.4
16.5
20.8

32.1

130.8

19.0

120.3
100
40

0.36
0.4
0.63

14.0
14.7
18.5

29.5

120.3

Lateral torsional buckling

Warping of beams

Stress distribution in beams at

different stages of loading
My: yield moment =Sx.Fy
Mp: plastic moment= Zx.Fy
Sx, Zx are the elastic and plastic section
modulus,
Shape factor =Zx/Sx is nearly 1.09-1.18

Restrained and Un-restrained

compression flange of steel beams

Overall lateral buckling of a whole system

Design of beams depend on:

Section Class

Type of Steel

Kind of stresses

Design of laterally supported steel

beams i.e. Luact=0 against Flexure
A- Case of compact sections
Governing equation is:
.MnMu
=0.9
Mn=Z.Fy
Mu= ultimate moment due to ultimate loads
(N.mm)
Z= plastic section modulus mm3
Fy= yield stress of steel (MPa i.e. N/mm2)

Continue
B- Non-compact sections
For sections exactly satisfies the limitations for
non-compact sections r for both of web and
flanges, Governing equation is
.MnMu
=0.9
Mn=Mr=S.(Fy-Fr)
Mu= ultimate moment due to ultimate loads (N.mm)

S= elastic section modulus mm3

Fy= yield stress of steel (MPa i.e. N/mm2)
Fr= residual stress for rolled sec. =68.95MPa

continue

C- For partial compact sections

For partial compact sections with either flange
or web slenderness ratios lies in between
compact p and non-compact r sections
.MnMu
=0.9
p

M n M p (M p M r ) *

p
r
is either d w /t w or c/t f

p or r are the relative limits for flanges or web for

compact or non compact sections

Design of steel beams against shear

Shear stress in I section is
QS
given by

Ib

Where =shear stress

S= first moment of area
I= second moment of area of
the whole section
b= width of section under
consideration
Q= shear force

continue
Governing design
equation: .VnVu
=0.9
Vn=0.6.Fyw.Aw
Fyw= yield strength of web
(Mpa)
Aw= web area (mm2)
Vu= ultimate shear force (N)
The above governing
equation in condition that
there is no shear buckling
in web i.e.
dw/tw1100/SQRT(Fyw)

Serviceability limit states for deflection

Governing condition is
DL+LL L/360
L= beam span
For continuous beams, an
approximate value can be
calculated as follows
Where
Ms= moment at mid span
Ma, Mb= moments at
interior supports

5L2

( M s 0.1( M a M b ))
48EI

Example 1

Given: the shown beam,

fully laterally supported
Required: select the
lightest section to
sustain the shown loads
using steel A36
Solution:
Loads and straining
actions
Wu=1.2Wd.L+1.6WL.L=1.2*2
.9+1.6*11.67=22.16KN/
m
Mu=Wu*L2/8=99.698KN.m

Continue
Selecting a trial section
For steel A36, Fy=250MPa
MnMu
Assuming compact section, then
*Zx*Fy Mu
Zx Mu/(*Fy)
Zx 99.698E6/(0.9*250) 443102mm3
Try HEA 220, bf=220mm, tf=11mm, dw=152mm, tw=7mm,
Zx=Wpl.y=568.5cm3, own weight= 50.5 kg/m
Checking cross section class
bf/2tf=220/(2*11)=10<10.8
flange is compact
dw/tw=152/7=21.7<107
web is compact
Whole section is compact

Continue
Checking section capacity
Mn= plastic section moment capacity as the section is
compact= Zx*Fy
*Zx*Fy=0.9*568.5E3*250=127.91E6N.mm=127.91KN.
m
Considering the own weight of steel beam, then
Mu=(1.2*(2.9+0.5)+1.6*11.67)*62/8=102.384KN.m
Then , Mn>Mu
section is safe for flexure

Example 2

Given: shown simply

supported beam, full
laterally supported
Required: select the lightest
section, considering
deflection using A572 Gr 50
Solution:
Loads and straining actions:
a- service loads
W=7.3+14.59=21.89KN/m
b- ultimate loads
Wu=1.2*7.3+1.6*14.59=32.104
KN/m
Mu=32.104*12.62/8=637.1KN.
m

Continue
Selecting a trial section
For steel A572 Gr 50, Fy=350MPa
MnMu
Assuming compact section, then
*Zx*Fy Mu
Zx Mu/(*Fy)
Zx 637.1E6/(0.9*350) 2022552mm3
Deflection can be only limited to L/360, if the inertia of the beam:
max=5/384*W*L4/(EI)L/360
5/384*21.89*126004/(2E5*I)
12600/360
I1,026,286,655mm4
Try HEA 550, bf=300mm, tf=24mm, dw=438mm, tw=12.5mm,
Zx=Wpl.y=4622cm3, I=111900cm4, own weight= 166 kg/m
Checking cross section class
bf/2tf=300/(2*24)=6.25<9.2
flange is compact
dw/tw=438/12.5=35.04<90.5
web is compact
Whole section is compact

Continue
Checking section capacity
Mn= plastic section moment capacity as the section is
compact= Zx*Fy
*Zx*Fy=0.9*4622E3*350=1455.9E6N.mm=1455.9KN.
m
Considering the own weight of steel beam, then
Mu=(1.2*(7.3+1.66)+1.6*14.59)*12.62/8=676.635KN.m
Then , Mn>Mu
section is safe for flexure
it should be noted that the cross section is constrained
by serviceability requirements not by ultimate limit
states

Design of laterally un-supported steel

beams

The elastic lateral critical torsional buckling moment under

action of constant moment is given by M E .C .I E.I .G.J
L L
For non-uniform moment, the value E Young' s modulus
G shear modulus E/(2(1 )) 75800M Pa
of Mcr is multiplied by the moment
C warping torsional constant I .h /2 I .h /4
gradient factor Cb
I moment of inertia about minor axis bending
2

cr

J torsional constant 1 .(bi .ti )

3
3

Zone 1: when Lu<Lpd then plastic moment capacity is

reached with large plastic rotation capacity- plastic
analysis is permitted- section should be compact
Lpd

24800 15200 M 1 / M p
Fy

ry

M 1 smaller moment at the ends of the laterally

unbraced segment ( when reverse curvature)
M p plastic moment capacity Z.Fy
ry radius of gyration of compression flange

.M n M u
M n Z .Fy

0.9

Case 2: LuLp plastic moment is reached (Mn=Mp) with

little rotation capacity- section should be compact
790
Lp
ry
Fy

.M n M u
M n Z .Fy

0.9

Case 3: when Lp< LuLr- lateral torsional buckling

of compact sections may occur in the inelastic
range (Mp>MnMr)
Lr
X1

ry . X 1
( Fyf Fr )

Sx

1 1 X 2 ( Fyf Fr ) 2

EGJA
2

C S
X2 4 w x
I y GJ

Cw warping constant
J torsional constant
A cross sectional area of the section
E Young' s modulus 200000M Pa
G shear modulus
ry radius of gyration of compression flange
I y moment of inertia about minor axis
Fyf yield strength of compression flange
Fr residual stress 68.95M Pa
Sx elastic section modulus about major axis bending

Continue case 3

M n M u

Lu Lp

M p
M n Cb M p M p M r )

Lr Lp

12.5M max
Cb
2.5M max 3M A 4 M B 3M C
M max max. bending moment within unbraced length
M A , M B , M C bending moment at quarter, half and 3/4 length of unbraced length

Case 4: Lp<LuLr General limit state for any section

where nominal moment strength Mn occurs in the
inelastic range
When Lp<LuLr or p< <
r whether for flange or
web, then
.M n M u
limit states of local buckling
p

M n M p M p M r

p
r
Limit state for lateral torsional buckling

Lu Lp

M n Cb M p M p M r
L L
p

Case 5: Lu>Lr general limit state where nominal

moment strength Mn equals the elastic buckling
strength Mcr

.M n M u
Mn M cr Cb

Lu

Cw . I y E. I y .G. J
Lu

Example 3
Given: the shown beam,
laterally un-supported
Required: select the
lightest section to sustain
the shown loads using
steel A36- considering
D.L=20% of W
Solution:
Loads and straining
actions

Continue Ex. 3

Wu=14.6(1.2*0.2+1.6*0.8)=22.2KN/m
Mu=22.2*15^2/8=624.375KN.m
Assuming compact sec.,
ZxMu/(*Fy) 624.4E6/(0.9*250)=2775E3mm3
Try HEA 450, Zx=3216cm3, Sx=2896cm3,
Iy=9465cm4, ry=7.29cm, bf=300mm, tf=21mm,
dw=344mm, tw=11.5mm, A=178cm2, G=140
Kg/m, J=It=243.8cm4, Cw=Iw=4.148cm6
Checking sec. class: flange; bf/2tf=7.14<10.8
flange is compact
dw/tw=29.91<107 web is compact, whole
sec. is compact

continue

Checking max. lateral un-supported length

790
790
Lp
.ry
* 72.9 3642mm Luact 7500mm
Fy
250
Lr
X1

ry . X 1
Fl

Sx

1 1 X 2 .FL

EGJA

(2 E 5) 2 * 243.8 E 4 *178E 2

19820
2
2896 E 3
2(1 0.3) * 2
2

4C S
4 * 4.148E 6
2896 E 3

X2 w x

4.305E 11
I y GJ
9465E 4 75800 * 243.8E 4
72.9 *19820
Lr
1 1 4.305E 11* (250 68.95) 2 11286mm
(250 68.95)
L p Luact Lr

continue

Calculating moment gradient factor

Cb

2.5M max

12.5M max
3M A 4M B 3M C

M max 624.4 (1.2 *1.4) *152 / 8 671.625 KN .m

M A 293.84 KN .m
M B 503.72 KN .m
M C 629.65 KN .m
Cb 1.3

continue

Moment capacity for the section:Mn=Cb[Mp-(Mp-Mr){(Luact-Lp)/(Lr-Lp)}]

Mp=Zx.Fy=3216E3*250=804E6N.mm
Mr=Sx(Fy-Fr)=2896E3(250-68.95)=524E6N.mm
Mn=1.3[804-(804-524){(7.5-3.64)/(11.2863.64)}]=861.4KN.m804E6N.mm
Mn=0.9*804=723.6KN.m>Mu=671.625KN.
m o.k. safe for flexural limit states