1

Compression Members
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Introduction
ResistanceofCrossSections
Sectionsnotpronetolocalbuckling
Sectionspronetolocalbuckling
BucklingResistanceofMembers
Sectionsnotpronetolocalbuckling
Sectionspronetolocalbuckling
ReductionFactorforBucklingResistance
ElasticCriticalForce&BucklingLength
NonDimensionalSlendernessforFlexuralBuckling
BucklingCurveofPerfectColumn
BucklingCurvesofImperfectColumns
SelectionofBucklingCurveandImperfectionFactor
DesignProcedure
Examples
ExampleCM1(UCwithintermediaterestraintundercompression)
ExampleCM2(CHSundercompression)
Outline
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Introduction
Compression members are structural components that are subject to
axial compression loads only.
These generally refer to compressed pin-ended struts found in trusses,
lattice girders or bracing members.
Most real columns are subjected to significant bending moments in
addition to the axial loads, due to the eccentricities of axial load and the
presence of transverse forces. They are referred to as beam-columns
and are covered in a separate chapter.
Compression members must be checked for
resistance of cross-sections
buckling resistance of members
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Resistance of Cross-Section
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Class 1, 2 and 3 cross-sections are
unaffected by local buckling.
Design resistance of cross-section N
c,Rd
equals the plastic resistance N
pl,Rd
.
Resistance of Cross-Sections
SectionsNOTPRONEtolocalbuckling
Class 4 sections suffers from local buckling
which prevents the attainment of squash load.
Design resistance of cross-section N
c,Rd
limited to local buckling resistance.
SectionsPRONEtolocalbuckling
EN 1993-1-1 Clause 6.2.4 (1)
The design value of the compression force N
Ed
at each cross-sectionshall satisfy:
EN 1993-1-1 Clause 6.2.4 (2)
IfClass4sectionisunsymmetrical,ithastobe
designedasbeamcolumn duetotheadditional
moment arisingfromeccentricityofthe
centroidalaxis.

M0
= 1.00
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Buckling Resistance of Member
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Elastic Buckling of Columns
Euler Buckling Load
N
cr
=
L
Buckling stress
I = i
2
A
i = radius of gyration
8
f
f
y
Failureby
Crosssectionyielding
Failurebyelasticbuckling
Euler elastic buckling
BucklingCurveofPerfectColumn

1
where is the column slenderness.
When f
cr
= f
y
, =
1
is the radius of gyration.
9
f /f
y
FactorsInfluencetheBucklingofColumns
/
1
o =0
Euler buckling curve
1. Effective length of Column
2. Residual Stresses
3. Member initial out-of-straightness
4. Types of cross section
5. Local buckling of component plate
Practical Region
Inelastic buckling
Elastic buckling
Imperfect
columns
= L / 1000
Initial out of straightness
o
+260 N/mm
-125 N/mm
+55 N/mm
Rolled Section
C
T
C
C
C
C
T
2
2
2
C
C
T
C
C
T
C
T
T
Web Distribution
Welded section
Factors that affect overall buckling of columns
10
11
Design buckling resistance N
b,Rd
should be
taken as:
Buckling Resistance of Members
SectionsNOTPRONEtolocalbuckling
Design buckling resistance N
b,Rd
should be
taken as:
SectionsPRONEtolocalbuckling
EN 1993-1-1 Clause 6.3.1.1 (1)
The design value of the compression force N
Ed
shall be checked against the design
buckling resistance:
EN 1993-1-1 Clause 6.3.1.1 (2)
IfClass4sectionisunsymmetrical,ithastobe
designedasbeamcolumn.
HolesforfastenersatthecolumnendsneedNOT
tobetakenintoaccountindetermining A and A
eff
.

M1
= 1.00
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ReductionFactor _ forBucklingResistance
EN 1993-1-1 Clause 6.3.1.2
where
o imperfection factor (refer to Table 6.1 & 6.2)
non-dimensional slenderness
For,orfor,thebucklingresistancecheck
canbeignoredandonlycrosssectionalchecksapply.
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Buckling length
L
cr
= effective length in BS5950
No guidance given in EC3
NCCI
Use same factors as BS5950
Applied to system length, L
13
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ElasticCriticalForce&BucklingLength
I Second moment of area which is determined based on the
gross cross sectional propertiesfor all classes of cross-sections.
L
cr
Buckling length in the buckling plane considered.
Nominal buckling lengths L
cr
for compression members
Nonswaymode Swaymode
where
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NonDimensionalSlendernessforFlexuralBuckling
For Class 1, 2 and 3cross-sections,
For Class 4cross-sections,
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f /f
y
BucklingCurvesofImperfectColumns
o =0.13
o =0.21
o =0.34
o =0.49
o =0.76
o =0
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Euler buckling curve
17
Buckling curve a
0
a b c d
Imperfection factor o 0.13 0.21 0.34 0.49 0.76
Table 6.2: Selection of buckling curve for a cross-section Table 6.1: Imperfection factors for buckling curves
SelectionofBucklingCurveandImperfectionFactor
Imperfectionscanbeattributedtothefollowing:
initialoutofstraightness
eccentricityofappliedloads
materialvariations
residualstresses
Typical residual stress profile in a hot-rolled I-section
Residual compressive stress
Residual tensile stress
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Design Procedure
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For each axis of buckling, determine
buckling length L
cr
Limiting slenderness
1
non-dimensional slenderness
appropriate strut curve (a
0
, a, b, c or d) from Table 6.2
imperfection factor o from Table 6.1
buckling reduction factor _
Design Procedure
Check if N
b,Rd
> N
Ed
. Else, repeat steps .
Use the smaller value of _ to determine buckling resistance N
b,Rd
.
Determine design axial force N
Ed
.
Select a trial section such that N
Ed

M0
/ A < f
y
for Class 1, 2 or 3 cross-sections
N
Ed

M0
/ A
eff
< f
y
for Class 4 cross-sections.
Perform section classification.
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Examples
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Example CM-1: Universal column with intermediate restraint under compression
Determine the maximum compression load that can be taken by a 5m column using
203x203x60UC in S275 steel. Both ends of the column are pin supported about both y-y and
z-z axes. A lateral restraint, that is aligned to the y-y axis, is provided at mid-height.
N
N
2.5m
2.5m
A A
Section AA
z z
y
y
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Yield Strength
t
w
= 9.4mm, t
f
= 14.2mm.
Maximum thickness = 14.2mm < 16mm(EN 10025-2)
For S275 steel, f
y
=275N/mm
2
Section Classification
c = (235/f
y
)
0.5
= 0.92
Classification of flange
Flange is Class 1 (Plastic).
Classification of web
Web is Class 1 (Plastic).
Section is Class 1 (PLASTIC).
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Resistance of CrossSection
Flexural Buckling about y-y axis
Use buckling curve b o = 0.34
Buckling curve a
0
a b c d
Imperfection factor o 0.13 0.21 0.34 0.49 0.76
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Flexural Buckling about z-z axis
Use buckling curve c o = 0.49
Buckling curve a
0
a b c d
Imperfection factor o 0.13 0.21 0.34 0.49 0.76
Buckling Resistance of Member
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Minor axis buckling (z-axis) control!
27/9/00
.25
L
cr,y
= 5m
N
by,Rd
= 1710kN
Page C-13
203x203x60UC in
S275 steel
L
cr,z
= 2.5m
N
bz,Rd
= 1710kN
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Example CM-2: Circular hollow section under compression
A circular hollow section (CHS) member is to be used in a 4m long column which is pinned at
both ends. The design axial compression, N
Ed
, is 2400kN. Assess the suitability of a hot-rolled
244.5x10 CHS in grade 355 steel for this application.
Yield Strength
t = 10.0mm < 16mm(EN 10025-2)
For S355 steel, f
y
=355N/mm
2
Section Classification
c = (235/f
y
)
0.5
= 0.814
d/t = 244.5/10.0 = 24.5 50c
2
= 33.1
Section is Class 1.
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Resistance of CrossSection
Buckling Resistance of Member
Use buckling curve a o = 0.21
The chosen cross-section, 244.5x10 CHS, in grade S355 steel is not acceptable.
Try 244.5x12.5 CHS, in grade S355
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Page D-15
hot-hrolled 244.5x10
CHS in grade 355
L
e
=4m
N
bz,Rd
= 2300kN
<2400kN
Not adequate
Select
hot-rolled 244.5x12.5
CHS in grade 355
N
bz,Rd
= 2830kN
>2400kN
adequate
N
Ed
, is 2400kN
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Typical effective length
factor for use in
column design
=KL
K
L
30
Effective length factor for continuous columns based on
stability analysis
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35
Pin-connected space frame
Adequate Bracing during
Construction
Sequence of erection
1
1
2
3
6
4
5
Cantilever Structure
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
Cantilever trusses
1
1
2
3
6
4
5
47
Lateral bracing for
cantilever trusses
1
1
2
3
6
4
5
Purlin
Cantilever truss Fly bracing
48