Institute for Steel Structures and

Shell Structures
Lessingstr. 25/3
A-8010 Graz

Valorisation Project: SEMI-COMP+

n RFS2-CT-2010-00023

tel: +43-316/873-6200 (or 6206)

fax: +43-316/873-6707

"Valorisation Action of Plastic Member Capacity of

Semi-Compact Steel Sections
a more Economic Design"

r.greiner@TUGraz.at
lechner@TUGraz.at
home: www.stahlbau.TUGraz.at

DESIGNGUIDELINES
FORCROSSSECTIONANDMEMBERDESIGNACCORDINGTO
EUROCODE3
WITHPARTICULARFOCUSONSEMICOMPACTSECTIONS
12thJuly2011

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

PREFACE
The present publication is the outcome of two recent research projects funded by the European
ResearchFundforCoalandSteel(RFCS)andrespectivelyentitled:

SEMICOMP Plastic member capacity of semicompact steel sections a more economic

design(RFSRCT200400044);
SEMICOMP+Valorisationactionofplasticmembercapacityofsemicompactsteelsectionsa
moreeconomicdesign(RFS2CT201000023).

Bothprojectsrelatetothedevelopmentofnewevaluationproceduresforthedesignresistanceof
class3steelcrosssections.Theseones,accordingtoEurocode3DesignofSteelStructures[1]are
assumed to transfer no more than an elastic level of resistance while it is nowadays widely
recognizedthataninternalplasticredistributionmay,sometimessignificantly,increasetheircapacity
toresistforces.

Thefirstproject,SEMICOMP[2],hasbeencompletedin2008,afterthreeyearsofintensiveresearch
involving Graz University of Technology (coordinator), Lige University, Ingenieurbro Feldmann +
WeynandandArcelorMittalResearchLige.Asanoutcomeofthisproject,anoriginalmodelfullyin
linewiththeEurocode3principlesandallowinganincreaseofthedesignresistanceofClass3steel
crosssectionshasbeenproposedasanalternativetothesafedesignapproachpresentlyfollowedin
Eurocode3.IthasfurtherbeenextendedtothedesignofmembersmadeofClass3profilesandhas
been validated through numerical and experimental testing and advanced numerical simulations.
Finally,itssafetylevel(Mfactor)hasbeendefinedthroughappropriatestatisticalevaluations.
The quality and the economical importance for practice of this SEMICOMP model have convinced
RFCStofundacomplementaryprojectcalledSEMICOMP+aimedatdisseminating,toprofessionals,
thenewdevelopeddesignproceduresthroughthedraftingofdesignguidelines,thediffusionofthe
specific software SemiComp Design and the organization of seminars for practitioners, at the
European level. To achieve this task, ArcelorMittal Research Lige has been substituted, in the
partnership,bytheEuropeanConventionforConstructionalSteelwork(ECCS).

Thepresentdocumentispartofthisglobaldisseminationproject;itcontainsdesignguidelinesand
selectedworkedexamplesfortheclassification.AllnotationsarechoseninaccordancetoEurocodes.
MoreinfoonSEMICOMP+maybefoundonthetwofollowingwebsites:
www.stahlbau.tugraz.at/semicompplusorwww.steelconstruct.com.

Theuseindailypracticeofdesignapproachesnotexplicitlycoveredbythenorms,Eurocode3inthe
presentcase,mayrepresentadifficultyintermsofdesignresponsibilityeven,asalreadymentioned
before,theproposeddesignmethodsareinfullconformitywiththebasicprinciplesofEurocode3.
Inordertoovercomethisdifficulty,theauthorshaveestablisheddirectcontactswiththeTechnical
Committee8StabilityoftheEuropeanConventionforConstructionalSteelwork(ECCS)withaview
topublishsocalledEuropeanDesignRecommendationsprovidingtothepractitionersandcontrol
bodiesaduevalidationbytherecognizedEuropeanexpertsinthefieldofresistanceandstabilityof
steelstructures.
2

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

As a recognition of the key support of RFCS to the development and to the dissemination of the
presentguidelines,butalsototheorganizationofseminarsinvariousEuropeancountries,theSEMI
COMP and SEMICOMP+ partners would like to express their sincere acknowledgments to the
EuropeanResearchFundforCoalandSteeland,moreparticularly,toitsTGS8Committee.

Projectpartners:

Univ.Prof.DIDr.RichardGreiner(Coordinator)
DIDr.AndreasLechner
DIDr.MarkusKettler

Prof.Dr.JeanPierreJaspart

Dr.Ing.KlausWeynand
Dr.Ing.ClaudiaZiller
DIRalfOerder
DIMartinHerbrand

Prof.Dr.LuisSimesdaSilva
Mrs.VeroniqueDehan

GrazUniversityofTechnology,InstituteforSteel
Structures&ShellStructures
Lessingstrasse25
AT8010Graz

UniversitdeLige,DpartementM&S
ChemindesChevreuils,1
BE4000Lige

Feldmann+WeynandGmbH
VaalserStrae259
DE52074Aachen

ECCS European Convention for Constructional

Steelwork
AvenuedesOmbrages32
BE1200Brussels

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

1. INTRODUCTION
In EN 199311 the evaluation of the crosssection and member resistances is based on a
classification system; four different classes are identified according to the risk of early or late
appearance of plate buckling phenomena in the constitutive crosssection walls subjected to
compression(Fig.1).Thespecificlevelofresistance(plastic,elasticorevenlowerthanelastic)varies
accordingtothefourclasses,respectivelynamed:

class1:plasticcrosssections
class2:compactcrosssections
class3:semicompactcrosssections
class4:slendercrosssections

Fig.1Momentrotationcurvedepending
oncrosssectionclasses1to4

The classification of a crosssection requires the classification of the individual crosssection walls
(plates)incompression.Toachieveit, referenceis made tothe widthtothicknessratioc/t,tothe
loadingandtothesupportconditions(internalandoutstandcharacter)ofeachwall.Thedefinition
ofthec/tratioforinternalandoutstandwallsisillustratedinFig.2below.

Fig.2Definitionsforthedeterminationofthec/tratioaccordingtoEN199311forrolledandtubular
sections(left)andweldedsections(right)

ClassificationcriteriaforwallsinpartialorcompletecompressionareprovidedbyEN199311where
theclassofthecrosssectionsisfinallydefinedasthehigherclassofthoseoftheindividualwalls.For
class1andclass2sections,aplasticlevelofresistanceisallowedbutonlyanelasticoneissuggested
for Class 3 sections. This results in a sudden jump of resistance at the class 2 to class 3 border as
showninFig.3andFig.4below.

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

MRd Plastic global analysis

Elastic global analysis

Mpl

Class 1

Class 2

Mel

Class 3

Class 4

c/t
Mpl

Mel

Meff

Fig.3CrosssectionresistancesforstrongaxisbendingaccordingtoEN199311,shownforclasses1to4

Fig.4CrosssectionresistancesforbiaxialbendingaccordingtoEN199311,shownforclasses1to4

The RFCSProject SEMICOMP [2] had the objective to propose and validate a physically more
appropriatecontinuoustransitionresistancemodelforsemicompactclass3sections(Fig.5).

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

MRd

Continuous transition

Mpl

Class 1

Class 2

Mel

Class 3

Class 4

c/t

Fig.5OverviewofSEMICOMPresearchproject

Thishasbeenachievedintheformofalineartransitionbetweenclass2andclass4bordersthrough
thedevelopmentofacalculationmodeldulyjustifiedbystatisticalsafetyevaluations,asrequested
byEN1990AnnexD,seeFig.6.

Fig.63DillustrationofcrosssectionresistanceforbiaxialbendingaccordingtoSEMICOMP(improved
capacityforclass3)

TheSEMICOMPprojectraisedaspectsofcrosssectionresistancebutalsoofmemberstability(for
rolled and welded I and Hsections and rectangular hollow sections with doublesymmetric cross
section shape). The objective of the present Design Guidelines is to disseminate the knowledge
gainedalongthisprojecttopractitioners.

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

TABLEOFCONTENTS
1.

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................4

2.

Overviewonthedesignofframestructures..................................................................................8

3.

4.

5.

2.1.

Generalities.............................................................................................................................8

2.2.

Isolatedmemberswithotherthanforktypesupportconditions.......................................8

2.3.

Membersinbuildingframes...................................................................................................9

Classificationprocedure................................................................................................................11
3.1.

General..................................................................................................................................11

3.2.

Classificationformemberbucklingdesign............................................................................12

3.3.

Classificationforcrosssectiondesign...................................................................................12

3.4.

Modificationofthec/tlimitsforinternalcompressionparts..............................................13

3.5.

Classificationexample...........................................................................................................15

Crosssectionresistance................................................................................................................17
4.1.

ExistingrulesinEN199311.................................................................................................17

4.2.

Newproposedrulesforclass3accordingtotheprojectSEMICOMP.................................20

MemberResistance.......................................................................................................................23
5.1.

ExistingrulesinEN199311.................................................................................................23

5.2.

Newproposedrulesforclass3accordingtoprojectSEMICOMP.......................................23

5.3.

Exampleforprocedureofmemberdesign...........................................................................25

6.

TabulatedM3,RdValues..................................................................................................................27

7.

Workedexamples..........................................................................................................................27

8.

Softwaredevelopment..................................................................................................................27

9.

References.....................................................................................................................................27

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

2. OVERVIEWONTHEDESIGNOFFRAMESTRUCTURES
2.1. Generalities
Asexplainedintheintroductionchapter,newdesignmethodsfortheevaluationoftheresistanceof
Class 3 crosssections have been made available through the SEMICOMP project. These ones are
presentedinChapter3andChapter4ofthepresentpublication.
These rules may directly be used for the verification of the design resistance of crosssections, by
simply comparing the applied internal forces resulting from the frame analysis (MEd) to the Class 3
correspondingincreaseddesignresistances(MRd),withdueaccountofthepossibleinteractionswith
axialforces.
The benefit from the less conservative design approaches for Class 3 crosssections presented in
Chapter 4 may also be taken into account when evaluating the resistance and the stability of
memberssubjectedtobendingmomentsandaxialforces(beamcolumns).
How to achieve this is addressed in Chapter 5 where it is explained how to slightly amend the
Eurocode3beamcolumnformulaetoprofitfromahigherClass3crosssectionresistance.
The soamended Eurocode 3 beamcolumn formulae are directly applicable to isolated members
characterised by fork type support conditions. In these isolated members, the critical buckling
lengthsforflexuralbucklingaroundtheweakandstrongaxesbutalsoforlateraltorsionalbuckling
are all to be taken as the actual member length (system length); besides that, no second order
effectsareaffectingthevalueofthebendingmomentspossiblyappliedatbothmemberends.
TheapplicationoftheEurocode3beamcolumnformulae(amendedortoprofitfromahigherClass
3 section resistance) to isolated members with other end conditions or to members in building
framesismuchlessobviousandmanymisusesoftheformulaeindailypracticemaybeforeseenat
thatlevel.
The difference with respect to the simply supported end conditions may involve arbitrary
combinations of full, partial or null (i) warping restraint, (ii) flexural rotation restraint and (iii)
transverse displacement restraint at the member end sections. Members torsionally restrained at
somedistancesalongtheirlengthtolimitorpreventlateraltorsionalbucklingeffectsbelongalsoto
thiscategory.
ECCS publication N119 [3] provides detailed information about the application of the Eurocode 3
beamcolumn formulae to isolated members with other end conditions or to members in building
frames.
Inthenextparagraphs,thistopicisbrieflyaddressed.Butbeforelookingattheseones,usersshould
beawarethat,duetothecomplexityofthephenomenaaffectingthebeamcolumnbehaviourand
the lack of extensive studies and thorough calibration procedures, a loss of accuracy is to be
expected when applying the interaction formulae to non simply supported members. The major
concern is safety, i.e., the application of the formulae should yield practically always safe strength
estimates,evenifsometimesratherconservative.

2.2. Isolatedmemberswithotherthanforktypesupportconditions
For such members, the task of determining the appropriate buckling length Lcr for flexural and
lateraltorsionalbucklingisastraightforwardone(unlikeinframemembers)andcanbeperformed
8

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

either analytically (numerically) or resorting to one of the various tables, charts or approximate
expressionsavailableintheliterature.Thus,theonlyissuesaddressednextconcernthedefinitionof
thediagramofbendingmomentsMEdandthedeterminationoftheappropriateequivalentmoment
factorsCm.
TwodifferentapproachesaretraditionallyusedinEuropeasfarastheevaluationofthedistribution
ofbendingmomentsMEdandthecorrespondingequivalentmomentfactorsCmareconcerned:

theequivalentmomentfactorsmethod
theequivalentcolumnmethod

Bothapproachesaredetailedandillustratedthroughworkedexamplesin[3].

2.3. Membersinbuildingframes
Thedesignoftheframeandofitscomponentsconsistsofatwostepprocedureinvolvingaglobal
frameanalysisfollowedbyindividualcrosssectionand/ormemberdesignchecks.
Global frame analysis is conducted based on assumptions regarding the component behaviour
(elastic or plastic) and the geometric response (firstorder or secondorder theory) of the frame.
Oncetheanalysisiscomplete,i.e.allrelevantinternalforcesaredeterminedinthewholestructure,
thenthedesignchecksofalltheframecomponentsareperformed.
InEurocode3,framesareclassifiedasswayornonsway.Thedescriptionnonswayframeapplies
toaframewhenitsresponsetoinplanehorizontalforcesissostiffthatitisacceptabletoneglect
anyadditionalforcesormomentsarisingfromhorizontaldisplacementsofitsstoreys(socalledP
effects).Thismeansthattheglobalsecondordereffectsmaybeneglected.Whenthesecondorder
effectsarenotnegligible,theframeissaidtobeaswayframe.Ascriterionfordifferentiationthe
ratiocr=Fcr/FEdmaybeused.
In addition to the above, Eurocode 3 specifies that together with the secondorder effects
imperfectionsneedtobeconsideredforthestructuralstabilityofframes.Theseshouldbeallowed
for in the frame analysis by means of an equivalent imperfection in the form of an initial sway
imperfectionandindividualbowimperfectionsofmembersifrelevant.
VariousopportunitiesofferedbyEurocode3toperformtheglobalanalysisanddesignprocessare
illustratedinTable1.
For the verification of the resistance and the stability of beamcolumns, reference has again to be
made here either to the equivalent moment factors method or to the equivalent column
method.Thecriticalbucklinglengthforinplaneflexuralbucklingmaybetakenasnonswaybuckling
length connected with the specific Cmfactors for the given boundary conditions of the individual
member.Alternatively,thecriticalbucklinglengthmaybetakenequaltothesystemlengthandmay
thenbeconnectedwiththefactorCmgivenforsimplysupportedmembersinEurocode3.
Obviously,asanalternativetoTable1,afullsecondorderanalysisinwhichallgeometricalsecond
order effects (sway and member), all effects of imperfections (sway and local bow imperfections
aboutbothaxes),andmaterialnonlinearities(plasticity)maybeperformed.Inthiscase,nocross
sectionandmembercheckhastobeachievedfurthertothestructuralanalysis.
However,thisapproachrequirestheuseofadvancedsoftwarecodesintegratingthewarpingeffects
(7thdegreeoffreedom),localplateimperfectionsandmaterialnonlinearities.
9

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

Table1 Variouswaysfortheglobalanalysisanddesignprocess
Non-sway frame

Sway frame

cr 10 resp. 15

cr < 10 resp. 15

1st order analysis

Global analysis

1st order analysis

Amplified Sway Moment

Sway Mode Buckling Length

Method

Method

2nd order analysis

( cr

Amplified sway

Account for 2nd order

P- effects

Account for
sway imperfection

Account for
local bow imperfection
e0,d

Check of components

No limitation

3)

moments

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes, where the following conditions are met:

at least one moment resistant joint at one
member end

No

> 0.5 A fy NEd

In plane member stability

In plane member stability

with non sway buckling length

with sway buckling length

Cross-section resistances and local stability

and frame
Joint resistances
Out-of-plane stability of the members

In practice, another intermediate way to proceed is to perform an elastic second order analysis
(with geometrical sway and member effects and the effects of the corresponding imperfections);
onlycrosssectionchecksunderinternalforcesarethentobeachievedasthePeffects(relatedto
memberinstability)havebeenexplicitlyconsideredintheframeanalysis.
For a 3D structure, this approach can also be followed in a simplified manner: just perform a
second order inplane analysis and check the outofplane instability of the members by means of
memberdesignformulae.Thepracticalimplementationofthisprocedureishowevernotobviousto
achievewhenreferenceismadetothesocalledMethod1beamcolumnformularecommended
byEurocode3astheyintegratecouplingphenomenabetweenbothbucklingdirections.Thisisnot
thecasewiththesocalledMethod2beamcolumnformularecommendedbyEurocode3.

10

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

Thehereabovedescribedapproachonbasisofsecondorderanalysisplusimperfectionmayalsobe
usedforframestructureswithnonuniformmembersandsections.

3. CLASSIFICATIONPROCEDURE
3.1. General
This chapter presents the procedure to be followed for the classification of sections of simple
members or members in frames. This classification may be performed on basis of Table 5.2 of EN
199311. In principle, the classification is based on c/tratios of parts in compression reaching the
limitstateoffy.
Additionalspecialrulesareprovidedforthedesignofclass4sectionswhereusemaybemadeofthe
reducedstressstateofthedesignstresscom,Edwhendeterminingthec/tratios.
Thespecificuseofc/tratiosbasedonfyoroncom,Edisrelevantonlyincaseofclass4sectionsandit
dependsonthedesignmethodappliedtothemember.Incasethatuniformmembersaredesigned
onbasisofthememberbucklingformulaeofsection6.3ofEN199311(seeTable1)thec/tratios
mustbebasedonfy.Ifthememberdesignisperformedwithinternalforcesfromfullsecondorder
analysesorifnosecondordereffectexistatallthencom,Edcanbeusedfordeterminingthec/tratio.
Ingeneral,theclassificationofcrosssectionsisusedtoselecttheappropriatedesignmethodwith
respectto

theglobalanalysis
thememberbucklingdesign
thecrosssectiondesign

Atthelevelofglobalanalysistheclassificationallowstodecidewhetherelasticorplasticanalysis
canbeused.Incaseofelasticglobalanalysisithastobeverifiedthatthestiffnesspropertiesof
thesectionsarenotreducedbylocalbucklingeffects.Incaseofplasticglobalanalysisitmustbe
checkedifappropriaterotationcapacityisprovided(seebackgrounddocument[5]).

At the level of member design the classification is needed to decide which type of buckling
formula(forclass2,3,4)applies.Inthecaseofaxiallynonuniforminternalforcesandbending
momentsthevaryingstressstatesmayleadtodifferentclassesalongthememberlength.

Atthelevelofcrosssectiondesigntheclassificationdictatesthetypeofcrosssectionresistance,
i.e.plastic,elasticoreffectiveresistance.Accordingly,thelimit2/3indicateswhetherfullplastic
capacitycanbeexploitedinclass2orjustpartialplasticcapacityinclass3.Thelimit3/4indicates
thatreducedeffectivesectionpropertiesmustbeaccountedforinclass4.

Principles: A general principle of classification is that it has to be made on basis of the loading
condition of the section including all internal forces/moments NEd + My,Ed + Mz,Ed, if
relevant, in a combined stressstate. This has to be investigated for each load
combinationresultingfromtheglobalanalysisofthestructure.
Ingeneral,thesectionclassificationisneededatthelevelof

globalanalysis,
memberbucklingdesignand
crosssectiondesign
11

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

Theclassificationprocedureitselfdistinguishesbetweentheelasticstressstateandtheplasticstress
stateofthesection.Thefirstonedeterminesthelimitbetweenclass3andclass4(calledlimit3/4)
andthesecondonebetweenclass2andclass3(calledlimit2/3)aswellasclass1andclass2(limit
1/2).Theproceduresaredescribedinsections3.2and3.3below.

3.2. Classificationformemberbucklingdesign
The buckling resistance of members is considerably affected by the degree of plastic capacity
providedbythecrosssectionbehaviour.Therefore,thememberbucklingformulaeinsection6.3of
EN199311dependonthecrosssectionclasses.
Ingeneralloadcasesofmembersthestressstateofthecrosssectionsmayvarysignificantlyalong
thememberlength.Accordingly,thecrosssectionclassesmayvaryalongthelengthtoo.Sincethe
member buckling formulae were developed for uniform members the decisive crosssection class
needstobedefinedastheequivalentone.
Fromthemechanicalpointofviewitmaybeproposedtotakethepointofmaximumutilisationand
the given class there as the decisive section. This leads to the procedure of determining the
utilization factor UF along the member length in all 1/10 points together with the corresponding
sectionclass.

3.3. Classificationforcrosssectiondesign
Theaspectstobeconsidereddealwiththedeterminationofthelimits3/4intheelasticrange(Fig.7)
andthelimits2/3intheplasticrange(Fig.8).
Thelimitclass1/2concernstherotationcapacityandisrelevantfortheselectionofthemethodof
globalanalysis.Itmaybeexecutedanalogoustothelimit2/3.

Classificationprocedureforlimit3/4:
=0

Mz,Ed

My,Ed

NEd

com,Ed

Fig.7:ElasticstressdistributionforNEd+My,Ed+Mz,EdforHsection

basisistheelasticstressdistributionunderNEd+My,Ed+Mz,Edofthebruttosection(A,I)

class4governs,ifthelimitvaluec/t(fy)ofclass3isexceededatanypartofthecrosssection

forclass4sectionsthekindofclassificationisrelatedtothekindofmembercheck(see
backgrounddocument[5])
12

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

Classificationprocedureforlimit2/3and1/2:

basisistheplasticstressdistributionunderNEd+My,Ed+Mz,Ed
increase(NEd+My,Ed+Mz,Ed)stepwiseuntiltheplasticlimitismetandthenusethe
correspondingstressblocksforclassification
(precondition:(NEd+My,Ed+Mz,Ed)increaseslinearlyproportionaluptothelimitstate,see
utilisationfactorinbackgrounddocument[5])
class3governs,ifthelimitvaluec/t(fy)ofclass2isexceeded,otherwisethesectionisclass2
orbetter
class2governs,ifthelimitvaluec/t(fy)ofclass1isexceeded,otherwisethesectionisclass1

Mpl,y

NEd, My,Ed, Mz,Ed

(plast.)
Npl

Mpl,z

Fig.8:ProcedurefortheamplificationoftheinternalforcesandmomentsNEd+My,Ed+Mz,Eduptothe
plasticcrosssectionresistance(left)andcorrespondingplasticstressdistribution(right)forHsection

3.4. Modificationofthec/tlimitsforinternalcompressionparts
BytheresultsoftheSEMICOMPProjectitcameoutthatthec/tlimitsgiveninTable5.2ofEN1993
11 for internal parts in compression need a modification towards lower limitvalues, in order to
reachthespecifiedsafetylevel.
Forgeneralsectionshapesthec/tlimitsinTable5.2ofEN199311forinternalpartsincompression
shouldbemodifiedto38(insteadof42)atthelimit3/4andto34(insteadof38)atthelimit2/3,see
Table2.Thelimit1/2indicatesthesamediscrepancyforinternalpartsincompression,andshould
althoughnotsubjectofthisprojectalsoberevisedaccordingly.
ForthespecificcaseofRHSinbending,seeBackgroundDocument[5].

13

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DesignGuidelines

Table2 MaximumwidthtothicknessratiosforcompressionpartsaccordingtoprojectSEMICOMP
(modifiedTable5.2ofEN199311,sheet1of3)

Internalcompressionparts

axisofbending

axisofbending

Class

Partsubjectto
bending

Stress
distribution
inparts
(compression
positive)

Partsubjectto
compression

Partsubjecttobendingandcompression

when > 0.5: c / t

1
(modified
limits)

c / t 72

c / t 28

when > 0.5: c / t

(modified
limits)

c / t 83

c / t 34

= 235 / fy

c / t 124

c / t 38

36

188

6.53 1

when 0.5: c / t

Stress
distribution
inparts
(compression
positive)

(modified
limits)

126

5.5 1

when 0.5: c / t

41.5

when > 1: c / t

38

0.653 + 0.347

when 1a : c / t 62 (1 )

( )

fy

235

275

355

420

460

1.00

0.92

0.81

0.75

0.71

1 applieswhereeitherthecompressionstress fy orthetensilestrain y > fy / E

14

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

3.5. Classificationexample
Example1:

HEA300

S355
tf

A = 112.5 cm 2
Wel , y = 1260 cm 3

3
W pl , y = 1383 cm

4
I y = 18263 cm

r
h
tw

Wel , z = 420.6 cm3

3
W pl , z = 641.2 cm

4
I z = 6310 cm

h = 290mm

b = 300mm

t w = 8.5mm
t = 14mm
f
r = 27 mm

SectionincompressionandbiaxialbendingN+My+Mz:

N Ed = 500 kN

M y , Ed = 200 kNm

M z , Ed = 100 kNm

(n = N Ed N pl , Rd = 0.125)
(mpl , y = M y , Ed M pl , y , Rd = 0.407)
(mpl , z = M z , Ed M pl , z , Rd = 0.439)

Webincombinedbendingandcompression:

c h 2t f 2r 290 214 227 208

=
=
=
= 24.5
8.5
8.5
tw
tw
42
42 0.81
c
= 24.5 <
=
= 64.8 ... the web is class 3 or better
0.67 + 0.33 0.67 0.33 0.44
tw
( = 61.5 with new limits )
<

<

456
456 0.81
=
= 45.6
... the web is class 2 or better
13 1 13 0.70 1
( = 42.6 with new limits )
396
396 0.81
=
= 39.6
... the web is class 1
13 1 13 0.70 1
( = 35.8 with new limits )

Flangeincombinedbendingandcompression:

k = 0.21 + 0.07 2 = 0.57 0.21 0.57 + 0.07 0.57 2 = 0.47

c b 2 tw 2 r 300 2 8.5 2 27
=
=
= 8.5
tf
tf
14
c
= 8.5 < 21 k = 21 0.81 ( 0.47 ) = 11.7 ... the flange is class 3 or better
tf
> 10 = 8.1

... the flange is class 3

15

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

35.5 kN/cm
25.4kN/cm

=1.0

3.5kN/cm

=0.57

15.8kN/cm

208mm

ENA
=0.44

146mm

44.1kN/cm

PNA

=146/208=0.70

+
6.95kN/cm

35.5 kN/cm

+ 35.2kN/cm

Fig.9:Diagramsofelasticstressdistribution(left)andplasticstressdistribution(right)forthe
determinationofand

Result: Web

Class1

Flange Class3

Thecrosssectionisclass3.

Forfurtherexamplesseebackgrounddocument[5].

16

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

4. CROSSSECTIONRESISTANCE
4.1. ExistingrulesinEN199311
The existing design procedure of EN 199311 is illustrated separately for I and Hsections and for
RHS.Forabetteroverviewtherulesforelasticandforplasticresistancesarevisualizedindiagrams
(Fig.10andFig.11)respectivelyTable3andTable4.
Theplasticdesigncheckcanbepresentedinthreesteps:
Step1:Determinationofthemonoaxialbendingresistances(i.e.Mpl,Rd)
Step2:Interactionofmonoaxialbendingandaxialforce(MN,Rd)
Step3:Interactionforbiaxialbending

DesignprocedureforplasticCSresistanceofIandHsections(EN199311)
y

MRd
Step1:

Mpl,Rd
Mel,Rd

class 3

class 2

class 4

c/t

My
Step2:

Mpl,y,Rd
Mel,y,Rd

N Ed

n=N

a/2
a

pl,Rd

1.0

Mel,z,Rd
Mpl,z,Rd
Mz
Step3:

MN,y,Rd

MN,z,Rd

Fig.10:DesignprocedureforcrosssectionresistanceofIandHsectionsaccordingtoEN199311

17

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DesignGuidelines

Table3 CrosssectionresistanceofIandHsectionsaccordingtoEN199311
Class2:

Step1:
Step2:

My,Rd = Mpl,y,Rd

Mz,Rd = Mpl,z,Rd

(1 n)

MN,y,Rd = Mpl,y,Rd

(1 0.5a)

Mpl,y,Rd

n a: MN,z,Rd = Mpl,z,Rd
n a 2
n > a: MN,z,Rd = Mpl,z,Rd 1

1 a

a=
Step3:

( A 2btf ) 0.5
A

n=

NEd
Npl,Rd

My,Ed
Mz,Ed
= 2; = 5n 1
+
1
MN,z,Rd
MN,y,Rd

Class3

My,Ed
Mz,Ed
NEd
+
+
1
Nel,Rd Mel,y,Rd Mel,z,Rd

Class4:

My,Ed + NEd eNy Mz,Ed + NEd eNz

NEd
+
+
1
Aeff fy / M0 Weff,y fy / M0
Weff,z fy / M0

Table4 CrosssectionresistanceofRHSandboxsectionsaccordingtoEN199311
Class2:

Step1:
Step2:

My,Rd = Mpl,y,Rd
MN,y,Rd = Mpl,y,Rd
MN,z,Rd = Mpl,z,Rd

aw =
Step3:

Mz,Rd = Mpl,z,Rd

(1 n )

(1 0.5aw )
(1 n )

(1 0.5af )

( A 2btf ) 0.5
A

af =

Mpl,y,Rd

Mpl,z,Rd

( A 2htw ) 0.5
A

n =

NEd

Npl,Rd

My,Ed
Mz,Ed
==
6
+
1
2
1 1.13n
MN,z,Rd
MN,y,Rd

1.66

Class3

My,Ed
Mz,Ed
NEd
+
+
1
Nel,Rd Mel,y,Rd Mel,z,Rd

Class4:

My,Ed + NEd eNy Mz,Ed + NEd eNz

NEd
+
+
1
Aeff fy / M0 Weff,y fy / M0
Weff,z fy / M0

18

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

DesignprocedureforplasticCSresistanceofRHSandboxsections(EN199311)

MRd
Step1:

Mpl,Rd
Mel,Rd

33

MRd

c/t

class 3 class 4

class 2

class 1

38

42

Flange

Mpl,Rd

class 1

class 2

Mel,Rd

class 3
83

72

class 4

124

c/t
Web

My
Step2:

Mpl,y,Rd
Mel,y,Rd
aw /2
af /2

N Ed

n=N

pl,Rd

1.0

Mel,z,Rd
Mpl,z,Rd
Mz
Step3:

MN,y,Rd

MN,z,Rd

Fig.11:DesignprocedureforcrosssectionresistanceoftubularsectionsaccordingtoEN199311

19

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

4.2. Newproposedrulesforclass3accordingtotheprojectSEMICOMP
TheproposeddesignprocedureisillustratedforIandHsectionsandforRHSbyFig.12andFig.13
separately. For a better overview the proposed formulae are visualized in similar form like the
existing rules in section 4.1. It can be realized that the existing and new design procedures are in
closeaccordance,whentheplasticresistancesMpl,RdarereplacedbytheinterpolatedvaluesM3,Rd.
In order to keep the formulae simple for the wide scope of different design situations minor
discontinuitieshavebeenacceptedatthetransitionstoclass2andtoclass4.Atthetransitionfrom
class 3 to class 2 the small plateaus of the MNinteraction of class 2 in EN 199311 could not be
validatedfortheclass3sectionsbythenewevaluationsandhad,therefore,beeneliminated.Atthe
transitionfromclass3toclass4thecurvedMyMzinteractioncurveinclass3hastopassintothe
linearinteractioncurveinclass4,sothatasmallstepmayoccurthere.However,intotalthegiven
discontinuitiesarenumericallysmallinrelationtothebasicvaluesoftheresistances.

DesignmodelforCSresistanceofIandHsectionsinclass3
y

MRd
Step1:

Mpl,Rd

M3,Rd
Mel,Rd

class 3

class 2
0.0

c/t ref

class 4

c/t ref

1.0

My
Step2:

M3,y,Rd
MN,3,y,Rd

Mel,y,Rd

N Ed

n=N

pl,Rd

1.0
Mel,z,Rd
M3,z,Rd

MN,3,z,Rd
Mz

Step3:

MN,3,y,Rd

MN,3,z,Rd

Fig.12:DesignprocedureforcrosssectionresistanceofIandHsectionsaccordingtoSEMICOMP

20

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

TheformulaeforthenewproposalaresummarizedinTable5andTable6asfollows:
Table5 CrosssectionresistanceofIandHsectionsaccordingtonewclass3designmodel
Interpolation
parameters:

2,y,f = 10

3,y,f = 14

2,y,w = 83

c / tref,y = max

c / tref,z = max

Step1:

2 ,z ,f = 10

3,y,w = 124

3 ,z ,f = 16

( c / tf 2,y,f ) ; ( c / tw 2,y,w ) ;0
(3,y,f 2,y,f ) (3,y,w 2,y,w )

(
(

)
)

;0 1

3,z,f 2,z,f

c / tf 2,z,f

M3,(y/z),Rd = W3,(y/z)

fy
M0

Step2:

MN,3,y ,Rd = M3,y ,Rd (1 n )

Step3

= 2; = 5n 1

= Mpl,(y/z),Rd Mpl,(y/z),Rd Mel,(y/z),Rd c / tref,(y/z)

MN,3,z,Rd = M3,z,Rd 1 n2

My,Ed
Mz,Ed

+
1
MN,3,y,Rd
MN,3,z,Rd

Table6 CrosssectionresistanceofRHSandboxsectionsaccordingtonewclass3designmodel
Interpolation
parameters:

2,y,f = 34

3,y,f = 38

2,y,w = 83

c / tref,y = max

c / tref,z = max

Step1:

Step2:
Step3

3,y,w = 124

2,z,w = 34

( c / tw 2,z,w ) ;0 1
(3,z,w 2,z,w )
fy
M0

3,z,w = 38

( c / tf 2,y,f ) ; ( c / tw 2,y,w ) ;0
(3,y,f 2,y,f ) (3,y,w 2,y,w )

M3,(y/z),Rd = W3,(y/z)

= Mpl,(y/z),Rd Mpl,(y/z),Rd Mel,(y/z),Rd c / tref,(y/z)

MN,3,y,Rd = M3,y,Rd (1 n)
==

MN,3,z,Rd = M3,z,Rd (1 n)

1.66

2 + 4 1 max c / tref,(y/z)

1 1.13n2

My,Ed
Mz,Ed

+
1
MN,3,z,Rd
MN,3,y,Rd

21

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

DesignmodelforCSresistanceofRHSandboxsectionsinclass3

MRd

M3,Rd

Mpl,Rd

Step1:

current EC3

class 1

Mel,Rd

class 3

class 2
0.0

34

28

MRd

c/t ref

Mpl,Rd

c/t ref

class 4
1.0

Flange

38

c/t

M3,Rd

class 1

class 2

Mel,Rd

class 3

0.0

c/t ref

83

72

c/t ref

class 4

Web

1.0

c/t

124

My
Step2:

M3,y,Rd
MN,3,y,Rd

Mel,y,Rd

N Ed

n=N

pl,Rd

1.0
Mel,z,Rd
MN,3,z,Rd

M3,z,Rd
Mz
Step3:

MN,3,y,Rd

MN,3,z,Rd

Fig.13:DesignprocedureforcrosssectionresistanceoftubularsectionsaccordingtoSEMICOMP

22

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

5. MEMBERRESISTANCE
5.1. ExistingrulesinEN199311
ThememberbucklingrulesforbeamcolumnsintheexistingEN199311aregiveninformoftwo
interactionformulae,equ.(6.61)and(6.62),whichcoverthepotentialbucklingmodesabouttheyy
axisandthezzaxis.
bucklingyy:

bucklingzz:

My,Ed + My,Ed
Mz,Ed + Mz,Ed
NEd
+ k yy
+ k yz
1
y NRk
My,Rk
Mz,Rk
LT
M1
M1
M1

My,Ed + My,Ed
Mz,Ed + Mz,Ed
NEd
+ kzy
+ kzz
1
My,Rk
Mz,Rk
z NRk
LT
M1
M1
M1

ThedefinitionandthevaluesofeachoftheconstitutivecoefficientsareprovidedinEN199311for
Class1,Class2,Class3andClass4crosssections.
The interaction factors kyy, kyz kzy and kzz may be taken from two alternative approaches, called
Method1andMethod2.TheformulaeforthesefactorsaregiveninAnnexAandAnnexB.
Remark:Itisimportanttonoticethat,inadditiontothisstabilitycheck,theresistancecheckofthe
memberendsectionsifrelevanthasalsotobecarriedout.
Theformulaehavebeenvalidatedformemberswithdoublesymmetricalcrosssectionandonly
slightlyunsymmetricalshapes.

5.2. Newproposedrulesforclass3accordingtoprojectSEMICOMP
TheapplicationofthelineartransitionofthebendingresistancesM3,y,RdandM3,z,Rdinclass3hasa
correspondingeffectalsoonthememberresistances.
ThecrosssectionpropertiesusedforthecalculationofthedesignvaluesNRd,My,RdMz,Rdandforthe
coefficients y , z , LT , which determine the reduction factors y, z, LT depend on the specific
crosssectionclass.ThecorrelationbetweentheclassesandthepropertiesisgiveninTable7(taken
fromEN199311andamendedbytheresultsofprojectSEMICOMPforclass3):
Table7 ValuesforNRk=fyAi,Mi,Rk=fyWiandMi,Ed
Class

Ai

Aeff

Wy

Wpl,y

Wpl,y

Wel,yorW3,y

Weff,y

Wz

Wpl,z

Wpl,z

Wel,zorW3,z

Weff,z

My,Ed

eN,yNEd

Mz,Ed

eN,zNEd

23

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

Method1:

ThegeneralformatoftheMethod1(AnnexA)beamcolumnformulaeforclass1andclass2sections
presentedinEN199311canberearrangedforclass3asfollows:

C
N Ed
+ y mLT
N
LT
y Rk
M1

N
1 Ed
N cr , y

N Ed
+ z 0, 6
N

z Rk

M1

wy CmLT
Cmy M y , Ed
Cmz M z , Ed
+
wz LT
M y , Rk
M z , Rk
N Ed
N
1 Ed Czy
1
Czz
M1
M1
N cr , z
N cr , y

Cmy M y , Ed

M y , Rk
C yy
M1

+ 0, 6

Cmz M z , Ed
wz
wy
M z , Rk
N Ed
1
C yz
N cr , z
M1

Both expressions remain identical for Class 3 sections for which the bending resistance (M3,y,Rd and
M3,z,Rd) is evaluated through the new resistance model proposed in Section 4 of the present
publication. Only some of the abovementioned constitutive coefficients have to be evaluated in a
different way compared to the present EN199311. Table 8 summarises the changes to be
achieved for members susceptible to torsional deformations. Similar changes are to be considered
formembersnotsusceptibletotorsionaldeformations;inthiscase,thecoefficients cLTand dLTare
equalto0,0whileCmLTandLTareequalto1,0.
Table8 ValuesofcoefficientstoadoptinthecaseofincreasedClass3resistance
Coefficients

Valuestoadopt

My,Rk

M3,y,Rk

Mz,Rk

M3,z,Rk

CyyandCzz

1,0

Cyz

Cmz 2 max N Ed
wz Wel , z

1 + ( wz 1) 2 14
0,
6

c
LT
N Rk
wz 5
wy W3, z

M1

Czy

Cmy 2 max N Ed

1 + ( wy 1) 2 14
d LT 0, 6

wy 5
N Rk

M1

cLT

dLT

10 aLT

2 aLT

M y , Ed

5 + z Cmy LT M 3, y , Rd
4

M y , Ed

W3,y

Wpl,z

W3,z

wy

W3,y/Wel,y

wz

W3,z/Wel,z

wz W3, y

M z , Ed

4
0,1 + z Cmy LT M 3, y , Rd Cmz M 3, z , Rd

Wpl,y

wy Wel , y

24

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

Method2:

In Method 2 (Annex B) the effect of the linear transition should be accounted for by replacing the
plasticresistancesby thepartialplasticresistances M3,y,Rdand M3,z,Rdasillustratedby thefollowing
equations.Thesameholdsforthecalculationoftheslenderness LT .Theinteractionfactorsshould
bethesameasforplasticbehaviour(class1,class2)inAnnexBofEN199311.

LT =

W3,y f y
M cr

LT

NEd
+ k yy
yNRk

bucklingyy:

M1

My,Ed
M
+ k yz z,Ed 1
M
Mz,Rk
LT y,Rk
M1
M1

M3,y,Rd

M3,z,Rd

My,Ed
M
NEd
+ k zy
+ k zz z,Ed 1
zNRk
M
Mz,Rk
LT y,Rk
M1
M1
M1

bucklingzz:

M3,y,Rd

M3,z,Rd

5.3. Exampleforprocedureofmemberdesign
The following example illustrates the procedure for the determination of the decisive class to be
appliedinthememberdesigncheck:

Example2:

IPE500S235
tf

A = 115.5 cm 2
Wel , y = 1928 cm 3

3
W pl , y = 2194 cm

4
I y = 48200 cm

Wel , z = 214 cm 3

3
W pl , z = 336 cm

4
I z = 2142 cm

h
tw

h = 500mm

b = 200mm

t w = 10.2mm
t = 1.6mm
f
r = 21mm

25

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

MyIIEd

NEd

N [kN]

qy,Ed

My [kNm]

Mz [kNm]

350

250

350

247,5

350

240

350

227,5

350

350

350

350

350

10

350

11

350

Position

L=2x5=10m

qz,Ed=5[kN/m]

0,0
6,2
7,9
5,1
2,3

210

14,0

187,5
160

2,3

127,5

5,1

90

7,9

47,5

6,2

0,0

NEd qy,Ed=4,5[kN/m]

Fig.14:Structuralsystem,loading(left)anddiagramsofinternalforcesandmoments(right)

UF (decisiveclassofProfile)
1

0,52

0,52

0,51

0,59

0,54

Position

Position

Class

0,56

0,44

0,38

UF
UFEP
UFEE

0,32

10

0,23

11

0,13
0,0

0,2

10

11
0,4

0,6

0,8

relevantclassfor
memberbuckling
check

1,0

Fig.15:Diagramofcrosssectionutilisation(left)andsectionclassalongthememberlength(right)

Theclassesweredeterminedonbasisofc/t(fy)
ThefulllineinFig.15illustratestheutilisationaccordingtotheSEMICOMPapproach(lineUF)
TheleftdashedlineinFig.15illustratestheutilisationforclass2(fullplastic,lineUFEP)
TherighthanddashedlineinFig.15illustratestheelasticutilisation(lineUFEE)

Thememberbucklingcheckshouldbecarriedoutforclass3sections,i.e.theclassatthelocation
withthehighestutilisationfactor.
Theprocedureofthememberchecksindetailisillustratedbytheworkedexamplesinthe
backgrounddocument[5].

26

SEMICOMP+

DesignGuidelines

6. TABULATEDM3,RdVALUES
Further to the above formulaic approach it should be noted, that the calculation of the bending
resistancesM3,Rdbyinterpolationcanbeomittedbyprovidingthesevaluesinformoftablesforthe
different section shapes and steel grades. The M3,y,Rdvalues for common European hotrolled
sections(IPE,HEAA,HEA,HEBandHEM)andthethreesteelgradesS235,S355andS460aregivenin
theAnnexBofthebackgrounddocument[5].

7. WORKEDEXAMPLES
WorkedexamplesfordifferenttypesofmembersaregiveninaseparateAnnexAofthebackground
document [5]. Several different design situations of single span members with different moment
diagramsandtransversalrestraintsarepresented.Hsectionsandtubularsectionsareconsidered.

8. SOFTWAREDEVELOPMENT
Within the SEMICOMP+ project a design software SemiComp Design has been developed for
crosssection and member design, which is provided as freeware. This software covers the
classification of crosssections and the design of single span members with axial compression, end
moments and transverse loading for the beamcolumn behaviour with distinct intermediate
restraintstransversaltothebeamaxisinregularspacing.

9. REFERENCES
[1]

EuropeanCommitteeforStandardisation, EN199311:Eurocode3:DesignofSteelStructures
Part1.1:Generalrulesandrulesforbuildings,Brussels,2005.

[2]

Greiner,R.,Kettler,M.,Lechner,A.,Jaspart,J.P.,Boissonade,N.,Bortolotti,E.,Weynand,K.,
Ziller,C.,rder,R.: SEMICOMP:PlasticMemberCapacityofSemiCompactSteelSectionsa
more Economic Design, RFSRCT200400044, Final Report, Research Programme of the
ResearchFundforCoalandSteelRTD,2008.

[3]

Boissonade,N.,Greiner,R.,Jaspart,J.P.,Lindner,J.:RulesforMemberStabilityinEN199311:
Background documentation and design guidelines, ECCS Technical Committee 8 Structural
Stability,P119,Brussels,2006.

[4]

Gardner, L., Nethercot, D. A.: Designers Guide to EN 199311 Eurocode 3: Design of steel
structuresGeneralrulesandrulesforbuildings,ThomasTelford,SCI,2005.

[5]

Greiner, R., Kettler, M., Lechner, A., Jaspart, J.P., Weynand, K., Ziller, C., rder, R.: SEMI
COMP+: Valorisation Action of Plastic Member Capacity of SemiCompact Steel Sections a
more Economic Design, RFS2CT201000023, Background Documentation, Research
ProgrammeoftheResearchFundforCoalandSteelRTD,2011.

27