DESIGN OF STEEL BEAMS.

Structural design of steel beams primarily involves predicting the strength of the member. This
requires the designer to imagine all the ways in which the member may fail during its design life.

Any section may serve as a beam but the typical section is the universal beam. If the UB is not
strong enough or in cases where depth is limited, cover plates are added to give a compound beam.

Common modes of failure of beams

i) Bending

The vertical loading gives rise to bending of the beam. This results in longitudinal stresses being
set up in the beam. These stresses are tensile in one half of the beam and compressive in the other.
As the bending moment increases, more and more of the steel reaches its yield stress. Eventually,
all the steel yields in tension and/or compression across the entire cross section of the beam. At
this point the beam cross-section has become plastic and it fails by formation of a plastic hinge at
the point of maximum moment induced by the loading.

ii) Local buckling

During the bending process outlined above, if the compression flange or the part of the web subject
to compression is too thin, the plate may actually fail by buckling or rippling, as shown below,
before the full plastic moment is reached.

Beam design EC3 2015/2016 Page 1

 iii) Shear

Due to excessive shear forces, usually

adjacent to supports, the beam may fail in
shear. The beam web, which resists shear
forces, may fail as shown, as steel yields
in tension and compression in the shaded
zones. The formation of plastic hinges in
the flanges accompanies this process.

iv) Shear buckling

During the shearing process described above,

if the web is too thin it will fail by buckling
or rippling in the shear zone.

v) Web bearing and buckling

Due to high vertical stresses directly over a support or under a concentrated load, the beam web
may actually crush, or buckle as a result of these stresses.

Beam design EC3 2015/2016 Page 2

 vi) Lateral torsional buckling

When the beam has a higher

bending stiffness in the vertical
plane compared to the horizontal
plane, the beam can twist sideways
under the load. This is perhaps best
visualized by loading a scale rule
on its edge, as it is held as a
cantilever – it will tend to twist and
deflect sideways.

Where a beam is not prevented from moving sideways, by a floor, for instance, or the beam is not
nominally torsionally restrained at supports, it is necessary to check that it is laterally stable under
load. Nominal torsional restraint may be assumed to exist if web cleats, partial depth end plates or
fin plates, for example, are present

vii) Deflection

Although a beam cannot fail as a result of excessive deflection alone, it is necessary to ensure that
deflections are not excessive under unfactored loading. Excessive deflections are those resulting
in severe cracking in finishes which would render the building unserviceable.

Beam design EC3 2015/2016 Page 3

SUMMARY OF DESIGN PROCESS

The design process for a beam can be summarized as follows:

a) determination of design shear forces, and bending moments, at critical points on the
element
b) selection of the steel section (UB or UC)
c) classification of section
d) check shear strength; if unsatisfactory return to (b)
e) check bending capacity; if unsatisfactory return to (b)
f) check deflection; if unsatisfactory return to (b)
g) check web bearing and buckling at supports or concentrated load; if unsatisfactory
provide web stiffener or return to (b)
h) check lateral torsional buckling , if unsatisfactory return to (b) or provide lateral and
torsional restraints
i) Summarize results.

DESIGN OF LATERALLY RESTRAINED BEAMS

A beam is considered laterally restrained if:

 The section is bent about its minor axis

 Full lateral restraint is provided
 Closely spaced bracing is provided making the slenderness of the weak axis low
 The compressive flange is restrained against torsion

𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑀𝑐,𝑅𝑑

𝑉 𝑀
If shear is low i.e. 𝑉 𝐸𝑑 ≤ 0.5, 𝑀 𝐸𝑑 ≤ 1.0 … … 𝐸𝑞𝑛 6.12
𝑐,𝑅𝑑 𝑐,𝑅𝑑

𝑊𝑝𝑙 𝑓𝑦
𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑠 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠, 𝑀𝑐,𝑅𝑑 = 𝑀𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = ……Eqn.6.13
𝛾𝑀0

𝑊𝑒𝑙,𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑦
𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑠 3 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠, 𝑀𝑐,𝑅𝑑 = 𝑀𝑒𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = ……Eqn.6.14
𝛾𝑀0

Beam design EC3 2015/2016 Page 4

Shear capacity

𝑉𝐸𝑑
≤ 1.0 … … 𝐸𝑞𝑛 6.17
𝑉𝑐,𝑅𝑑

𝐴𝑣 𝑓𝑦
𝑉𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = … … 𝐸𝑞𝑛 6.18
√3 𝛾𝑀0

The shear area for Rolled I and H sections

𝐴𝑣 = 𝐴 − 2𝑏𝑡𝑓 + (𝑡𝑤 + 2𝑟)𝑡𝑓 ≥
𝜂ℎ𝑤 𝑡𝑤 . 𝜂 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑠 1

For plates and solid bars: Av=A

For CHS and tubes of uniform thickness;

𝐴
𝐴𝑣 = 2𝜋

The theoretical plastic resistance moment of section i.e. Mpl,Rd is reduced if VEd>0.5Vpl,Rd
(Cl.6.2.8). The reduction is effected by using a reduced yield strength (1-ρ)fy for the shear area.
2
2𝑉𝐸𝑑
𝜌=( − 1)
𝑉𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑

The plastic modulus is also reduced. The reduced design plastic resistance moment allowing for
the shear force may be obtained for I-cross sections with equal flanges and bending about the major
axis as follows

𝜌𝐴𝑤 2
𝑀𝑦,𝑉,𝑅𝑑 = ⌊𝑊𝑝𝑙,𝑦 − ⌋ 𝑓𝑦 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑀𝑦,𝑉,𝑅𝑑 ≤ 𝑀𝑦,𝑐,𝑅𝑑 ---Eqn 6.30
4𝑡𝑤

𝐴𝑤 = ℎ𝑤 𝑡𝑤

Beam design EC3 2015/2016 Page 5

Recommendation for future reading: EC3-5 Cl.6 about web buckling and associated checks.

Deflection checks should be made against unfactored permanent and unfactored variable actions.

E=elastic modulus of steel (210 kN/mm2) and I is the second moment of area (y-y) of the section

In addition, the shear buckling resistance for webs without intermediate stiffeners should be
ℎ𝑤 𝜀
according to section 5 of BS EN 1993-1-5, if > 72 𝜂---eqn 6.22
𝑡𝑤

Beam design EC3 2015/2016 Page 6

Example 1: Consider a beam 8m long which supports a bay width of 6m in a one-way spanning
composite construction of concrete and steel. The Characteristic permanent action is 3.7kN/m2
and the characteristic variable action is 3.3kN/m2. Design a suitable UB.

Reference Calculations

All references in this section are to BS EN1993-1-1 (Eurocode 3) and its UK National Annex unless stated
otherwise.

With a concrete slab, fully grouted and covered with structural screed, the compression
flange is fully restrained.

BS EN 1990 γG=1.35, γQ=1.5

Table A1.2

BS EN 1990 The Ultimate Limit state Design value of combined actions=𝛾𝐺 𝐺𝑘 + 𝛾𝑄 𝑄𝑘 =

Eqn.6.10 1.35(3.7)+1.5(3.3)=9.95kN/m2

The uniformly distributed load for the beam = 9.95x6=59.7kNM

Design bending moment, assuming simple supports,

𝜔𝑙2 59.7𝑥82
𝑀𝑦,𝐸𝑑 = = = 477.4𝑘𝑁𝑚
8 8

𝑤𝑙 59.7𝑥8
Design shear force, 𝑉𝐸𝑑 = = = 238.7𝑘𝑁
2 2

Trial section: the required section should have a plastic modulus about the major axis that
is greater than

𝑀𝑦,𝐸𝑑 𝛾𝑀0 477.4𝑥106 𝑥1

𝑊𝑝𝑙,𝑦 = = = 1736𝑐𝑚3
𝑓𝑦 275

Recall that the section modulus=I/Z. Z is the normal distance from the neutral axis of
bending to outer surface of the beam.

𝑀 𝜎 𝐸 𝐼 𝑀
= = . =
𝐼 𝑍 𝑅 𝑍 𝜎
Try a 457x191x82 UB S275 which has a plastic section modulus of 1830cm3 h=460mm,
b= 191.3mm, d=407.6mm, tf=16mm, tw=9.9 mm, r=10.2mm, A=104cm2 , Iyy=
37100cm4
𝑐𝑓 𝑐𝑤
=5.03 =41.2 E=210000N/mm2
𝑡𝑓 𝑡3

Beam design EC3 2015/2016 Page 7

 Table 5.2 Classification of section
Flange: Limiting ratio for class 1 section = 9ε and ε=0.92.
𝑐𝑓
≤ 9𝜀 = 8.28. Since 5.03<8.28, Flange is Class 1
𝑡𝑓
Web: Limiting ratio for class 1 section = 72ε =66.2. Since 41.2<66.2, Web is Class 1
Entire section is Class 1
Cl. 6.26 Shear resistance
Eqn.6.18 𝐴𝑣 𝑓𝑦
𝑉𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 =
√3 𝛾𝑀0

𝐴𝑣 = 𝐴 − 2𝑏𝑡𝑓 + (𝑡𝑤 + 2𝑟)𝑡𝑓 ≥ 𝜂ℎ𝑤 𝑡𝑤 . 𝜂 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑠 1

𝐴𝑣 = 10400 − 2(191.3)(16) + (9.9 + 2 ∗ 10.2)16 = 4763𝑚𝑚2 𝑟

≥ 1(460 − 2 ∗ 16)9.9 = 4237𝑚𝑚2

Therefore the shear area is 4763mm2

4763𝑥265
𝑉𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = = 728.7𝑘𝑁
√3
𝑉𝐸𝑑 238.7
= = 0.33 < 0.5, 𝐿𝑜𝑤 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑉𝑐,𝑅𝑑 728.7

Cl. 6.2.6 (6) Shear buckling. Shear buckling of the unstiffened web need not be considered provided
Eqn. 6.22
ℎ𝑤 𝜀 428 0.92
> 72 𝜂 ; = 43. 72 𝑥 = 66.2. 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 43 <
𝑡𝑤 9.9 1
66.2, 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑏𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙

Cl. 6.2.5(1) Moment resistance

Eqn. 6.13 𝑊𝑝𝑙 𝑓𝑦 1830𝑥1000𝑥265
𝑀𝑐,𝑅𝑑 = 𝑀𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = = = 485𝑘𝑁𝑚
𝛾𝑀0 1
𝑀𝐸𝑑 477.4
Eqn. 6.12 = = 0.98 < 1.0, 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝑀𝑐,𝑅𝑑 485

BS EN 1990 Serviceability Limit state

Eqn. 6.14
Design value of combined actions=𝛾𝐺 𝐺𝑘 + 𝛾𝑄 𝑄𝑘 = 6(3.7+3.3)=42kN/m

5𝜔𝑙4 5𝑥42𝑥80004
Vertical deflection at midspan=384𝐸𝐼 = 384𝑥210000𝑥37100𝑥104 = 28.8𝑚𝑚
𝑦

Vertical deflection limit for beam carrying plaster or any other brittle finish=L/360

Beam design EC3 2015/2016 Page 8

 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑛 8000
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 = = = 22.2𝑚𝑚
360 360
Since 28.8mm>22.2mm, beam fails the deflection check. UB fails and a redesign is
necessary. A beam with a higher second moment of inertia is needed

Example 2:

A hotel bedroom floor:

114mm N.W concrete = 25*0.114=2.85kN/m2

Trapezoidal deck=0.15kN/m2

Reinforcement=0.04kN/m2

Steel beam = 0.25kN/m2

Total permanent action = 3.29kN/m2

Variable action (Category A2) = 2kN/m2

The Ultimate Limit state Design value of combined actions=𝛾𝐺 𝐺𝑘 + 𝛾𝑄 𝑄𝑘 =

1.35(3.29)+1.5(2)=7.44kN/m2

Beam design EC3 2015/2016 Page 9

 Reference Calculations

All references in this section are to BS EN1993-1-1 (Eurocode 3) and its UK National Annex unless stated
otherwise.

Design bending moment, assuming simple supports,

𝜔𝑙2 67𝑥62
𝑀𝑦,𝐸𝑑 = = = 302𝑘𝑁𝑚
8 8

𝑤𝑙 67𝑥6
Design shear force, 𝑉𝐸𝑑 = = = 201𝑘𝑁
2 2

Trial section: the required section should have a plastic modulus about the major axis that
is greater than

𝑀𝑦,𝐸𝑑 𝛾𝑀0 302𝑥106 𝑥1

𝑊𝑝𝑙,𝑦 = = = 1098.2𝑐𝑚3
𝑓𝑦 275

Try a 457x191x67UB S275 which has a plastic section modulus of 1470cm3, h=453.4mm,
b= 189.9mm, d=407.6mm, tf=12.7mm, tw=8.5 mm, r=10.2mm, A=85.5cm2 , Iyy=
29400cm4
𝑐𝑓 𝑐𝑤
=6.34 =48 E=210000N/mm2
𝑡𝑓 𝑡3

Table 5.2 Classification of section

Flange: Limiting ratio for class 1 section = 9ε and ε=0.92.
𝑐𝑓
≤ 9𝜀 = 8.28. Since 6.34<8.28, Flange is Class 1
𝑡𝑓
Web: Limiting ratio for class 1 section = 72ε =66.2. Since 48<66.2, Web is Class 1
Entire section is Class 1
Cl. 6.26 Shear resistance
Eqn.6.18 𝐴𝑣 𝑓𝑦
𝑉𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 =
√3 𝛾𝑀0

𝐴𝑣 = 𝐴 − 2𝑏𝑡𝑓 + (𝑡𝑤 + 2𝑟)𝑡𝑓 ≥ 𝜂ℎ𝑤 𝑡𝑤 . 𝜂 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑠 1

Conservatively taking the minimum value of hwtw

𝐴𝑣 ≥ 1(453.4 − 2 ∗ 12.7)8.5 = 3638𝑚𝑚2

3638𝑥275
𝑉𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = = 577.6𝑘𝑁
√3
𝑉𝐸𝑑 201
= = 0.35 < 0.5, 𝐿𝑜𝑤 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑉𝑐,𝑅𝑑 577.6

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 Cl. 6.2.6 (6) Shear buckling. Shear buckling of the unstiffened web need not be considered provided
Eqn. 6.22
ℎ𝑤 𝜀 428 0.92
> 72 𝜂 ; = 50.4. 72 𝑥 = 66.2. 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 50.4 <
𝑡𝑤 8.5 1
66.2, 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑏𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙

Cl. 6.2.5(1) Moment resistance

Eqn. 6.13 𝑊𝑝𝑙 𝑓𝑦 1470𝑥1000𝑥275
𝑀𝑐,𝑅𝑑 = 𝑀𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = = = 404.3𝑘𝑁𝑚
𝛾𝑀0 1
𝑀𝐸𝑑 302
Eqn. 6.12 = 404.3 = 0.75 < 1.0, 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝑀𝑐,𝑅𝑑

BS EN 1990 Serviceability Limit state

Eqn. 6.14
Design value of combined actions=𝛾𝐺 𝐺𝑘 + 𝛾𝑄 𝑄𝑘 = 9(3.29+2)=47.6kN/m

5𝜔𝑙4 5𝑥47.6𝑥60004
Vertical deflection at midspan=384𝐸𝐼 = 384𝑥210000𝑥29400𝑥104 = 13𝑚𝑚
𝑦

Vertical deflection limit for beam carrying plaster or any other brittle finish=L/360

𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑛 6000
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 = = = 16.7𝑚𝑚
360 360
Since 13mm>16.7mm, beam passes the deflection check.

Therefore the 457x191x67UB S275 is adequate.

Beam design EC3 2015/2016 Page 11