Contents:

I. Introduction

Built-up beams are beams made of structural metal units such as plates and
angles which are riveted, bolted or welded together to form a structural unit.

If the requirements for strenght or stiffness cannot be statisfied by an available

section, a built-up section may be needed to arrive at the desired cross section. Often,
built-up sections are used for beams when the required bending strength is greater than
that of the largest available rolled section.

II. Design and Investigation Procedure

Allowable Bending Stress:
h 2547
When > , the maximum bending stress shall not exceed:
tw √F y
Fb ' = Fb RPG Re
Where: Fb = applicable bending stress

Fb = 0.60 Fy if Lb > Lc

Fb = 0.60 Fy if Lb < Lc
Aw h 1996
RPG = 1 - 0.0005 [t - ] < or = 1.0 Re = 1.0 for (non - hybrid girder)
Af w √Fb

h 2547
When t > , determine the following:
w √F y

Compactness:
bf 170
(Flange): < (compact)
2tf √F y

170 bf 250
< < (non - compact)
√Fy 2tf √F y

bf 250
> (slender)
2𝑡𝑓 √F y
d 1680
(Web): > (compact)
tw √F y
200 bf 137900
Lc = (the smaller of the two values) , d
√Fy (F )
tf y

bf Fy h
If Lc > Lb , flang is non-compact Fb = [0.79 -0.000762 √K ], if t >0.70,
2tf c w
4.05 h
Kc = if > 0.70
h 0.46 tw
(t )
w
I
If Lc < Lb , solve for radius of gyration rt =√Ax
 L 3516330 Cb 82740 Cb
When, <√ , Fb = Ld < or = 0.60 Fy
rt Fy ( )
Af

3516330 Cb L 103270 Cb
When, √ >r >√ , Fb = larger of the values of :
Fy t Fy
L
2 Fy ( ) 82740 Cb
rt
(3 − ) Fy and Ld but not greater than 0.60 Fy
10.55 ×1000 ( )
Af

Shearing stress of beams: Flexural stress of beams:

M I VQ
fb = ; Sx = fv = , (all sections)
Sx C Ib
V
fv = , (wide flange beam)
dt w
Shearing of bolts: Bearing of bolts:

R = Abolt (fy ) R = Øbolt t p Ft ; Fp = 1.2 Fu

Where:
fb = flexural stress R = shear capacity of bolt
fv = shearing stress Abolt = area of bolt
M = moment capacity of beam Øbolt = diameter of bolt
Sx = section modulus t p = thickness of plate
V = maximum shear of beam d = total depth of section
Q = statical moment of inertia b = width of section

Examples:
1. A built-up beam is made up of 1250 mm × 9 mm web section and two flange sections
of 620 mm × 20 mm plate. It has a span of 14 m and carries a uniform load of 40 kN/m
including its own weight. Use A36 steel Fy = 248 MPa, tw = 9 mm,
tf = 20 mm, h = 1250 mm, bf = 620 mm.
a. Compute the section modulus of the given beam.
b. Compute the allowable bending stress.
 2. A wooden plate girder is composed of 2650 mm × 9.5 mm web plate and two 500 mm
× 19 mm flange plates. The unbraced length of the compression flange is 5.5 m.
Assuming Cb = 1.0. Use A36 steel Fy = 248 Mpa, Es = 200 000 MPa. Compute the
resisting moment of the beam.

3. A beam is built-up from the following plates, 450 mm × 20 mm as flanges and 500 mm
× 20 mm as web. All plates are A36 steel with Fy = 248 MPa and the flanges are
continuously connected to the web by means of fillet welds. The beam is simply
supported at its ends and laterally supported only at supports. Determine the
allowable bending stress for the length of 4 m and determine also the resisting
moment of the beam.

IV. Evaluation
1. A built-up beam consists of a W 350 × 91 with 30 mm × 254 mm plates attached to each
flange and is fastened by two rows of 20 mm Ø rivets having an allowable shearing stress
of 156 MPa. Determine the required spacing of rivets to resist an external shear of 267
kN.
Properties of W 350 × 91
d = 353 mm
bf = 254 mm
A = 11600 mm2
2. The built up girder is to support a uniform load of 175 kN/m over a span of 6 m. Assume
the beam to be laterally supported and use A36 steel with Fy = 250 MPa, Fb = 0.60Fy , and
Fv = 0.40Fy .

Properties of built up girder

bf = 225 mm
tf = 38 mm
d = 600 mm
a. Determine the thickness of web member to avoid excessive shear.
b. Determine the thickness of web member to avoid excessive flexural stress.

3. A built up section is made up of 3 rectangular plates welded to form an H – beam. The

L
overall depth is 400 mm and is 13 meters long. The slenderness ratio = 200 . The
r
minimum load in tension is 1600 kN and a minimum load in compression is 260 kN. The
1
member is to carry a load P = maximum load + minimum load.
2
a. Determine the required area of the section if allowable stress is 185 MPa. Find the
1
width of the flange if r = 2 width of the flange and the thickness of the plate.
 1
4. Based on question number 3, find the width of the flange if r = 4 width of the flange and
the thickness of the plate.
5. A built up section consists of a channel and an angular section with long legs turned out
as shown is to be used as a beam having a simple span of 6 m. Assume the beam to be
restrained against lateral buckling for the entire span. Use A36 steel with Fy = 250 MPa,
Fb = 0.60Fy.
Properties of channel: Properties of angular section
A = 3029 mm 2 A = 1600 mm2
d = 305 mm Iv = 0.799 × 106 mm4
Ix = 537 × 106 mm4 x = 19.9 mm
N N
W = 302 W = 19.9
m m
a. Which of the following gives the section modulus of the beam.
b. Which of the following give the safe concentrated load P that the beam could carry at
its midspan if there is a super imposed uniform load of 4 kN/m besides its own weight.