Design procedure(Steps) of channel/I-section purlins

The design of purlin is a trial and error procedure and is done as follows:

1. The gravity load P1 due to sheeting and live load,etc and the load H1 due to wind are
computed. These loads are multiplied with load factors f to get the factored loads.
P=fP1
2. The maximum bending moment Muu and Mvv are calculated by:
Muu=PL/10 and Mvv=HL/10.
Where,P= Factored load along v-v axis(in newtons)
H=Factored load along u-u axis(in newtons)
l= span of the purlin(c/c distance between adjacent trusses)
3. Purlins are subjected to biaxial bending and require trial and error method for their design.
The required value of section modulus may be determined from the following expression
given by Gaylord or choosen arbitrarily based on experience and the checked for safety
and serviceability. A trial section is selected and propertied b and d are noted.
Zpz=Mz*m0/fy+2.5(d/b)[My*m0/fy]
Where, m0= Partial safety factor for materials=1.1
d= depth of trial section.
b=Width of trial section.
4. The design capacities of the sections Mdz and Mdy are given by
Mdz=Zpz*fy/m0≤ 1.2 Zez*fy/m0
and Mdy =Zpy*fy/m0≤ 1.2 Zey*fy/m0
for safety Mdz≥Mz and Mdy≥My
5. The local capacity of the section is checked using the following interaction equation.
Mz/Mdz+My/Mdy≤1
6. The deflection of the purlin is calculated which should be less than l/180
7. The suction effect of wind may put the lower flange of the purlin in compression and since
the lower flange will be unrestrained, the purlins will be consequently subjected to lateral
torsional buckling. In such a case, buckling resistance about z-z axis is calculated.
Buckling resistance about y-y axis is not required to be determined because purlins are
restrained in z-plane by roofing and hence they will be stable for moment about the minor
axis. The design bending strength about z-z axis, Mdz is determined by
Mdz=Zpz*fy/m0
8. The design capacity of the member is checked by equation
Mz/Mdz+My/Mdy≤1,but with Mdz and Mdy as determined in Steps 7 and 4 respectively.
Design procedure(Steps) of angle section purlins
Angle sections are unsymmetrical about both the axes. Angle section can be used as
purlin,provided the slope of the roof truss is less than 30▫. The following procedure may adopted
for the design (IS 800:2007 is silent about the design of angle section purlins.The design of
purlin is a trial and error procedure and is done as follows:

1. The gravity loads and wind loads are determined. Both the loads are assumed to be normal
to roof truss.
2. The maximum bending moment is computed by:
M=wl2/10 or by M=Wl/10
Where,w=unfactored uniformly distributed load.
W= unfactored Concentrated laod at centroid
l= span of the purlin(c/c distance between adjacent trusses)
3. A modulus of section required is calculated by:
Z =M /1.33*0.66fy
Where, fy= yield stress.
4. A trial section of andle purlins is arrived at by assuming the depth of the angle section as
l/45 of the span and width of the section as l/60 of the span. The depth and width must not
be less than specified values to ensure tha the deflections are not excessive.
5. A suitable angle section is selected from IS table for the calculated leg length of angle
section. The modulus of section provided should be more than modulus of section
calculated in step 3.