Design of Steel Structures

Design of Compression
Members

Class 4 - Compression Members

BS 5950 1: Cl.4.7.4
b) Compression Resistance for class 4 slender cross sections
Pc = AeffPcs

Pc
Aeff
Pcs

Compression Resistance
Effective cross sectional area from Cl.3.6
Value of pc from 4.7.5 for a reduced slenderness
of (Aeff/Ag)0.5 in which is based on the radius
of gyration r of the gross cross - section

Aeff - Effective crosssectional area

Cl.3.6.2.2

The effective area is calculated by

disregarding those parts of the cross
section that are more susceptible to local
buckling, i.e. those parts that will be
ineffective when highly stresses.

Aeff - Effective crosssectional area (cont.)

Figure 8

Aeff - Effective crosssectional area (cont.)

Figure 8

Design of Column Base Plates

Columns which are
assumed
to
be
nominally pinned at
their
bases
are
provided with a slab
base comprising a
single
plate
fillet
welded to the end of
the
column
and
bolted
to
the
foundation.

Design of Column Base Plates (Cont.)

The dimensions of the
plate must be sufficient
to distribute the axial
compressive load to the
foundations and to
accommodate the
holding down bolts

Design of Column Base Plates (Cont.)

BS 5950-1:2000 Clause 4.13.1.2
The Bearing Strength for Concrete
foundations is given as 0.6fcu, where fcu is
the characteristic concrete cube strength
at 28 days

Design of Column Base Plates (Cont.)

BS 5950-1:2000 Clause 4.13.2.2
Formula for determining the minimum thickness of a
rectangular base plate supporting a concentrically loaded
column is given by:
tp
=
c[3w/pyp]0.5

T
where:
c
is the largest perpendicular distance from the edge of
Pyp
T
W

the effective portion of the base plate to the face of the

column cross section
is the design strength of the base plate
is the flange thickness of the column
is the pressure under the base plate, based on an
assumed uniform distribution of pressure throughout the
effective portion

Design of Column Base Plates (Cont.)

BS 5950-1:2000 Figure 15
The effective areas indicated for various cases in the code are