Document Ref: SX006a-EN-EU Sheet 1 of 8

Title
CALCULATION SHEET

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
Eurocode Ref EN 1993-1-1
Made by Matthias Oppe Date June 2005
Checked by Christian Mller Date June 2005
Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
This worked example on the calculation of alpha-cr demonstrates for a
simple structure how the checks are performed. It shows whether second
order effects have to be taken into account or may be neglected for the
structural analysis.

3
,
5
0
3
,
5
0
IPE 400 IPE 400
IPE 400 IPE 400
HEB
200
HEB
200
HEB
200
HEB
200
HEB
200
HEB
200
6,00 6,00 3,00 3,00 [m]



Layout a) Rigid column bases

Layout b) Pinned column bases




Basic data
Check whether second order effects have to be taken into account or not.

Span length : 6,00 m
Bay width : 3,00 m
Slab depth : 12 cm
Partitions : 1,50 kN/m
2

Imposed load : 5,00 kN/m
2
(office building)


Concrete density : 24 kN/m
3

Steel grade : S235

Weight of the slab : 0,12 24 kN/m
3
= 2,88 kN/m
2

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
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Document Ref: SX006a-EN-EU Sheet 2 of 8
Title
CALCULATION SHEET

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
Eurocode Ref EN 1993-1-1
Made by Matthias Oppe Date June 2005
Checked by Christian Mller Date June 2005
Beams IPE 400 Steel grade S235
Depth h = 400 mm
Width b = 180 mm
Web thickness t
w
= 8,6 mm
Flange thickness t
f
= 13,5 mm
Fillet r = 21 mm

Mass 66,3 kg/m
Section area A = 84,46 cm
2
Second moment of area /yy I
y
= 23130 cm
4
z
z
y y
tf
t
w

b
h

Euronorm
19-57
Columns HE 200 B Steel grade S235
Depth h = 200 mm
Width b = 200 mm
Web thickness t
w
= 9,0 mm
Flange thickness t
f
= 15,0 mm
Fillet r = 18 mm

Mass 61,3 kg/m
Section area A = 78,08 cm
2
Second moment of area /yy I
y
= 5696 cm
4
Euronorm
53-62
Self weight of the beam :
(66,3 9,81) 10
-3
= 0,650 kN/m
Permanent load :
G = 0,650 + (2,88 + 1,5) 3,00
= 13,79 kN/m
Variable load (Imposed load) :
Q = 5,0 3,0 = 15,0 kN/m
w
1
= 2,03 kN/m
w
2
= 0,76 kN/m



3
,
5
0
3
,
5
0
w
1 w2
6,00 6,00

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
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Document Ref: SX006a-EN-EU Sheet 3 of 8
Title
CALCULATION SHEET

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
Eurocode Ref EN 1993-1-1
Made by Matthias Oppe Date June 2005
Checked by Christian Mller Date June 2005
ULS Combination (simple):

G
G +
Q
Q = 1,35 13,79 + 1,50 15,0 = 38,9 kN/m
w
1
= 1,35 2,03 = 2,75 kN/m
w
2
= 1,35 0,76 = 1,01 kN/m
EN 1990
6.4.3.2
(6.10)
Yield strength
Steel grade S235
The maximum thickness is 15,0 mm < 40 mm, so : f
y
= 235 N/mm
2
Note : The National Annex may impose either the values of f
y
from the
Table 3.1 or the values from the product standard.
EN 1993-1-1
Table 3.1
Global initial imperfections:

h m 0
=


EN 1993-1-1
5.3.2
Where:
0
is the basic value:
0
= 1/200

h
is the reduction factor for height h applicable to columns:

h
2
h
= but 0 , 1
3
2
h

h is the height of the structure in meters

m
is the reduction factor for the number of columns in a row:

+ =
m
1
1 5 , 0
m

m is the number of columns in a row including only those
columns which carry a vertical load N
Ed
not less than 50% of
the average value of the column in the vertical plane
considered

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
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Document Ref: SX006a-EN-EU Sheet 4 of 8
Title
CALCULATION SHEET

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
Eurocode Ref EN 1993-1-1
Made by Matthias Oppe Date June 2005
Checked by Christian Mller Date June 2005
Average compression force for the column:

2 , 311 2 12 9 , 38
3
1
average
= = N kN
kN 6 , 155 5 , 0
average Ed
= > N N
-198,8
-100,7 -267,4 -98,6
-208,9 -525,9
-
- - -
- -
[kN]
from computer calculation

due to the internal force distribution (cp. computer calculation) three
columns should be considered (m = 3)

816 , 0 )
3
1
1 ( 5 , 0 )
1
1 ( 5 , 0
m
= + = + =
m

h = 7,00 m
756 , 0
7
2 2
h
= = =
h


324
1
816 , 0 756 , 0
200
1
= =

Equivalent horizontal loads
44 , 1 12 9 , 38
324
1
d 2, d 1,
= = = = l g H H kN

Effects of deformed geometry of the structure
Calculation of
cr
First order analysis may be used for the structure, if the increase of the
relevant internal forces or moments or any other change of structural
behaviour caused by deformations can be neglected. This condition may be
assumed to be fulfilled, if the following criterion is satisfied:
10
Ed
cr
cr
=
F
F
(for elastic analysis)
15
Ed
cr
cr
=
F
F
(for plastic analysis)
EN 1993-1-1
5.2.1 (3)
Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
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Document Ref: SX006a-EN-EU Sheet 5 of 8
Title
CALCULATION SHEET

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
Eurocode Ref EN 1993-1-1
Made by Matthias Oppe Date June 2005
Checked by Christian Mller Date June 2005
where:
cr
is the factor by which the design loading would have to be
increased to cause elastic instability in a global mode
cr
F is the elastic critical buckling load for global instability
mode based on initial elastic stiffnesses
Ed
F is the design loading on the structure

Alternative calculation of
cr
Beam-and-column type plane frames in buildings may be checked for sway
mode failure with first order analysis if the criterion
cr
10 (resp.
cr
15) is
satisfied for each storey. In these structures
cr
may be calculated using the
following approximate formula, provided that the axial compression in the
beams or rafters is not significant:
EN 1993-1-1
5.2.1 (4)B

=
Ed H, Ed
Ed
cr

h
V
H

where: is the design value of the horizontal reaction at the bottom
of the storey to the horizontal loads and fictitious horizontal
loads
Ed
H
is the total design vertical load on the structure on the
bottom of the storey
Ed
V

H,Ed
is the horizontal displacement at the top of the storey,
relative to the bottom of the storey, when the frame is loaded
with horizontal loads (e.g. wind) and fictitious horizontal
loads which are applied at each floor level
h is the storey height

h
H,Ed
VEd
HEd


Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
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Document Ref: SX006a-EN-EU Sheet 6 of 8
Title
CALCULATION SHEET

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
Eurocode Ref EN 1993-1-1
Made by Matthias Oppe Date June 2005
Checked by Christian Mller Date June 2005
a) Rigid column bases
Calculation of
cr
The computer calculation for the relevant load case leads to
EN 1993-1-1
5.2.1 (3)

10 06 , 27
Ed
cr
cr
> = =
F
F


second order effects may be
neglected
3
,
5
0
3
,
5
0
38,9
38,9
6,00 6,00
1,44
1,44


Alternative calculation of
cr
Deformed structure


X
Z


2

1




1
= 0,69 mm h = 3,50m V
Ed
= 466,8 kN

2
= 0,31 mm H
Ed
= 1,44 kN
10 41 , 28
31 , 0 69 , 0
3500
8 , 466
44 , 1
cr,1
> =

=
10 83 , 34
31 , 0
3500
2 8 , 466
2 44 , 1
,2 cr
> =

=
second order effects may be neglected

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
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Document Ref: SX006a-EN-EU Sheet 7 of 8
Title
CALCULATION SHEET

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
Eurocode Ref EN 1993-1-1
Made by Matthias Oppe Date June 2005
Checked by Christian Mller Date June 2005
b) pinned column bases
Calculation of
cr
The computer calculation for the relevant load case leads to
EN 1993-1-1
5.2.1 (3)
10 79 , 6
Ed
cr
cr
< = =
F
F


second order effects have to be
taken into account
3
,
5
0
3
,
5
0
38,9
38,9
6,00 6,00
1,44
1,44


Alternative calculation of
cr
Deformed structure



X
Z

2


1


EN 1993-1-1
5.2.1 (4)B

1
= 1,79 mm h = 3,50 m V
Ed
= 466,8 kN

2
= 1,34 mm H
Ed
= 1,44 kN
10 99 , 23
34 , 1 79 , 1
3500
8 , 466
44 , 1
cr,1
> =

=
10 06 , 8
34 , 1
3500
2 8 , 466
2 44 , 1
cr,2
< =

=
second order effects have to be taken into account

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
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Document Ref: SX006a-EN-EU Sheet 8 of 8
Title
CALCULATION SHEET

Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
Eurocode Ref EN 1993-1-1
Made by Matthias Oppe Date June 2005
Checked by Christian Mller Date June 2005
For multi-storey frames second order sway effects may be calculated by
increasing the horizontal loads H
Ed
(e.g. wind) and equivalent loads V
Ed

due to imperfections according to first order theory by the factor:
cr
1
1
1

provided that: -
cr
> 3,0
- all storeys have a similar distribution of
vertical loads
horizontal loads
frame stiffness with respect to the applied storey shear
forces
here: 172 , 1
79 , 6
1
1
1
1
1
1
cr
=

EN 1993-1-1
5.2.2 (6)B
Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
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Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
SX006a-EN-EU.doc

Quality Record

RESOURCE TITLE Example: Calculation of alpha-cr
Reference(s)
ORIGINAL DOCUMENT
Name Company Date
Created by Matthias Oppe RWTH 15/06/05
Technical content checked by Christian Mller RWTH 15/06/05
Editorial content checked by
Technical content endorsed by the
following STEEL Partners:

1. UK G W Owens SCI 7/7/05
2. France A Bureau CTICM 17/8/05
3. Sweden A Olsson SBI 8/8/05
4. Germany C Muller RWTH 10/8/05
5. Spain J Chica Labein 12/8/05
Resource approved by Technical
Coordinator
G W Owens SCI 21/05/06
TRANSLATED DOCUMENT
This Translation made and checked by:
Translated resource approved by:




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