Western Philippines University

College of Engineering and Technology

Civil Engineering Department

STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

By Dr. Cesario A. Bacosa , Jr.
(Geotechnical and Structural Engineer)
Module 14. Beam Bearing Plate.
When the beam is supported on a concrete or masonry wall, the beam reactions are distributed to the
concrete or masonry by beam bearing plates.

B
t

k
L

The uniform bearing pressure is

R
fp
Fp
BL
The bending moment at distance k from the web centerline is
n2
n
M f p ( Bn) f p B
2
2
The section modulus of the bearing plate is

I 121 Bt 3 Bt 2

c (t / 2)
6
The required section modulus of the bearing plate is
n2
f pB
M
Bt 2
2
S
:

Fb
6
Fb
Solving for the thickness t yields
S

3 f p n2
Fb

The allowable bending stress in the bearing plate is

Fb 0.75Fy

NSCP 510.10 Column Bases and Bearing on Masonry and Concrete

510.1.2 In the absence of code regulations the following stresses apply:

(6.7a)

(6.7b)

(6.7c)

(6.7d)

(6.7e)
(6.7f)

On sandstone and limestone

Fp 2.75 MPa

On brick in cement mortar

Fp 1.72 MPa

On the full area of concrete support

Fp 0.35 f c'

On less than the full area of concrete support

Fp 0.35 f c' A2 / A1 0.70 f c'

where:
fc = specified compressive strength of concrete, MPa
A1 = contact area at concrete support, mm2
A2 = area of portion of supporting surface that is geometrically similar to the loaded area, mm 2
Problem 610. A W460x106 beam (bf = 194 mm, tf = 20.6 mm, tw = 12.6 mm, k = 40 mm) is to be end supported by a 250
mm thick masonry wall (fc = 7 MPa). Design a bearing plate (Fy = 248 MPa) for the beam if the end reaction is 180
kN.
Solution:
1) Minimum bearing length required at the reactions
1.1) Local web yielding [NSCP 511.2.3.1]
R
0.66 Fy
(511-3)
t w ( N 2.5k )

180,000
0.66(250)
12.6 N 2.5(40)

N 0
1.2) Web crippling (NSCP 511.2.4.1]
1.5

N t
(511-5)
R 89.3tw2 1 3 w Fywt f / tw

d t f

1.5

N 12.6
180000 89.3(12.6)2 1 3

(248)(20.6 /12.6)
770 20.6

N 0
Therefore, the available bearing length = 250 mm is adequate.
2) Allowable stresses
2.1) Bearing on masonry wall
Fp 0.35 f c' 0.35(7) 2.45 MPa
2.2) Bending on bearing plate
Fb 0.75Fy 0.75(248) 186 MPa
3) Dimension of bearing plate
3.1) Required area of bearing plate
R 180 x103
A

73469 mm2
Fp
2.45
3.2) Required length of bearing plate
A 73469
L
294 mm, say 300 mm > (width of flange = 194 mm) OK
B
250
3.3) Actual bearing pressure
R
180 x103
fp

2.40 MPa
BL 250(300)

4) Compute thickness of bearing plate

L
300
n k
40 110 mm
2
2
t

3 f p n2
Fb

3(2.40)(110) 2
21.6 mm
186

Therefore, use 250x300x22 mm bearing plate.