LATERALLYBRACEDBEAMSLOCALBUCKLING

PROBLEM

flangelocalbuckling

Plateelements(flangeorweb)maybucklelocallybeforethebeamcan
developafullyplasticsection,i.e.:

LOCALBUCKLINGDEFINITION:
Failurebyinstabilityofoneormoreplateelementsincompression.

PLATEELEMENTCLASSIFICATION:
Plateelementsareclassifiedas:
COMPACT,NONCOMPACTorSLENDER
accordingtotheirwidthtothickness(b/t)ratios.

b/t1b/t4b/t25

COMPACTelements(b/t1)areabletoreachyielding
anddevelopafullyplasticsectionwithoutbuckling.
Theircompressivestrengthislimitedbythematerial
compressivestrength.

SLENDERelements(b/t25)areexpectedtoexhibit
elasticbucklingwithoutyielding.Theircompressive
strengthislimitedbyelasticbuckling.

NONCOMPACTelements(b/t4)willexhibitbuckling
afterpartialyieldingoftheelement.Theircompressive
strengthislimitedbyinelasticbuckling.

STIFFENEDandUNSTIFFENEDPLATEELEMENTS
STIFFENEDELEMENTS:
Plateelementssupportedorrestrainedagainstbuckling
alongtwoedgesparalleltothedirectionofthe
compressiveforce.
UNSTIFFENEDELEMENTS:
Plateelementssupportedorrestrainedagainstbuckling
alongoneedgeandfreeontheotheredgeparallelto
thedirectionofthecompressiveforce.

MEMBERCROSSSECTIONCLASSIFICATION
Membercrosssectionsareclassifiedbasedonthe
mostslenderplateelement.Forexample,aWshape
withacompactwebelement,andnoncompactflanges,
willbeclassifiedasanoncompactWshape.

PROBLEM:
If the flange or web buckles locally then the beam may not be able to develop a
fully plastic section, i.e., Mp.

DEFINE:
=

b
t

= width-to-thickness ratio of plate element (flange or web)

= plate slenderness ratio
For a W-shape:

bf
b
= f =
= flange slenderness ratio
2t f
t

= w =

h
= web slenderness ratio
tw

h = clear distance between flanges less the fillet or corner radius for
rolled shapes (d-2k in part 1 of AISC Manual)
h = clear distance between flanges when welds are used for built up
sections.

Values of h, b, and t to be used in computing 8 (From McCormac and Nelson)

FLEXURALBEHAVIORINCLUDINGLOCALBUCKLING

NON-COMPACT
SECTION

COMPACT
SECTION

SLENDER
SECTION

Large plastic
deformations

Failure in the
inelastic range

Failure in the
plastic range

Failure in the
elastic range

NOTE:
InAISC:Mr=0.7FyS

PLATEEDGE (SUPPORT)CONDITIONS
Ifaplatesedgeisrestrainedagainstbuckling(byasupportoranother
plateelement),thentheforcerequiredtobuckletheplateincreases.

STIFFENEDandUNSTIFFENEDPLATEELEMENTS
STIFFENEDELEMENTS:
Plateelementssupportedorrestrainedagainstbuckling
alongtwoedgesparalleltothedirectionofthe
compressiveforce.
UNSTIFFENEDELEMENTS:
Plateelementssupportedorrestrainedagainstbuckling
alongoneedgeandfreeontheotheredgeparallelto
thedirectionofthecompressiveforce.

MEMBERCROSSSECTIONCLASSIFICATION
Membercrosssectionsareclassifiedbasedonthe
mostslenderplateelement.Forexample,aWshape
withacompactwebelement,andnoncompactflanges,
willbeclassifiedasanoncompactWshape.

AISC_PART 16_Spec.1_A:14th Ed.

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DESIGN BASIS

[Sect. B3.

User Note: Design by qualification testing is the prescriptive method specified in

most building codes. Traditionally, on most projects where the architect is the
prime professional, the architect has been the responsible party to specify and
coordinate fire protection requirements. Design by analysis is a new engineering
approach to fire protection. Designation of the person(s) responsible for designing for fire conditions is a contractual matter to be addressed on each project.

13.

Design for Corrosion Effects

Where corrosion may impair the strength or serviceability of a structure, structural
components shall be designed to tolerate corrosion or shall be protected against
corrosion.

14.

Anchorage to Concrete
Anchorage between steel and concrete acting compositely shall be designed in accordance with Chapter I. The design of column bases and anchor rods shall be in
accordance with Chapter J.

B4.

MEMBER PROPERTIES

1.

Classification of Sections for Local Buckling

For compression, sections are classified as nonslender element or slender-element
sections. For a nonslender element section, the width-to-thickness ratios of its compression elements shall not exceed r from Table B4.1a. If the width-to-thickness
ratio of any compression element exceeds r, the section is a slender-element section.
For flexure, sections are classified as compact, noncompact or slender-element sections. For a section to qualify as compact, its flanges must be continuously connected
to the web or webs and the width-to-thickness ratios of its compression elements
shall not exceed the limiting width-to-thickness ratios, p, from Table B4.1b. If the
width-to-thickness ratio of one or more compression elements exceeds p, but does
not exceed r from Table B4.1b, the section is noncompact. If the width-to-thickness
ratio of any compression element exceeds r, the section is a slender-element section.

1a.

Unstiffened Elements
For unstiffened elements supported along only one edge parallel to the direction of
the compression force, the width shall be taken as follows:
(a) For flanges of I-shaped members and tees, the width, b, is one-half the full-flange
width, bf.
(b) For legs of angles and flanges of channels and zees, the width, b, is the full nominal dimension.
(c) For plates, the width, b, is the distance from the free edge to the first row of fasteners or line of welds.
(d) For stems of tees, d is taken as the full nominal depth of the section.

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, June 22, 2010

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

AISC_PART 16_Spec.1_A:14th Ed.

Sect. B4.]

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MEMBER PROPERTIES

16.115

User Note: Refer to Table B4.1 for the graphic representation of unstiffened element dimensions.

1b.

Stiffened Elements
For stiffened elements supported along two edges parallel to the direction of the compression force, the width shall be taken as follows:
(a) For webs of rolled or formed sections, h is the clear distance between flanges less
the fillet or corner radius at each flange; hc is twice the distance from the center
of gravity to the inside face of the compression flange less the fillet or corner
radius.
(b) For webs of built-up sections, h is the distance between adjacent lines of fasteners or the clear distance between flanges when welds are used, and hc is twice the
distance from the center of gravity to the nearest line of fasteners at the compression flange or the inside face of the compression flange when welds are used;
hp is twice the distance from the plastic neutral axis to the nearest line of fasteners at the compression flange or the inside face of the compression flange when
welds are used.
(c) For flange or diaphragm plates in built-up sections, the width, b, is the distance
between adjacent lines of fasteners or lines of welds.
(d) For flanges of rectangular hollow structural sections (HSS), the width, b, is the
clear distance between webs less the inside corner radius on each side. For webs
of rectangular HSS, h is the clear distance between the flanges less the inside corner radius on each side. If the corner radius is not known, b and h shall be taken
as the corresponding outside dimension minus three times the thickness. The
thickness, t, shall be taken as the design wall thickness, per Section B4.2.
(e) For perforated cover plates, b is the transverse distance between the nearest line
of fasteners, and the net area of the plate is taken at the widest hole.
User Note: Refer to Table B4.1 for the graphic representation of stiffened element
dimensions.
For tapered flanges of rolled sections, the thickness is the nominal value halfway
between the free edge and the corresponding face of the web.

2.

Design Wall Thickness for HSS

The design wall thickness, t, shall be used in calculations involving the wall thickness of hollow structural sections (HSS). The design wall thickness, t, shall be taken
equal to 0.93 times the nominal wall thickness for electric-resistance-welded (ERW)
HSS and equal to the nominal thickness for submerged-arc-welded (SAW) HSS.

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, June 22, 2010

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

AISC_PART 16_Spec.1_A:14th Ed._

2/17/12

Sect. B4.]

2:18 PM

Page 17

MEMBER PROPERTIES

16.117

Case

TABLE B4.1b
Width-to-Thickness Ratios: Compression Elements
Members Subject to Flexure
Limiting
Width-to-Thickness Ratio
r
p

Description of
Element

Unstiffened Elements

10 Flanges of rolled
I-shaped sections,
channels, and tees

Width-to(compact/
(noncompact/
Thickness
noncompact)
slender)
Ratio

E
Fy

b/t

0.38

b/t

E
0.38
Fy

b/t

0.54

E
Fy

0.91

E
Fy

b/t

0.38

E
Fy

1.0

E
Fy

d/t

0.84

E
Fy

1.03

E
Fy

15 Webs of doublysymmetric I-shaped

sections and
channels

h/tw

3.76

E
Fy

5.70

E
Fy

16 Webs of singlysymmetric I-shaped

sections

hc /tw

5.70

E
Fy

11 Flanges of doubly
and singly symmetric I-shaped built-up
sections
12 Legs of single
angles

13 Flanges of all
I-shaped sections
and channels in
flexure about the
weak axis

1.0

[a] [b]

14 Stems of tees

Stiffened Elements

E
Fy

hc
hp

k E
0.95 c
FL

[c]

E
Fy

Mp
0.54 M 0.09

17 Flanges of
rectangular HSS
and boxes of
uniform thickness

b/t

1.12

E
Fy

1.40

E
Fy

18 Flange cover plates

and diaphragm
plates between
lines of fasteners
or welds

b/t

1.12

E
Fy

1.40

E
Fy

h/t

2.42

E
Fy

5.70

E
Fy

19 Webs of rectangular
HSS and boxes

Examples

20 Round HSS

D/t

0.07

E
Fy

E
0.31
Fy

[a] kc = 4 h / t w but shall not be taken less than 0.35 nor greater than 0.76 for calculation purposes.
[b] FL = 0.7Fy for major axis bending of compact and noncompact web built-up I-shaped members with Sxt /Sxc 0.7;
FL = Fy Sxt /Sxc 0.5Fy for major-axis bending of compact and noncompact web built-up I-shaped members with Sxt /Sxc < 0.7.
[c] My is the moment at yielding of the extreme fiber. Mp = plastic bending moment, kip-in. (N-mm)
E = modulus of elasticity of steel = 29,000 ksi (200 000 MPa)
Fy = specified minimum yield stress, ksi (MPa)

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, June 22, 2010

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

AISC_PART 16_Spec.1_A:14th Ed._

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Page 16

MEMBER PROPERTIES

[Sect. B4.

Case

TABLE B4.1a
Width-to-Thickness Ratios: Compression Elements
Members Subject to Axial Compression
Limiting
Width-to- Width-to-Thickness
Thickness
Ratio r
Ratio
(nonslender/slender)

Description of
Element

Unstiffened Elements

1 Flanges of rolled
I-shaped sections,
plates projecting
from rolled I-shaped
sections; outstanding
legs of pairs of
angles connected
with continuous
contact, flanges of
channels, and
flanges of tees

b/t

0.56

E
Fy

2 Flanges of built-up

[a]

I-shaped sections
and plates or angle
legs projecting from
built-up I-shaped
sections

b/t

0.64

kcE
Fy

3 Legs of single
angles, legs of
double angles with
separators, and all
other unstiffened
elements

b/t

0.45

E
Fy

d/t

0.75

E
Fy

h/tw

1.49

E
Fy

b/t

1.40

E
Fy

b/t

1.40

E
Fy

b/t

1.49

E
Fy

D/t

E
0.11
Fy

4 Stems of tees

5 Webs of doublysymmetric I-shaped

sections and
channels

6 Walls of rectangular
Stiffened Elements

HSS and boxes of

uniform thickness

7 Flange cover plates

and diaphragm
plates between lines
of fasteners or welds

8 All other stiffened

elements

9 Round HSS

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, June 22, 2010

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

Examples

MnbasedonLOCALBUCKLING

NONCOMPACTORSLENDERFLANGESAISCF3.2
For

(AISCF21)

For

(AISCF31)

For

(AISCF32)

where

NONCOMPACTORSLENDERWEBSAISCF4,F5
Buckledportionofthewebisconsideredtobe
ineffectiveinresistingmoment.
Remainingportionofthecrosssectioncancontinue
toresistmoment.
Equationstoaccountfortheeffectofweblocal
bucklingonMnaregiveninAISCsectionsF4andF5.

NOTES
Thelimitstateoflocalbuckling(flangeorwebbuckling)
willrarelycontrolthedesignofrolledWshapes.Local
bucklingbecomesimportantforrolledanglesandWTs,
andweldedWshapesmadeofthinplatesand/orhigh
strengthsteels(>50ksi).
MostrolledWshapesarecompact.AllrolledWshapes
arecompactforweblocalbuckling,andonlytenWshapes
havenoncompactflanges.