Introduction to Steel Design,

Tensile Steel Members

Modes of Failure & Effective Areas

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING

LECTURE VIII

Dr. Jason E. Charalambides

Failure in Flexure
! Consider an experiment
where a point load is applied
on a W-section at mid-point
along the strong axis:
"

2
 Failure in Flexure
! The load was increased until P_max is reached, i.e.
flexural failure is experienced.
! Mn is the nominal flexural strength that the beam can
sustain without failure, and it is considered based on the
following failure modes
" Local Buckling
• Flange
• Web
" Lateral torsional buckling
" Development of fully plastic cross
section failure by excessive
deformation

Local Buckling
! Buckling occurs on the upper flange and the upper
portion of the web that are subjected to compression
" Buckling would not occur in any portion below the NA as it is
subject to Tensile stresses

4
Local Buckling
! Flange
" In this case the flange starts
twirling, with one side bending
downwards and the other
upwards to compensate the
compressive stress that it is
subjected to, which exceeds its
maximum capacity.

Local Buckling
! Web
" In this case the web behaves in
a manner similar to the way we
saw the flange behaving in the
previous slide to compensate
the compressive stress that it is
subjected to, which exceeds its
maximum capacity.

6
 Lateral Torsional Buckling
! Lateral Torsional Buckling
" The center line of top flange shifts off
axis, and the beam rotates, minimizing
the exposure of the load on its strong xx
axis, and compensating the stress taken
by rotating toward the weaker yy axis.
The compression flange buckles laterally,
like a column.
" The tension flange resists the buckling
and the lateral movement of the
compression flange, resulting in a
combined effect of lateral movement and
rotation.
" To prevent this effect, lateral braces must
be provided along the length of the beam

Compact Section
! What is defined as a compact section?
" It is thick and not too long, practically the opposite of a “slender”
element, that can develop a plastic stress distribution before
buckling

! What parameters define a section as compact?

" It has to have width-thickness rations equal to or less than the
limiting values of λp given in Table B4.1 (pp. 16.1-16 &17), and
" The compressive portions have to be connected to the web or
webs

8
 Bracing
! Limit to moment that a beam can sustain:
" A beam's strength against LTB depends on the unbraced
length Lb:
" The shorter the Lb, the higher the strength of the beam against
LTB:
• Think of it in a way similar to a column's slenderness. The
longer the unbraced length, the higher the slenderness factor

Beam Lateral Braces

! In a building it is typical to have bracing by cross beams or by a
concrete floor slab. A lateral brace needs to satisfy the following:
" Prevent lateral displacement of the compression flange, OR
" Prevent twist of the element

10
 Beam Lateral Braces
! In this example with the shear studs applied on the top flange. In the
scenario where the bottom flange would be in compression, the concrete
floor slab would not serve as a lateral brace as it would not control the
lateral movement of the compression flange.

11

Beam Lateral Braces

! An example where the lateral displacement of compression flange is
prevented by diagonal bracing.
" A typical scenario is the use of angles and gussets.

12
 Ranges Of Beam Behavior in
Flexure
! In all three previously mentioned scenarios of instability (FLB, WLB, LTB)
occurs, it is safe to state that the failure occurred in one of the following
three possible ranges of beam behavior.
" Failure in Plastic range
" Failure in Inelastic range
" Failure in Elastic range

13

Ranges Of Beam Behavior in

Flexure
! Summarizing in a tabular format the characteristics of failure and ranges:

Failure
" mode Mn Ductility
"
● Elastic Mn ≤ 0.7 My Little or none
"

"
● Inelastic 0.7<Mn≤Mp Little or none
"

" ● Plastic Mn = Mp Large

! The AISC provides different equations that govern the design of flexural
members for each of these ranges of behavior

14
Designing for Flexure
! At any point along the length of a flexural member, the following equation
has to be satisfied:
M u ≤Φ M n Φ=0.9

! Mu is the moment generated due to design loads

! Mn is the nominal flexural strength of the beam

• Mn based on Flange Local Buckling

" Mn = Lesser of: • Mn based on Web Local Buckling

• Mn based on Lateral Torsional Buckling

• Mp

15

Nominal Moment on Local

Buckling
! There are two major factors that govern the behavior of a steel
flexural member on local buckling:
" Slenderness parameter (width to thickness ratio) of flange and/or web
" Specified minimum Yield Stress (Fy)
! The symbol λ is used as a generic symbol for that purpose (pg. 16.1-xl)

bf
" For FLB: λ=
2t f

h
" For WLB: λ=
tw

! The values indicated above are tabulated for all rolled W shapes in
the AISC user's manual in Part 1
16
Nominal Moment on Local
Buckling
! To determine the Mn based on FLB and WLB, the value of the
slenderness ratio is to be compared to the slenderness ratio for a
compact and a non-compact element (λr and λp respectively.)

! Table Β4.1b in section B4 provides all the necessary formulae.

See examples for hot rolled W shape:

√ √
bf E E
" For FLB: λ= λ p =0.38 λ r =1.0
2t f Fy Fy

√ √
h E E
" For WLB: λ= λ p =3.76 λ r =5.70
tw Fy Fy

Where λp is the limiting slenderness parameter for compact

element and λr for non-compact
17

Nominal Moment w.r.t.

Unbraced Length

18
Determining Compactness
! For an element to be considered compact the following
conditions must be satisfied:

" λ≤ λ p

√
bf E
" For FLB: ≤0.38
2t f Fy • Defined as
“Compact Section”
" For WLB: h
tw
≤3.76
E
Fy √
! If the above conditions are met, the section is compact, and failure
by local buckling will occur in the plastic range.

19

Determining Compactness
! An element that lies in the area of the graph where Inelastic
LTB is anticipated is Non-Compact:

" λ p <λ≤λ r

√ √
E b E
" For FLB: 0.38 < f ≤1.0
F y 2t f Fy • Defined as
“Non-Compact Section”
" For WLB: 3.76
√ E h
< ≤5.70
F y tw √E
Fy

! If the above conditions are met, failure by local buckling occurs in

the inelastic range, at a moment between 0.7 My and Mp.

20
Determining Compactness
! An element that lies in the area of the graph that Elastic LTB
is anticipated is considered Slender:

" λ> λ r

√
bf E
" For FLB: >1.0
2t f Fy • Defined as
“Slender Section”
" For WLB: h
tw √
>5.70
E
Fy

! If the above conditions are met, failure by local buckling occurs in

the elastic range, at a moment below 0.7 My.

21

Effect of Web Local

Buckling on Mn
! For sections with a compact web, WLB has no effect on Mn, which
is controlled by FLB, LTB, or Mp.
! For sections with a non-compact or slender web:
" WLB is considered to reduce the amount of web area
available to resist the applied moment

• Buckled portion
considered ineffective in
resisting moment

22
Effect of Web Local
Buckling on Mn
! For sections with a non-compact or slender web: (cont)
" Buckled portion is ineffective,
" Remaining portions of the cross section can continue to resist
moment until FLB, LTB, or yielding occurs,
" Equations to account for the effects of WLB on Mn are given in
chapter F, Sections F4 and F5

23

Practical Considerations
! Flange Local Buckling: Most rolled shapes are
compact for FLB at Fy=50ksi.
! Web Local Buckling: All rolled W-shapes are
compact for WLB for Fy=50ksi.
! Local Buckling may control Mn for the following
cases:
" Rolled W-shapes with high strength steels (Fy≥50ksi)
" Welded W-shapes made of thin plates
" Angles, WT's, and shapes other than standard rolled W-shapes

24
Fundamental
Nomenclature
! Cb - Lateral Torsional Buckling modification factor (F1-1)
! Beam Section Properties that LTB depends upon:
" J – St. Venant's torsional constant
" Cw – Warping torsion constant
" Iy – Moment of inertia about y axis
" Sx – Elastic section modulus

√
" h0 – Distance between flange centroids √ I y Cw
rts =
" r_ts -Effective radius of gyration for LTB Sx
! It can be approximated to the radius of gyration of the
compression flange + 1/6 of the web
! The above values are available except of the Cb that can be
calculated
25

The Lateral Torsional Buckling

Modification Factor
! The lateral buckling can be substantially restrained by the
end conditions and affected by loading patterns.
! Therefore a factor that helps better define the anticipated
behavior of an element, based on the factors affect this
behavior has been developed and refined to today's Cb:

12.5 M max
" C b= F1-1
2.5 M max +3M A+4M B +3M C

" Where: Mmax is the absolute value of max. moment, MA, MB, and
MC is the value at quarter, mid, and three quarter points of the
unbraced segment.

26
 Some Standard Values of Cb

Diagrams copied for educational purposes only

27

Some Standard Values of Cb

Also see Table 3-1 on pg. 3-18 of AISC Manual

Diagrams copied for educational purposes only

28
 Determining The Limit State of
the Unbraced Length

" L p =.76 r y
√ E
Fy F2-5

" L r =1.95 r ts
E
√ √
Jc
0.7 F y S x
J 2
h 0+ ( c ) +6.79(
S x h0
0.7 F y 2
E
)

The coefficient c (in Jc) is equal to 1 for symmetric shapes.

29
F2-6

For channels refer to AISC manual F2-8b, pg 16.1-48

Determining The Limit State of

the Unbraced Length

" For L b≤ L p → ΦM n=ΦM p= F y ×Z x

F2-1

"
[
For L p <L b≤ L r → ΦM n=Φ C b M p−( Mp−0.75 F y S x )
( )]
L b−L p
Lr− L p
≤ΦM p F2-2

" For L b> L r → ΦM n =Φ F r ×S x≤ΦM p F2-3

30
The critical Stress

! The Critical Stress Fcr, is used in the formulae above

mentioned and under these conditions it is given by:

)√
( )
2 2
Cbπ E J c Lb
F cr= 1+0.078

(
2
Lb S x h 0 r ts
F2-4
r ts

31

In Class Exercise

Determine the largest value of uniformly distributed load that

can be applied on a W-shape (W18x50) spanning 20 ft.
Assume shear is OK. Use A992 steel:

32
Beam subjected to LTB By M. Engelhardt

Problem Statement:
Determine the largest value of uniformly distributed load
that can be applied on the W-shape (W18x50). Assume
shear is OK.Use A992 steel
Unbraced Length: Lb := 20ft
3
Section modulus: Sx := 88.9in
3
Plastic modulus: Zx := 101in
4
Moment of Inertia on yy Iyy := 40.1in
radius of gyration y ry := 1.65in
effective radius of gyration rts := 1.98in
Dist flange centroids h 0 := 17.4in
6
Warping constant Cw := 3040in
4
Torsional constant J := 1.24in
Young's Modulus of Elasticity E := 29000ksi
Yield Stress: Fy := 50ksi
Ultimate Strength: Fu := 65ksi
LTB factor for non-uniform Cb := 1.14
Factor of Safety phi ϕ := 0.9
moment diagrams
Solution:
1) Determining the plastic moment and the elastic moment

ΦM p := ϕ Zx ⋅ Fy ΦM p = 378.75⋅ k' ΦM r := ϕ⋅ 0.7Sx ⋅ Fy ΦM r = 233.36⋅ k'

Check Local buckling, OK per table 3-2, (pg 325)

2) Calculating the Limit State lengths

2
E E J  .7⋅ Fy Sx⋅ h 0 
Lp := 1.76⋅ ry Lp = 5.83⋅ ft Lr := 1.95⋅ rts⋅ ⋅ ⋅ 1 + 1 + 6.76  ⋅ L = 16.95 ⋅ ft
Fy .7⋅ Fy Sx ⋅ h 0  E J  r

OR the above values of Lp and Lr can be obtained from table 3-2 (pg 325)

3) Calculating the Nominal Moment

Since Lb>Lr we need to apply the formulae F2-3 and F2-4

2 2
Cb⋅ π ⋅ E J  Lb 
Fcr := ⋅ 1 + 0.078 ⋅ ⋅ Fcr = 30.76 ⋅ ksi ΦM n := ϕ Fcr⋅ Sx ΦM n = 205.1 ⋅ k'
2 Sx ⋅ h 0 rts
 Lb   

 rts 
4) Calculating the maximum Uniformly Distributed load possible based on Moment capacity:
8 ⋅ ΦM n kip
wmax := wmax = 4.1⋅
2 ft
Lb

OR we could go to charts, p 3-129 at Lb=20ft, read up to W18x50, find ΦMn at Cb=1 that gives us 180k', multiply 180 by 1.14 which
gives us 205k', and then use the formula in step 4 to determine that the maximum happens to be 4.1 kips per foot! Note that
W18x50 is given in a dotted line that indicates that the section is not compact.
Beam subjected to LTB By M. Engelhardt

Problem Statement:
Determine the largest value of uniformly distributed load that can be
applied on the W-shape (W18x50). Assume shear is OK.Use A992
steel. Length is 20 ft with lateral supports at ends and midpoint
Unbraced Length: Lb := 10ft
3
Section modulus: Sx := 88.9in
3
Plastic modulus: Zx := 101in
4
Moment of Inertia on yy Iyy := 40.1in
radius of gyration y ry := 1.65in
effective radius of gyration rts := 1.98in
Dist flange centroids h 0 := 17.4in
6
Warping constant Cw := 3040in
4
Torsional constant J := 1.24in
Young's Modulus of Elasticity E := 29000ksi
Yield Stress: Fy := 50ksi
Ultimate Strength: Fu := 65ksi
LTB factor for non-uniform Cb := 1.3
Factor of Safety Φ ϕ := 0.9
moment diagrams
Solution:
1) Determining the plastic and elastic moments
M p := Zx ⋅ Fy M p = 420.83⋅ k' M y := Sx ⋅ Fy M y = 370.42⋅ k' Elast_fail_Mom := M y Elast_fail_Mom = 370.42⋅ k'

2) Calculating the Limit State lengths

2
E E J  .7⋅ Fy Sx⋅ h 0 
Lp := 1.76⋅ ry Lp = 5.83⋅ ft Lr := 1.95⋅ rts⋅ ⋅ ⋅ 1 + 1 + 6.76  ⋅ L = 16.95 ⋅ ft
Fy .7⋅ Fy Sx ⋅ h 0  E J  r

OR the above values of Lp and Lr can be obtained from table 3-2 (p 325)

3) Calculating the Nominal Moment

Since Lb<Lr we need to apply the formula F2-2
  Lb − Lp    Lb − Lp 
(
ΦM n = ϕ Cb ⋅ M p − M p − 0.7M y  )
Lr − Lp
 ... (
ϕ Cb ⋅ M p − M p − 0.7M y ) L  = 421.451 ⋅ k' BUT
     r − Lp 

   Lb − Lp    Lb − Lp  
(
ΦM n := if ϕ Cb ⋅ M p − M p − 0.7M y ) L  ≤ .9⋅ M p , ϕ Cb ⋅ M p − ( M p − 0.7M y )   , ϕ⋅ M p
   r − Lp    Lr − Lp   ΦM n = 378.75⋅ k'
Check Local buckling, OK per table 3-2
4) Calculating the maximum Uniformly Distributed load possible based on Moment capacity:
8 ⋅ ΦM n kip
wmax := wmax = 7.58⋅ Note that we used 2Lb because the total length of the beam is
ft
( )
2 actually twice the length of the unbraced sections!
2 ⋅ Lb ΦM p := .9⋅ M p ΦM p = 378.75⋅ k'

OR we could go to charts, p 3-124 at Lb=10ft, read up to W18x50, find PhiMn at Cb=1 that gives us 324k', multiply 324 by 1.3 which
gives us 421k'. That is already larger thatn 0.9 Mp, so 0.9Mp governs at 379 k'... and then use the formula in step 4 to determine that
the maximum happens to be 7.58 kips per foot!