Lecture 33 Steel Columns & Compression Members

Similar to wood columns (or any column in general), steel columns are susceptible to buckling if not adequately laterally braced. The load-carrying capacity of compression members is inversely proportional to the slenderness ratio, which is defined as: Slenderness ratio =

kL < 200 r

where: k = modification factor based on column end conditions (see below)

L = unbraced length between lateral supports, inches r = radius of gyration I = A = from properties in textbook appendix

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A graph of the load-carrying capacity of a column vs. the slenderness ratio is shown below:

Column load capacity

kL r

Column Shapes The most efficient shape of a column section is square, circular or any symmetric shape such that one axis is not significantly weaker than another. Sections that are efficient as beams are NOT efficient as columns, and vice versa.

W12x65

W12x14

6 dia. pipe

C6x8.2 channel

HSS 6x6x

HSS 6x3x

Good column sections

Poor column sections

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Allowable Loads in Columns and Compression Members The allowable axial compressive load, Pallow, is determined as: Pallow = FaAg where: Pallow = allowable axial compressive load, kips Fa = allowable axial stress, KSI

(kL / r )2 F 1 2 y 2 C c = 3 5 3(kL / r ) (kL / r ) + 3 3 8C c 8C c

Cc =

2 2 E Fy

Fy = steel yield stress, KSI = 36 KSI for A36 steel = 50 KSI for A992 steel = 50 KSI for A572 steel = 46 KSI for A500 steel

If kL/r > Cc, then: 12 2 E Fa = 2 23(kL / r ) Ag = gross cross-sectional area of member, in2

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Example 1 GIVEN: A W10x45 column using A992 steel is laterally braced at 14-0 for both the X and Y axes. Use k = 1.0. REQUIRED: Determine the allowable axial compressive load, Pallow that can be applied to the column. Step 1 Determine the largest slenderness ratio kL/r: a) Check Weak Axis:

(1.0)(14' x12" / ft ) kL = 2.01in ry

= 83.6 b) Check Strong axis: Use this value

kL (1.0)(14' x12" / ft ) = rx 4.33in

= 38.8 Step 2 Determine Cc: Cc =

2 2 E Fy 2 2 (29000 KSI ) 50 KSI

= 107

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Step 3 Determine Fa: Since Cc > kL/r then:

Fa =

5 3(kL / r ) (kL / r ) + 3 3 8C c 8C c

(kL / r )2 F 1 2 y 2C c

(83.6)2 50 KSI 1 2(107) 2 = 3 5 3(83.6) (83.6) + 3 8(107) 8(107) 3

= 18.28 KSI Step 4 Determine Pallow: Pallow = FaAg = 18.28 KSI(13.3 in2) Pallow = 243 kips

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Allowable Axial Stress Tables: For convenience, the long calculations used to determine the allowable axial stress, Fa, have been summarized in the following tables (for Fy = 36 kL values: KSI and 50 KSI steels) based on MAXIMUM r

Fy = 36 KSI

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Fy = 50 KSI

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Example 2 GIVEN: The W10x45 A992 column from Example 1. REQUIRED: Using the allowable axial stress table, determine Pallow. Step 1 Determine Fa @ kL/r = 83.6 from table above (Fy = 50 KSI): Interpolating, Fa 18.30 KSI Step 2 Determine Pallow: Pallow = FaAg = 18.30 KSI(13.3 in2) Pallow = 243 kips (same answer as in Example 1) Example 3 GIVEN: The free-standing 6 diameter standard weight ASTM A501 (Fy = 36 KSI) steel column supports a sign weighing 9000 lbs. For simplicity, disregard col. wt. REQUIRED: Determine if the column is adequate to carry the load. Sign 15-0 Ground

Step 1 Determine the maximum kL/r: Since the pipe is symmetric about both axes, only need to check kL/r for either axes. From k table above, 1 since column is free-standing end conditions is type e use k = 2.10
kL (2.10)(15' x12" / ft ) = = 168 ry 2.25in

Step 2 Determine Fa @ kL/r = 168: From table above (Fy = 36 KSI) Fa = 5.29 KSI Step 3 Determine Pallow: Pallow = FaAg = 5.29 KSI(5.58 in2) = 29.5 kips Since Pallow = 29.5 kips > 9 kips column is acceptable
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Column Load Tables The simplest method of designing axially-loaded steel column is by use of the column load tables. Simply determine the effective length kL in terms of feet and select the column with a given allowable axial load that is greater than the actual load. The tables are based on buckling about the weak axis of the column section.

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Example 4 GIVEN: A column has an axial load of 200 kips and a kL = 14-0. REQUIRED: 1) Design the lightest weight wide flange column using A992 steel (Fy = 50 KSI). 2) Design the lightest weight standard weight steel pipe column using A501 steel (Fy = 36 KSI). Step 1 Design lightest wide-flange shape using Fy = 50 KSI: Using the column load tables above @ kL = 14-0: Possibilities: Column Designation: W8x40 W10x39 Pallow: 217 kips 207 kips Weight (lb. per foot): 40 39

The lightest wide flange = W10x39 Step 2 Design lightest standard weight pipe using Fy = 36 KSI: Using the column load tables above @ kL = 14-0: Possibilities: Column Designation: 10 Diameter 12 Diameter Pallow: 223 kips 282 kips Weight (lb. per foot): 40.48 49.56

The lightest pipe = 10 Diameter As can be seen in the example above, circular pipe columns have as much (or more) load-carrying capacity as an equal-weight Wide Flange shape of higher grade steel. Pipe columns are VERY EFFICIENT.

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Column Base Plate Bolting Requirements The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that a minimum of 4 anchor bolts be used to fasten column base plates to the concrete. This is in response to inadequate anchorage from the traditionally-used 2 anchor bolt requirement. For this requirement, W8, W6 and W4 wide flange shapes are very difficult to squeeze 4 anchor bolts and are therefore not recommended for columns anymore. Column axial load

Base plate acts like a footing spreading out the load to the concrete footing

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