Dept. of Civil & Urban Eng., iOTec-HU.

Hawassa University

Bending Members
The most frequently used structural element for bending is the beam. Beams which carry loads
from floors or other beams to the columns are generally called main beams. Secondary beams
will be provided to transfer load to the main beams, or in some cases just to give lateral stability
to columns, while themselves carrying only their self weight. The manner in which loads are
distributed from the floors on to the beams needs careful consideration so that each beam is
designed for a realistic proportion of the total load.

Figure 2.3.1 Load distribution excluding self weight

Beams can be laterally restrained. Concrete floor slabs and wall or roof cladding, are generally
able to give this lateral support or restraint. Timber floors and open steel floors are less certain in
providing restraint. Alternatively, lateral restraint may be provided by bracing members at
specific points along the beams.
Lateral torsional instability will be prevented if
Adequate bracing or floor slab restraint is present
The section has a high torsional stiffness, e.g. a rectangular hollow section.
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Structural Engineering IV (CEng 3312)
Chapter 5

Dept. of Civil & Urban Eng., iOTec-HU.

Hawassa University

An understanding of the behavior of struts will be useful in appreciation the behavior of beams
where full lateral restraint is not provided. The compression flange of such members will show a
tendency to fail by buckling sideways (laterally) in the most flexible plane. Design factors which
will influence the lateral stability can be summarized as:
The length of the member between adequate lateral restraints.
The shape of the cross-section.
The variation of moment along the beam.
The form of end restraint provided
The manner in which the load is applied, i.e. to tension or compression flange.
The buckling resistance (Mb) of a beam may be found by use of a number of parameters and
factors:
Effective length (Le), which allows for the effects of end restraint, as well as type of
beam, and the existence of destabilizing forces.
Minor axis slenderness () , which includes lateral stiffness in the form of iy, and is defined
by =

Le

iy .

Torsional index (), which is a measure of torsional stiffness of a cross-section.

Slenderness factor (), which allows for torsional stiffness and includes the ration of .
Slenderness correction factor (n), which is dependent on the moment variation along the
beam.
Buckling parameter (u), which allows for the section type and includes a factor for warping.
Equivalent slenderness (LT), which combines the above parameters and from which the
bending strength (Pb) may be derived:
LT = nu
In addition, an equivalent moment factor (m) is used which allows for the effect of moment
variation along the beam.

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Structural Engineering IV (CEng 3312)
Chapter 5

Dept. of Civil & Urban Eng., iOTec-HU.

Hawassa University

Resistance to Pure Bending

In the absence of shear force, the design value of the bending moment Msd at each crosssection shall satisfy:
M sd M c , Rd

For bending about one axis in the absence of shear force, the design moment resistance of a
cross-section without holes for fasteners may be determined as follows.
(a) Class 1 or 2 cross-sections:

M c , Rd

(b) Class 3 cross-sections:

M c , Rd

(c) Class 4 cross-sections:

M c , Rd

W pl f y

Mo

Wel f y

Mo
Weff f y

M1

Where:
Wpl = Plastic section modulus.
Wel = Elastic section modulus.
Weff = Effective section modulus.
Fastener holes in the tension flange need not be allowed for, provided that for the tension
flange:
0.9 A f ,net

Af

f
y
f

M2

M0

Where: Af = Area of flange

When A f ,net A f is less than the limit in above, a reduced flange area may be assumed which
satisfies the limit.
Fastener holes in the tension zone of the web need not be allowed for, provided that the limit
given in above is satisfied for the complete tension zone comprising the tension flange plus the
tension zone of the web.
Fastener holes in the compression zone of the cross-section need not be allowed for, except for
oversize and slotted holes.

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Structural Engineering IV (CEng 3312)
Chapter 5

Dept. of Civil & Urban Eng., iOTec-HU.

Hawassa University

Resistance to Shear
The design value of the shear force Vsd at each cross-section shall satisfy:
V sd V pl , Rd

Where:

V pl , Rd Av f y

3 M 0 - the design plastic shear resistance.

Av = the shear area.

Cross-section

Load direction

Rolled H sections

Parallel to web

Rolled channel sections

Parallel to web

Welded L, H, and box sections

Parallel to web

Welded L, H, channel and box sections

Parallel to flanges

Rolled RHS of uniform thickness

CHS and tubes of uniform thickness
Plates and solid bars

Shear area, Av
A 2bt f t w 2r t f
A 2bt f t w r t f

dt
A dt
w

Parallel to depth

Ah b h

Parallel to breadth
____
____

Ab b h

Where: A = cross-sectional area

2A

r = root radius

b = overall depth

tf = flange thickness

d = depth of the web

tw = web thickness

h = overall depth
Fastener holes need not be allowed for in shear verification provided that:
Av , net f y

f u Av

Where Av,net is less than this limit, an effective shear area of (fu/fy)Av,net may be assumed.

Resistance to Bending and Shear

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Structural Engineering IV (CEng 3312)
Chapter 5

Dept. of Civil & Urban Eng., iOTec-HU.

Hawassa University

When Vsd exceeds 50% of Vpl,Rd the design resistance moment of the cross-section should be
reduced to Mv,Rd the reduced design plastic resistance moment allowing for the shear force,
obtained as follows:
(a) For cross-sections with equal flanges, bending about the major axis:

Av2 f y
M v , Rd W pl

4t w M 0

but M v , Rd M c , Rd

where 2Vsd V pl , Rd 1

(b) For other cases Mv,Rd should be taken as the design plastic resistance moment of the crosssection, calculated using a reduced strength (1 - )fy fot the shear area, but not more than
Mc,Rd.
Appropriate value of Mc,Rd should be used for class 1, 2, 3 and 4 cross-sections.

Lateral Torsional Buckling

Beams are generally proportioned so that the moment of inertia about the major principal axis is
considerably larger than that about the miner principal axis. As a result, they are relatively weak
in resistance to torsion and bending about the minor axis, and if not laterally restrained, they may
become unstable under load. The instability manifests itself as a sidewise bending accompanied
by twist and is called lateral buckling or lateral torsional buckling.
The design buckling resistance moment:
M b , Rd LT wW pl , y f y M 1

where: w = 1.0 for class 1 and class 2 cross-sections.

w = Wel , y W pl , y for class 3 cross-section.

w = Weff , y W pl , y for class 4 cross-section.
and the value of LT is the reduction factor for lateral torsional buckling.

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Structural Engineering IV (CEng 3312)
Chapter 5

Dept. of Civil & Urban Eng., iOTec-HU.

LT

2
2
LT LT
LT

0 .5

Hawassa University

but LT 1

where : LT 0.51 LT LT 0.2 LT

LT = 0.21 (curve a) for rolled sections.

LT = 0.49 (curve c) for welded sections.
LT can be obtained from table 2.2.2 with LT and = LT.

LT wW pl , y f y M cr 0.5 LT 1 w 0.5

where:

1 E f y 0.5 93.9

and 235 f y

0.5

Mcr - the elastic critical moment for lateral-torsional buckling.

LT 2 EW pl , y M cr

0.5

For beams with doubly symmetric cross-sections and with end-moment loading and for
transverse loads applied at the shear center:
M cr

2 EI z
c1
kL 2

k

kw

kL 2 GI t
Iw

Iz
2 EI z

0.5

where: c1 is given in table 2.3.1

k = refers to end rotation on plan. Varies from 0.5 (full fixity) to 1.0 (no fixity).
kw = refers to end warping (kw = 1.0).
Iw = warping constant.
It = torsion constant.
G = shear modulus.

Iw

E
21

I z hs2

where poissons ratio.

for doubly symmetrical cross-sections

hs - distance between shear centers of the flanges.
hs = h - tf

It

Iw
2
a LT

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Structural Engineering IV (CEng 3312)
Chapter 5