The Steel Solutions Center is your gateway to powerful tools, facts and project solutions.

Clean Columns V3.1

Least weight is not least cost.
Least weight is not least cost.
Least weight is not least cost.
AISC has been saying this for years. Now we'd like to show you.
Talk to your favorite fabricator, or consult chapter 3 of Design Guide 13 for more
information on the cost of stiffener and doubler plates.
This spreadsheet has been prepared by AISC Marketing in accordance with recognized engineering
principles and information made available to AISC at the time of its preparation. While it is believed to be
accurate, it has not been prepared for conventional use as an engineering or construction document and
should not be used or relied upon for any specific application without competent professional
examination and verification of its accuracy, suitability and applicability by a licensed engineer, architect
or other professional. AISC disclaims any liability arising from the unauthorized use of the information
contained in this spreadsheet.
M
u
P
uc
V
us
P
ub
M
u
P
ub
Beam/Girder
P
uc
V
us
Column
Column Panel-Zone
Location of Doubler
Plates, if Required
Transverse Stiffeners,
if Required
Clean Columns calculates the
lightest column section
required to eliminate stiffener
and doubler plates.
Enter Now
tools steel
Comments? Questions? Visit us online at www.aisc.org/ASKAISC or
contact us at solutions@aisc.org or toll free at 866.ASK.AISC
Visit www.aisc.org/steeltools for our continuously
expanding Steel Tools library.
Project: Sample Project 3/20/2013
Client:
Client
Engineer: Senior Engineer
Remarks:
Remarks on this connection evaluation
1) Verify the Following Assumptions:
The effects of composite floor construction are not included in analysis
Panel-zones remain nominally in the elastic range
N = beam flange thickness (w = 0, ie. no reinforcing fillet weld included)
2) Provide the Following Parameters:
50 ksi Column Specified Minimum Yield Strength
50 ksi Beam Specified Minimum Yield Strength
45 kips Factored Column Story Shear
1200 kips Factored Column Axial Load
5 kips Factored Beam Axial Load
80%
3) Select a Beam using the pulldown menus below: 4) Choose a Connection Configuration:
Nominal Depth W24 Beam Connected on One Side Only
Beam Section W24x55
* Group 4 or 5 Shape
6) Beam Properties 5) Verify the Connection Location:
503 kip-ft Plastic Moment Strength Beams are not Connected Near the Top of the Column
402 kip-ft Factored Beam End Moment
212 kips Factored Flange Force 3.0 in
167 kips Factored Total Panel-Zone Shear Force
7) Column Design Results:
Lightest Lightest Lightest Lightest Lightest
W10 W12 W14 W16 W18
W10x77 W12x96 W14x120 W16x89 W18x97
-- W12x120 W14x132 -- W18x106
-- W12x120 W14x132 -- W18x106
Clean Columns V3.1 was developed to return the lightest column section which can be used without stiffeners and/or doubler plates to develop a
specified percentage of a selected beam's plastic moment capacity, based on the criteria in AISC Design Guide Series #13. The design of the column
for axial load capacity is not considered.
Wind or low seismic applications (Structure is designed to meet the
requirements in the LRFD Specification with no special seismic
detailing)
d
m
= d - t
f
(used to convert the beam moment into flange forces)
Welded flange or flange plate connections only. May be overly
conservative for end-plate moment connections
F
yc
=
F
yb
=
V
us
=
P
uc
=
P
ub
=
M
u
= of M
p
Factored Bending Moment in Beams as a
percentage of the Beam's Plastic Moment Strength
M
p
=
M
u
=
P
uf
=
V
u
=
No Stiffener
Plates Required
No Doubler Plates
Required
No Stiffener
Plates or Doubler
Plates Required
Keep in mind that columns larger than W14x426* may not
be produced domestically.
This spreadsheet has been prepared in accordance with recognized engineering principles and information made available to AISC at the time of its preparation. While
it is believed to be accurate, it has not been prepared for conventional use as an engineering or construction document and should not be used or relied upon for any
specific application without competent professional examination and verification of its accuracy, suitability and applicability by a licensed engineer, architect or other
professional. AISC disclaims any liability arising from the unauthorized use of the information contained in this document.
of the beam(s),d
top
=
Distance from the column end to the top flange
in
M
u
P
uc
V
us
P
ub
M
u
P
ub
Beam/Girder
P
uc
V
us
Column
Column Panel-Zone
Location of Doubler
Plates, if Required
Transverse Stiffeners,
if Required
M
u
P
uc
V
us
P
ub
Beam/Girder
P
uc
V
us
Column
Column Panel-Zone
Location of Doubler
Plates, if Required
Transverse Stiffeners,
if Required
M
u
P
ub
M
u
P
ub
Beam/Girder
P
uc
V
us
Top of Column
Column Panel-Zone
Location of Doubler
Plates, if Required
Transverse Stiffeners,
if Required
d
top
M
u
P
ub
Beam/Girder
P
uc
V
us
Top of Column
Column Panel-Zone
Location of Doubler
Plates, if Required
Transverse Stiffeners,
if Required
d
top
www.aisc.org
Project: Sample Project 3/20/2013
Client:
Client
Engineer: Senior Engineer
Remarks:
Remarks on this connection evaluation
Clean Column Design Calculations for a W14x398* Column
I) Force Transfer in Unreinforced Columns
A) Required Strength for Local Flange and Web Limit States
402 kip*ft Factored Beam End Moment
5 kips Factored Beam Axial Load
d = 23.57 in Beam Depth
0.51 in Beam Flange Thickness
23.07 in Moment Arm between Flange Forces
212 kips Factored Beam Flange Force
(tension or compression)
B) Required Strength for Panel-Zone Shear
Moment Connected Beam on One Side Only
45 kips Factored Column Story Shear
167 kips Factored Total Panel Zone Shear Force
For a column with only one moment connected beam
For a column with two moment connected beams
Design Check for Column Section: W14x398*
50 ksi Column Minimum Specified Steel Yield Strength
DNA Distance from the column end to the top flange of the beam(s)
A) Panel-Zone Shear Strength
1200 kips Factored Column Axial Load
18.29 in Column Depth
1.77 in Column web thickness
A = 117.0 Column Area
5850 kips Column Yield Strength
874 kips Panel-Zone Shear Design Strength
B) Local Flange Buckling
2.85 in Column Flange Thickness
1.0 =
= 1.0 otherwise
2276 kips Local Flange Bending Design Strength
Design for a W24x55 Beam with 80% of the Nominal Plastic Moment
Strength (503 kip-ft) Transferred to the Column
M
u
=
P
ub
=
t
f
=
d
m
=
P
uf
=
V
us
=
V
u
=
II) Design Strength of an Unreinforced Column
F
y
=
d
top
=
For Calculation Purposes, the behavior of the panel zone remains
nominally within the elastic range.
P
uc
=
d
c
=
t
w
=
in
2
P
y
=
R
v
=
t
f
=
C
t
= 0.5 if the distance from the end of the column to the closer face of the
beam tension flange is less than 10t
f
R
n
=
2
P
d
M
P
b u
m
u
uf
t
f m
t d d
us uf u
V P 2 V
us uf u
V P V
y u
0.4P P For

,
_

y
u
w c y v
P
P
1.4 t d 0.9x0.6F R
w c y v
t d 0.9x0.6F R
y
P 4 . 0 P For
u
>
A F P
y y

t y
2
f n
xC F 0.9x6.25t R
dm
tf /2
Puf (Tension)
Puf (Compression)
Mu
Pub
Puf
Puf
Vus
Vu
Puf
Puf
Vus
Figure 1. Exterior Column
FIgure 2. Beam Flange Forces
Figure 3. Panel-Zone Shear
Mu
Puc
Vus
Pub
Mu
Pub
Beam/Girder
Puc
Vus
Column
Column Panel-Zone
Location of Doubler
Plates, if Required
Transverse Stiffeners,
if Required
Mu
Puc
Vus
Pub
Beam/Girder
Puc
Vus
Column
Column Panel-Zone
Location of Doubler
Plates, if Required
Transverse Stiffeners,
if Required
Mu
Pub
Mu
Pub
Beam/Girder
Puc
Vus
Top of Column
Column Panel-Zone
Location of Doubler
Plates, if Required
Transverse Stiffeners,
if Required
dtop
Mu
Pub
Beam/Girder
Puc
Vus
Top of Column
Column Panel-Zone
Location of Doubler
Plates, if Required
Transverse Stiffeners,
if Required
dtop
C) Local Web Yielding
For calculations purposes, no fillet weld or groove weld reinforcement was used.
N = 0.51 in Beam or flange plate thickness
1.77 in Column Web Thickness
18.29 in Column Depth
1.0 =
= 1.0 otherwise
k = 3.50 in
1593 kips Local Web Yielding Design Strength
D) Web Crippling
For calculations purposes, no fillet weld or groove weld reinforcement was used.
N = 0.51 in Beam or flange plate thickness (w=0 because no reinforcing welds are present)
1.77 in Column Web Thickness
18.29 in Column Depth
2.85 in Column Flange Thickness
1.0 =
= 1.0 otherwise
0.08 =
2959 kips Web Crippling Design Strength
E) Compression Buckling of the Web
Buckling is checked for a single compressive force applied at the column flange.
1.77 in Column Web Thickness
18.29 in Column Depth
k = 3.50 in
1.0 =
= 1.0 otherwise
h = 11.29 in Zone of column web subject to compression buckling (out-of-plane)
12816 kips Compression Buckling Design Strength
W14x398*
167 kips 874 kips
No Doubler Plates are Required. 19% of Column Capacity
2276 kips
1593 kips
Web Crippling Design Strength =
2959 kips
12816 kips
212 kips 1593 kips
No Stiffener Plates are Required. 13% of Column Capacity
t
w
=
d
c
=
C
t
= 0.5 if the distance from the end of the column to the closer face of the
beam tension flange is less than d
c
Distance from the outside face of column flange to the web toe
of the flange-to-web fillet
R
n
=
t
w
=
d
c
=
t
f
=
C
t
= 0.5 if the distance from the end of the column to the closer face of the
beam tension flange is less than d
c
/2
N
d
= 3N/d
c
if the distance from the column end to the closer face of the beam
tension flange is either: (1) greater than or equal to d
c
/2; or, (2) less than
d
c
/2 and N/d
c
is less than or equal to 0.2.
R
n
=
t
w
=
d
c
=
Distance from the outside face of column flange to the web toe
of the flange-to-web fillet
C
t
= 0.5 if the distance from the end of the column to the closer face of the
beam tension flange is less than d
c
/2
R
n
=
III) Column Design Summary:
A) Doubler Plates Required if V
u
> R
v
Factored Total Panel Zone
Shear Force, V
u
=
Panel-Zone Shear Strength,
R
v
=
B) Stiffener Plates are Required if P
uf
> R
n
Local Flange Bending Design
Strength =
Local Web Yielding Design
Strength =
Compression Buckling Design
Strength =
Factored Beam Flange Force,
P
uf
= R
n
=
{ }
w y t n
t F N (5k) C 0 1 R x x . +
otherwise 0.2
d
4N
c

,
_

w
f y
1.5
f
w
d
2
w t n
t
t F
t
t
N 1 t 135C 0.75 R

'

,
_

+ x
2k d h
c

h
F t 4100C
0.90 R
y
3
w t
n
x
W N
Reinforcing
Fillet Weld
Figure 4. Illustration of parameters N
and W
Designation A d h k PZ Shear Str. LFB LWY WC CBW Py
in. in. in. in. kips kips kips kips
W18x311* 91.5 22.32 15.45 1.52 2.74 3 7/16 916 2112 1345 2283 5933 1345 916 916 4575
W18x283* 83.2 21.85 15.48 1.4 2.5 3 3/16 826 1758 1151 1930 4627 1151 826 826 4160
W18x258* 75.9 21.46 15.46 1.28 2.3 3 742 1488 992 1618 3539 992 742 742 3795
W18x234* 68.8 21.06 15.56 1.16 2.11 2 3/ 4 660 1252 827 1337 2617 827 660 660 3440
W18x211* 62.1 20.67 15.55 1.06 1.91 2 9/16 592 1026 706 1113 1999 706 592 592 3105
W18x192 56.4 20.35 15.48 0.96 1.75 2 7/16 514 861 609 918 1492 609 514 514 2820
W18x175 51.3 20.04 15.54 0.89 1.59 2 1/ 4 449 711 523 782 1184 523 449 449 2565
W18x158 46.3 19.72 15.47 0.81 1.44 2 1/ 8 380 583 451 647 896 451 380 380 2315
W18x143 42.1 19.49 15.49 0.73 1.32 2 319 490 383 529 655 383 319 319 2105
W18x130 38.2 19.25 15.50 0.67 1.2 1 7/ 8 269 405 331 444 506 331 269 269 1910
W18x119 35.1 18.97 15.47 0.66 1.06 1 3/ 4 240 316 303 406 474 303 240 240 1755
W18x106 31.1 18.73 15.48 0.59 0.94 1 5/ 8 187 249 255 327 346 249 187 187 1555
W18x97 28.5 18.59 15.47 0.54 0.87 1 9/16 150 213 222 272 258 213 150 150 1425
W18x86 25.3 18.39 15.52 0.48 0.77 1 7/16 108 167 185 217 186 167 108 108 1265
W18x76 22.3 18.21 15.46 0.43 0.68 1 3/ 8 68 130 157 170 130 130 68 68 1115
W18x71 20.8 18.47 15.47 0.5 0.81 1 1/ 2 61 185 198 233 205 185 61 61 1040
W18x65 19.1 18.35 15.48 0.45 0.75 1 7/16 32 158 173 194 154 154 32 32 955
W18x60 17.6 18.24 15.49 0.42 0.7 1 3/ 8 7 136 153 166 120 120 7 7 880
W18x55 16.2 18.11 15.49 0.39 0.63 1 5/16 -16 112 138 144 100 100 -16 -16 810
W18x50 14.7 17.99 15.49 0.36 0.57 1 1/ 4 -40 91 120 119 75 75 -40 -40 735
W18x46 13.5 18.06 15.56 0.36 0.61 1 1/ 4 -66 103 122 125 78 78 -66 -66 675
W18x40 11.8 17.9 15.53 0.32 0.53 1 3/16 -97 78 101 95 53 53 -97 -97 590
W18x35 10.3 17.7 15.45 0.3 0.43 1 1/ 8 -133 51 92 81 46 46 -133 -133 515
t
w
t
f
R
n
R
n
R
n
in
2 R
v
(kips) R
n
(kips) R
n
(kips) R
n
(kips) R
n
(kips)