BS 5950 : 2000 : Part 1 :

Design of Building Steelwork

Compression Members

General Observations

The process is largely unchanged except:

for the treatment of slender sections.
Some requirements regarding the requirements
for restraints.
The definition of the Segment Length.

Segment Length
The segment length is defined as the length
of a compression member between points
which are restrained against buckling in that
plane.
A restraint should have sufficient strength
and stiffness to inhibit movement of the
restrained point either in position or in
direction as appropriate.

Requirements for restraints

Except for the flanges of lattice girders,
positional restraints should be able to resist
1% of the axial force in the member.
When bracing systems restrain more than
one member this force may be reduced by k r
where
kr = (0.2 + 1/Nr) 0.5

and Nr is the number of parallel members restrained.

Slenderness
Generally
= LE / r
where LE is the effective length of the member
as given in Table 22 for a variety of idealised
end conditions.

Effective length - 1
The behaviour of a pin-ended member has
been extensively researched both
analytically and experimentally and its
performance can be well predicted.
This has resulted in 4 column curves.
The design process is crucially dependant
upon the correct choice of effective length.

Effective length - 2
The EFFECTIVE LENGTH of a member
is that length which
IF it were pin ended
would behave as the real member with its
actual end constraints

Effective length - 3

Table 22 list Nominal Effective Lengths LE

for standard reference conditions i.e.
Non sway

or sway conditions.
Rotational restraint at ends:
Effective restraint
Partial restraint
Not restrained.

Special factors affecting LE

Any member carrying more than 90% of Mp is

deemed to be incapable of providing rotational
restraint.
The stiffness of the connections should be taken
into account as well as the stiffness of the
connected member.
For simple single storey frames use D1.
For columns supporting internal platforms use D2.
For continuous frames use annex E.

Compression resistance

For Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 sections

Pc = Ag pc
Ag is the gross cross-sectional area
pc is obtained from Table 24 using the appropriate
slenderness.

Compression resistance for class 4 sections

For Class 4 slender sections

Pc = Aeff pcs
where Aeff is the effective area
and pcs is from Table 24 using a slenderness of
( A eff / Ag ) and = LE / r with r based on the
gross cross-section.

Compression strength pc - 1

Strength affected by:

lack of straightness.
Severity of residual stresses.

Experimental programme has shown that:

Short columns can attain their full squash load.

More realistic to use four column curves.

Compressive strength pc - 2

pc is given in Table 24 which is actually

FOUR separate tables.

Each is based on the Ayrton-Perry equation but

with
(i) a plateau length such that for low values of
there is no reduction in strength.
(ii) different imperfection parameters as set out in
Annex C.

Plated I and H sections

B is the width of the wider element and
U is the width of the narrower element.
If 0.25 < U/B < 0.8 then I and H sections strut curve to be
used is unchanged.
If U/B 0.8 then
I sections use worse curve for xx axis but better for yy axis
H sections use same for xx axis but better for yy axis.
If U/B 0.25 then
I sections use worse curve for xx axis and yy axis
H sections use same curve for xx axis and yy axis.

Notes for Table 23

1. Jumbo sections. For 40mm < t < 50mm
pc can be averaged for t<40mm and t>40mm.
2. Welded I and H sections. If flanges are flame
cut without grinding or machining
for y-y axis buckling can use (b) instead of (c)
for x-x axis buckling can use (c) instead of (d).
3. Welded box section means any box provided
that welds are near the corners of cross-section.

Summary
1. Identify system length L.
2. Determine effective length LE.
3. Evaluate slenderness as LE / r.
4. Select appropriate column curve using
Table 23.
5. Find pc using appropriate part of Table 24.
6. Compressive resistance Pc = Ag pc (or Aeffpcs)

Example 1
An 8.0 m long 152 x 152 x 30 UC in S 275 is
to be used as a simple prop with pinned ends
and will carry axial load only.
Determine its axial capacity.

Example 2
A 254 x 254 x 89 UC in S275 is 6.00m long
and is pinned at its ends in both planes. It
has
positional restraint located at mid-height
which prevents lateral movement parallel to
the flanges.
Determine its capacity.

Summary of differences in EC3

Resistances

Cross-sectional resistance
Buckling resistance

Ultimate strength at holes

divided by mo (1.05)
divided by m1 (1.05)
divided by m2 (1.05)

Shear Lag

Ignore if (i) for flanges c L0 / 20

(ii) for internal elements b L0 / 10

Otherwise use reduced effective values for b and c.

Summary of differences in EC3

Tension
Design resistance Nt . Rd

Nt . Rd gross area x fy / m0
nett area x 0,9 fu / m2

Summary of differences in EC3

Compression

Design resistance Nc . Rd is the smallest of :

(i) Npl . Rd = gross area x fy / m0
(ii) N0 . Rd = effective area x fy / m1
(i) Nb . Rd = A gross area x fy / m1
is a strength reduction factor pc = fY
depends on = buckling length / i