BS EN 1992-1-1:2004

EN 1992-1-1:2004 (E)

(2) In cases with biaxial bending, the slenderness criterion may be checked separately for each
direction. Depending on the outcome of this check, second order effects (a) may be ignored in
both directions, (b) should be taken into account in one direction, or (c) should be taken into
account in both directions.

5.8.3.2 Slenderness and effective length of isolated members

(1) The slenderness ratio is defined as follows:

/L = 10 / i (5.14 )

where:
10 is the effective length, see 5.8.3.2 (2) to (7)
is the radius of gyration of the uncracked concrete section

(2) For a general definition of the effective length, see 5.8.1. Examples of effective length for
isolated members with constant cross section are given in Figure 5.7.
~ ~
, --------~----~------~------~------~------~------~

~ ~ .~ ~ ~ "' ~ gJ ~
a
l) b} e) d) e) If}

2 ."'t i., - r~:~: I :'

,. .:-' :.~,.? ." - ''''~ - ;' \.,
- ~/ \"A..

( ~~

\!o7 \
1 ".' ./. 1
\ \.

a) 10 =1 b)/o=21 c)/o=O,71 d)/o=112 e)/o=1 f) 112<10<1 9)10>21

Figure 5.7: Examples of different buckling modes and corresponding effective

lengths for isolated members

(3) For compression members in regular frames, the slenderness criterion (see 5.8.3 .1) should
be checked with an effective length 10 determined in the following way:

Braced members (see Figure 5.7 (f)):

10 = 0,5/· [1 + 0,45k1+ k1 J. (1 + 0,45k2+ k2 J

----=-- (5.15)

Unbraced members (see Figure 5.7 (g)):

10= I· max
{ k1 +k2 1+k1
k2J(
1+ 10· k1 . k2 ; [ .1+ -k1- . 1+----
1+k2
J} (5.16)

where:
k1 1 k2 are the relative flexibilities of rotational restraints at ends 1 and 2 respectively:
66
 BS EN 1992-1-1:2004
EN 1992-1-1:2004 (E)

k = (e/M)·(EI/I)
() is the rotation of restraining members for bending moment M;
see also Figure 5.7 (f) and (g)
EI is the bending stiffness of compression member, see also 5.8.3.2 (4) and (5)
1 is the clear height of compression member between end restraints
= =
Note: k 0 is the theoretical limit for rigid rotational restraint, and k 00 represents the limit for no restraint at
all. Since fully rigid restraint is rare in practise, a minimum value of 0,1 is recommended for k1 and k2 .

(4) If an adjacent compression member (colurnn) in a node is likely to contribute to the rotation
at buckling, then (EIII) in the definition of k should be replaced by [(EI/ l)a+(EI/ I)b], a and b
representing the compression member (column) above and below the node.

(5) In the definition of effective lengths, the stiffness of restraining members should include the
effect of cracking, unless they can be shown to be uncracked in ULS.

(6) For other cases than those in (2) and (3), e.g. members with varying normal force and/or
cross section, the criterion in 5.8.3.1 should be checked with an effective length based on the
buckling load (calculated e.g. by a numerical method):

(5.17)

where:
El is a representative bending stiffness
Ns is buckling load expressed in terms of this E1
(in Expression (5.14), i should also correspond to this E1)

(7) The restraining effect of transverse walls may be allowed for in the calculation of the
effective length of walls by the factor p given in 12.6.5.1. In Expression (12.9) and Table 12.1, Iw
is then substituted by 10 determined according to 5.8.3.2.

5.8.3.3 Global second order effects in buildings

(1) As an alternative to 5.8.2 (6), global second order effects in buildings may be ignored if

F < k .--=--- (5.18)

V,Ed - 1 ns + 1,6

where:
FV,Ed is the total vertical load (on braced and bracing members)
ns is the number of storeys
L is the total height of building above level of moment restraint
Ecd is the design value of the modulus of elasticity of concrete, see 5.8.6 (3)
Ie is the second moment of area (uncracked concrete section) of bracing member(s)
Note: The value of k1 for use in a Country may be found in its National Annex. The recommended value is
0,31.

Expression (5.18) is valid only if all the following conditions are met:
- torsional instability is not governing, i.e. structure is reasonably symmetrical
- global shear deformations are negligible (as in a bracing system mainly consisting of shear
walls without large openings)
- bracing members are rigidly fixed at the base, i.e. rotations are negligible
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