STEEL BEAM DESIGN

The flow chart below can be used as a guide to design a steel beam
member.

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1.0

Initial Section Selection

Since bending is the critical mode of failure for most beam,

therefore bending theory is used for initial section selection.
To avoid bending failure:
Design moment < Moment capacity of section
M < Mc
(1)
where

Mc = pyS

(2)

py = design strength of steel

S = plastic modulus of section
Combine (1) and (2) give:
S > M/py
Select from steel tables for S greater than the calculated
value.

2.0

Classification of Section

The selected section is classified for the purpose of:

1. To identify if the section can sustain the formation of
plastic hinge thick flange and web.
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Thin flange and slender web usually fail by local buckling

before yield stress is achieved.
2. To know the moment capacity or the section moment of
resistance.

Clause 3.5.2 : Four classes of section.

Class 1 : Plastic cross sections. Plastic hinge can be developed
with significant rotation capacity(see graph below). If plastic
design method is used in structural analysis, this class must be
used.

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Class 2 : Compact. Full plastic moment capacity can be

developed, but local buckling may prevent the development of
plastic hinge with sufficient rotation capacity to permit plastic
design.
Class 3 : Semi-compact. Can develop elastic moment capacity
but local buckling prevent the development of full plastic
moment.
Class 4: Slender. Slender element subjected to compression due
to moment or axial load. Local buckling prevent full elastic
moment capacity to develop.

Limiting width to thickness ration for elements for the above

classes are given in Table 11, BS5950.

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Once the section has been classified, the various strength check
can be carried out to assess its suitability.
CONTOH
Semak kelas keratan 305 x 102 x 33 UB,py=275 N/mm2
Dari Jadual Keluli, B=102.4mm, T=10.8mm,t=6.6mm
d = (275.8 2x7.6) =260.6
b= 102.4/2 = 51.2mm
Dari jadual 7, BS5950
= (275/275)0.5 = 1
b/T = 51.3/10.8 = 4.8 < 9
d/t = 260.6/6.6 = 39.5 <80

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Berdasarkan jadual di atas keratan adalah plastik.

3.0

Strength Check:

Shear
Clause 4.2.3 : The shear force, Fv, should not exceed the shear
capacity, Pv

Where

Fv Pv

.(3)

Pv = 0.6 pyAv

..(4)

(Assuming that the web carries the shear force alone)

Av = shear area ( = tD for I, H and channel section)

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Clause 4.2.3: when buckling ratio (d/t) > 70 (see equation 4.4)
web should be additionally checked for shear buckling.
MOMENT CHECK
(1) Low shear and Moment Capacity
Clause 4.2.1.1 : At critical points the combination of
(i)
maximum moment and co-existent shear
(ii)
maximum shear and co-existent moment
should be checked.
If shear force Fv < 0.6Pv, this is called low shear load.
If 0.6Pv < Fv <Pv then this is called high shear load.
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For low shear load, the moment capacity of the section is

calculated using clause 4.2.5.2 :
For Class 1 Plastic or Class 2 compact, the moment capacity is:
Mc = py S 1.2 py Z .(5)
py - design strength of the steel
S - plastic modulus
Z - section modulus
Additional check i.e ( Mc 1.2pyZ) is to guard against plastic
deformation under serviceability loads and is applicable to
simply supported and cantilever beams. Other beam the limit
is 1.5pyZ.
For class 3 Semi-compact:
Or

Mc = py Z . (6)
Mc = pySeff 1.2pyZ .(7)
Seff effective plastic modulus (clause 3.5.6)

For class 4 Slender,

Mc = pyZeff .(8)
Zeff - effective section modulus (clause 3.6.2)
Note: Nearly all sections in grade S275 steel are plastic, only a
few sections in higher strength are semi compact. No British
rolled UB section in pure bending are slender or plastic/compact
flanges and semi-compact webs]

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EXAMPLE 1
A simply supported UB steel beam of 10 m span support loads as shown
below. Assuming that the beam is laterally supported find the suitable UB
cross section that suits the shear and bending moment requirement.
5m

30 kN (imposed load)

5kN/m (dead load)

5 kN/m (imposed load)
10m
RA

RB

Answer:
1. Calculate the design shear and bending moment.
Total design load = (1.6 x 30) + (1.4 x 5 + 1.6x5)10
= 48
+ 15 x 10 = 198 kN
Due to symmetry,
RA = RB= 198/2 = 99 kN
Mid span moment, M = Wl/4 + wl2/8
= (48x10) + (15x102)
4
8
= 120 + 187.5 = 307.5 kNm

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2. Initial cross-section
Assume py = 275 N/mm2
Sx > M/py = 307.5 x 106/275 = 1.118 x 106 mm3 = 1118 cm3
From steel table, the following cross-section can be used:
1. 356 x 171 x 67 UB : Sx = 1210 cm3
2. 406 x 178 x 60 UB : Sx= 1200 cm3
3. 457 x 152 x 60 UB: Sx = 1290 cm3
Selection is based on economy or engineering consideration. If
lighter section is required that section no. 3 is chosen. If depth
consideration is important than section No. 1 is chosen.
Say we select section No. 2
406 x 178 x 60 UB : Sx= 1200 cm3

3. Classification
Strength classification: T = 12.8(<16mm) therefore py=275
N/mm2 (Table 9) dan = (275/py)1/2 = 1 (Table 11)
Section classification:
b/T = 6.95 < 9
plastic
d/t = 46.2 < 80
plastic

(Table 11)
(Table 11)

Therefore the section 406 x 178 x 60 (UB) is class 1 plastic.

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4. Shear Force
d/t = 46.2 <70 therefore check on shear buckling is not required.
(clause 4.2.3)

The capacity of section, Pv = 0.6pyA = 0.6 pytD

= 0.6 x 275 x 7.9 x 406.4
= 523 kN>99(Fv)
(Reaction), Fv (99kN) < 0.6Pv
= 0.6 x 523 = 314 kN
(Low shear case) Clause 4.2.5

5. Momen lentur
Since the condition is low shear,
Mc = py S = 275 x 1200 x 103
= 327 kNm
< 1.2pyZ
=1.2x275x1060x103 = 349.8 kNm OK
Design moment not including self weight = 307.5 kNm.
Bending moment due to self weight :
Msw = 1.4(60x9.81/103)102/8 = 10.3 kNm
Total moment (r/b) = 307.5 + 10.3 = 317.8 kNm < 327 kNm.
Therefore the section is suitable.
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(2) High Shear and Moment Capacity

Fv > 0.6Pv (high shear load), then the moment carrying
capacity of the section is reduced.
This is because the web cannot take the full tensile or
compressive stresses associated with bending moment as well as
a substantial shear stress due to shear load.
Clause 4.2.5.3: Moment capacity should be calculated using:
Class 1 plastic and compact:
Mc = py (S Sv)
Where, =[ 2(Fv/Pv 1]2
Sv = tD2/4 (plastic modulus of shear area)
Note: The effect of factor is to reduce the moment carrying
capacity of the web as the shear load rises from 50 to 100% of
the web shear capacity. However, the resulting moment
capacity is negligible when Fv < 0.6Pv.
EXAMPLE 2
A steel cantilever beam is encased in a concrete wall and is
subjected to the load shown. Choose a suitable UB that fulfill
the criteria for of moment and shear.
450 kN (total dead load)
270 kN (total imposed load)

1m
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A
Solution:
Design shear (Fv) = (1.4x450) + (1.6x270) = 1062 kN
Design momen at A = Wl/2 = 1062x1/2 = 531 kNm
Initial sizing:
Assume py=275 N/mm2
Sx > M/py = 531x106/275 = 1931 cm3
From Table of steel properties, the suitable size are:
1. 457x191x89 UB: Sx = 2010 cm3,.
2. 533 x 210 x 82 UB: Sx = 2060 cm3,
Classification of section shown that the section is plastic.
Shear strength :
Try section No.2, Pv = 0.6pytD = 0.6 x 275 x 9.6 x 528.3
= 837 kN < 1062 (Fv) kN not OK.
Try a new section where the shear strength is more critical
than the bending strength.
Try 610 x 229 x 113 UB:Sx=3290 cm3,py=265,plastic
Pv = 0.6 x 265 x 607.3 x 11.2
= 1081 kN > Fv O.K

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But,
Fv > 0.6x1081(Pv)=648.6 kN high shear Clause 4.2.6
Calculate Moment capacity from clause 4.2.5.3:
=[ 2(Fv/Pv 1]2 = {2(1062/1081) 1}2 =0.93
Mc = py(Sx -Sv )
= 265[3290x103 (11.2 x 607.32/4)0.93] =617 kNm
Moment from self weight: Mbk =1.4(113x9.81/103)12/2 = 0.8
kNm
Total moment, Mj =Mbk + M = 531 + 0.8 =532 kNm < Mc
Therefore the section is suitable

Deflection
Check for maximum deflection using combination of
unfactored imposed serviceability loading.
Clause 2.5.2 and Table 8 outlined recommended limits to these
deflections to avoid significant damage to the structure and
finishes. Standard formula or other method such as Areamoment, Macaulay etc can be used to calculate deflection.

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Standard formula:

CONTOH 3
Calculate the deflection of the beam in example 1 and 2.
From Example 1.
mak = 5wL4/384EI + WL3/48EI
= 5x5x104
+
30x103
384x205x106x21500x10-8
48x205x106x21500x10-8
= 0.0148 + 0.0142 = 0.029 m = 29 mm
From Table 4.5, the maximum allowable is span/360 = 10
000/360 = 27.8 mm for beam carrying plaster and brittle
finishing. It can been seen that the calculated deflection is
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bigger than the allowable deflection therefore deeper crosssection is recommended.

If other than the specified beam is used, the allowable
deflection is span/200.
= 10000/200 = 50 mm

which is OK.

From example 2,
mak = wL4/8EI =

270 x 14
8 x 205 x106x 87400 x10-8
= 0.00019 m = 0.19mm

From Table 4.5, the allowable deflection is span/180

= 1000/180 = 5.6mm
Deflection OK

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WEB BEARING AND WEB BUCKLING

Clause 4.5. The web bearing capacity and web buckling
resistance should be performed when unstiffened webs are
subjected to high concentration locals loads or reactions that
act through the web and flange of the beam.
Stiffeners should be provided if the strength of the
unstiffened web is not sufficient.
Web Bearing Resistance
Figure below shows how concentrated load transmitted
through the flange/web connection in the span, and at supports
when the distance to the end of the member from the end of the
stiff bearing is zero.

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Clause 4.5.2.1 gives the bearing resistance Pbw calculated at the

flange/web connection for unstiffened web as:
Pbw = (b1 + nk) tpyw
Where:
b1

stiff bearing length

Clause 4.5.1.3 (Fig 13) shows cases of stiff bearing length that
can be calculated using the formula given.
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n
be
k
T
t
pyw

as shown in Fig (a): n =5 except at the end of a

member and n = 2 + 0.6be/k 5 at the end of the
member.
Distance to the end of the member from the end of the
stiff bearing Fig (b).
= (T + r) from rolled I or H sections
thickness of the flange
web thickness
design strength of web

The formula is a simple check to ensure the stress at critical

point on flange/web connection is less than the strength of
steel.
Check also the contact stresses between load or support and
flange do not exceed py.

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Web buckling
Clause 4.5.3.1 : provided the distance e from the concentrated
load or reaction from the nearer end of the member is at least
0.7d, and if the flange through which the load or reaction is
applied is effectively restrained against both:
(a) rotation relative to the web
(b) lateral movement relative to the other flange (Fig
below)

the buckling resistance of an unstiffened web is given by:

Px = 25tPbw /(b1 + nk)d
Or if e < 0.7d, the buckling resistance of unstiffened web is
given by:
Px = (e + 0.7d).25t.Pbw/ 1.4d(b1 + nk)d
If the flange is not restrained against rotation and/or lateral
movement the buckling resistance of the web is reduced to:
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Pxr = 0.7d.Px/Le
Where Le is the effective length of the web determine using
Table 22.
Example:
Check web bearing and buckling for Example 1, assuming the
beam sits on stiff bearing length, b1 of 100 mm at each end.
(406x178x60, d = 360.4, r =10.2, T=12.8,t=7.9)
Ans:
Bearing capacity:
Pbw = (b1 + nk) tpyw
= (100 + 2 x 23) 7.8 x 275
= 313 kN > 99 kN

OK

where k = T + r = 12.8 + 10.2 = 23 mm

n = 2 + 0.6be/k = 2 (since be =0)
Contact Stress At Supports
Pcs = (b1 x 2(r + T))py = (100 x 46) x 275
= 1265 kN > 99 kN OK

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Web Buckling at Support

Since e (=50mm) < 0.7d = 0.7 x 360.5 = 252 mm, buckling
resistance of web is:
Px = (e + 0.7d).25t.Pbw/ 1.4d(b1 + nk)d
= (50 + 252) x 25 x 1 x 7.8 x 313
1.4 x 360.5 (100 + 2 x 23) 360.5
= 159 kN> 99 kN
OK
No web stiffners are required at supports.

Example
Compute the bearing capacity, Pbw and the buckling capacity,
Px of unstiffened web of a beam subjected to a concentrated
load of 200 kN as shown below. Assume steel grade of S275.

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Solutions:
For 305 x 127 UB 37,
t = 7.2 mm
T=10.7 mm
r = 8.9 mm (root radius)
For 686x 254 UB 170 section
t = 14.5 mm
T= 23.7 mm
r = 15.2 mm
d = 615 mm

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CHECK WEB BEARING

Bearing capacity for web, Pbw = (b1 + nk) tpyw
where b1 = t + 1.6r + 2T
(FIG. 13 for secondary beam)
= 7.2 + 1.6x8.9 + 2x10.7 = 42.8 mm
n=5

(except at end of member)

k = T + r = 23.7 + 15.2 = 38.9 mm

Pbw = (b1 + nk) tpyw
= (42.8 + 5x38.9)x14.5 x 275 x 10-6
= 946 kN > 200 kN OK
Buckling Capacity Check
Since e > 0.7d, use Px = 25tPbw /(b1 + nk)d
= 25 x 1 x 14.5 x 946 / (42.8 + 5x38.9)615
= 898 kN > 200 kN OK
No stiffeners is needed.

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Tutorial
Q1 The beam shown below is fully restrained along its length
and has a stiff bearing of 75 mm at the supports. The beam
supports a secondary beam at the centre of its length. The
characteristic loads acting on the beams are shown. Design
the beam using S275 steel. The secondary beam is supported
by a bearing plate which has 50 mm stiff bearing length on
the top flange of the beam.

Q2 The figure below shows a layout plan of a floor. The floor

slabs are of precast concrete. The characteristic loadings on
the floor are as follows:
Self weight
= 3.5 kN/m2
Floor finishing = 1.0 kN/m2
Imposed load = 3.0 kN/m2
Design beam 2/A-C using S275 steel assuming the beam is
fully restrained. The beam is supported by angles
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120x120x15 mm at both ends. The self-weight of the beam is

assumed as 0.7 kN/m.

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)

Assume a trial section.

Classify the section
Check the shear capacity at support
Check moment capacity

5wd L4 Wi a 2 b 2

384 EI
3EIL

(v)

Check deflection given:

(vi)

Check bearing and buckling at support.

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