A Beginners Guide to the Steel Construction Manual last modified: 26 July 2008

Example Problem 9.1 by: TBQ

Given: An I-shaped section is to be used as a beam-column to support an axial load that consists of 300 kips dead load, 200
An I-shaped section is to be used as a beam-column to support an axial load that consists of 300 kips dead load, 20
kips live load, and 400 kips wind load plus a transverse point load in the strong plane that consists of 150 kips wind lo
kips live load, and 400 kips wind load plus a transverse point load in the strong plane that consists of 150 kips wind
applied at mid span. The beam-column has an overall length 27 ft. The member part of a braced frame and has pin
applied at mid span. The beam-column has an overall length 27 ft. The member part of a braced frame and has pi
ends in both principle directions. The weak direction has lateral support at third points. Use LRFD.
ends in both principle directions. The weak direction has lateral support at third points. Use LRFD.

D L W
Length 27 ft (k) (k) (k)
Steel A992 Axial 300 200 400 P
Transverse 0 0 150 Q

Wanted:
Find the lightest I-shaped section that can support the given loads with the specified support conditions.
Find the lightest I-shaped section that can support the given loads with the specified support conditions.

Solution:

Section W40X199 H1-1 Result 0.944

Fy 50 ksi
sqrt(E/Fy) 24.08

Section Properties Load Combinations

d 38.7 in
Ag 58.5 in2 Axial Force
tf 1.07 in Dead Live Wind P
tw 0.65 in 300.0 200.0 400 (k)
bf/2tf 7.39 LRFD LC-2 1.2 1.6 0 680.0
h/tw 52.6 LRFD LC-3 1.2 0 0.8 680.0
Zx 869 in 3
LRFD LC-4 1.2 0.5 1.6 1100.0
Ix 14900 in 4

Sx 770 in3 Transverse Force

rx 16 in Dead Live Wind Q
ry 3.45 in 0.0 0.0 150.0 (k)
Iy 695 in4 LRFD LC-2 1.2 1.6 0 0.0
Sy 88.2 in3 LRFD LC-3 1.2 0 0.8 120.0
Zy 137 in3 LRFD LC-4 1.2 0.5 1.6 240.0
J 18.3 in4
Cw 246000 LRFD LC-4 will be the controlling load case.
rts 4.12 in
ho 37.63 in
c 1
kc 0.552

Compute Demand Including Second Order Effects Flexural Capacity

alpha 1 f 0.90
 Yielding: Mnx 3620.83 ft-k
Pnt 1100.0 k LTB: Mrx 2245.83 ft-k
Plt 0 k Lb 9.00 ft
Lx 27 ft Lp 12.19 ft
Kx(braced) 1 Lr 30.33 ft
Mnt 1620 ft-k Compute Cb
Mlt 0 ft-k On center laterally unsupported length
Pe1 40625 k MA 0.208 QL
use CM 1.000 MB 0.250 QL
Pr' 1100 k MC 0.208 QL
B1 1.03 Mmax 0.250 QL
Cb 1.087
Pr 1100.00 k Mnx 3620.83 ft-k
Mrx 1665.09 ft-k FLB: B4.1 c1 C
Mr 2245.83 ft-k
lp 9.15
lr 24.08
Mnx 3620.83 ft-k
Find the lightest I-shaped section that can support the gi web: B4.1 c9 C

controlling: Mnx 3620.83 ft-k

Mcx 3258.8 ft-k
Mr/Mc 0.511
of 300 kips dead load, 200
of 300 kips dead load, 200
onsists of 150 kips wind load
consists of 150 kips wind load
braced frame and has pinned
braced frame and has pinned
e LRFD.
se LRFD.

t conditions.
ort conditions.

Axial Capacity Combined Forces

f 0.9
 Kx 1 equation H1-1a
Ky 1 result 0.944
(KL/r)x 20.25
(KL/r)y 31.30
controlling KL/r 31.30
4.71*sqrt(E/Fy) 113.43
supported length Fe 292.07 ksi
flange: B4.1 c3 Not Slender
Qs 1
web: B4.1 c10 Slender
f 46.54 ksi
b 34.19 in
be 26.13 in
Aeff 53.3 in2
Qa 0.910
Q 0.910
4.71*sqrt(E/QFy) 118.88
Fcr 42.65 ksi
Pn 2494.75 k
Pc 2245.27 k
Pr/Pc 0.490
A Beginners Guide to the Steel Construction Manual last modified: 12 Nov 2007
Example Problem 9.2 by: TBQ

Given: The frame shown. The beams are subjected to a uniform load of 2 k/ft each. Lateral forces of 5k and 10k are applie
The frame shown. The beams are subjected to a uniform load of 2 k/ft each. Lateral forces of 5k and 10k are appli
at the 2nd floor and roof levels, respectively. The lateral loads are in the direction going from left to right. Out of the
at the 2nd floor and roof levels, respectively. The lateral loads are in the direction going from left to right. Out of the
the frame, all the columns are pinned at each end and are parts of braced frames. Use ASD.
the frame, all the columns are pinned at each end and are parts of braced frames. Use ASD.

Wanted:
Check the capacity of each of the column segments against combined bending and axial force criteria.
Check the capacity of each of the column segments against combined bending and axial force criteria.

Solution:

Analysis Cases:

Steel A992
Fy 50 ksi
sqrt(E/Fy) 24.08
Columns: Grids A & B Beams: 2nd Floor & Roof
Section W14x48 Section W24x84

Section Properties Section Properties

d 13.8 in Ix 2370 in^4
Ag 14.1 in2
tf 0.595 in
bf/2tf 6.75
h/tw 33.6
Zx 78.4 in3
Ix 484 in4
Sx 70.2 in3
rx 5.85 in
ry 1.91 in
Iy 51.4 in4
Sy 12.8 in3
Zy 19.6 in3
J 1.45 in4
Cw 2240
rts 2.20 in
ho 13.205 in
c 1
kc 0.690

In the plane of the frame:

alpha 1.6

Column A1 Column B1 Column A2

Grid A B A
Level 1 1 2
Strong Axis bending in plane Weak Axis bending in plane Strong Axis bending in

The forces are taken from an indeterminate analysis performed with SAP 2000, student version
Mnt(t) -24.81 ft-k Mnt(t) -3.31 ft-k Mnt(t)
Mnt(b) -10.05 ft-k Mnt(b) 0 ft-k Mnt(b)
Pnt(t) 45.03 k Pnt(t) 39.63 k Pnt(t)
Pnt(b) 45.41 k Pnt(b) 40.11 k Pnt(b)
Mlt(t) 78.32 ft-k Mlt(t) 7.79 ft-k Mlt(t)
Mlt(b) 95.44 ft-k Mlt(b) 0 ft-k Mlt(b)
Plt(t) -5.93 k Plt(t) 10.93 k Plt(t)
Plt(b) -5.98 k Plt(b) 10.93 k Plt(b)

Length 10 ft Length 10 ft Length

Gtop 0.817 Gtop 0.0868 Gtop
Gbtm 1 Gbtm 10 Gbtm
K1: Kx(braced) 0.76 Ky(braced) 0.65 Kx(braced)
K2: Kx(unbraced) 1.28 Ky(unbraced) 1.16 Kx(unbraced)
r 5.85 in r 1.91 in r
Pe1 16655 k Pe1 2418 k Pe1
Pe2 5872 k Pe2 759 k Pe2

M1 -10.05 ft-k M1 0 ft-k M1

M2 -24.81 ft-k M2 -3.31 ft-k M2
CM 0.438 CM 0.600 CM
use CM 0.438 use CM 0.600 use CM
Pr' 39.430 k Pr' 51.040 k Pr'
B1 1.00 B1 1.00 B1

S(Pnt) 84.66 k
S(Pe2) 6631 k
B2 1.021 <--- level (not single column) dependent

at bottom of column: at top of column: at bottom of column:

Pr 39.31 k Pr 50.79 k Pr
Mrx 87.38 ft-k Mry 4.64 ft-k Mrx

Flexure W 1.67 Flexure W 1.67 Flexure W

Yielding: Mnx 326.67 ft-k Yielding Mny 81.67 ft-k Yielding: Mnx
LTB: Mrx 204.75 ft-k FLB: B4.1 c1 C LTB: Mrx
Lb 10.00 ft Mr 37.33 ft-k Lb
Lp 6.75 ft lp 9.15 Lp
Lr 21.88 ft lr 24.08 Lr
Cb 1.000 Mny 88.80 ft-k Cb
Mnx 300.46 ft-k web: N/A Mnx
FLB: B4.1 c1 C controlling: Mny 81.67 ft-k FLB: B4.1 c1
Mr 204.75 ft-k Mcy 48.90 ft-k Mr
lp 9.15 Mr/Mc 0.095 lp
lr 24.08 lr
Mnx 326.67 ft-k Mnx
web: B4.1 c9 C web: B4.1 c9

controlling: Mnx 300.46 ft-k controlling: Mnx

Mcx 179.9 ft-k Mcx
Mr/Mc 0.486 Mr/Mc

Axial W 1.67 Axial W 1.67 Axial W

flange: B4.1 c3 Not Slender flange: B4.1 c3 Not Slender flange: B4.1 c3
web: B4.1 c10 Not Slender web: B4.1 c10 Not Slender web: B4.1 c10
Kx 1.28 Kx 1 Kx
Ky 1 Ky 1.16 Ky
(KL/r)x 26.26 (KL/r)x 20.51 (KL/r)x
 (KL/r)y 62.83 (KL/r)y 72.88 (KL/r)y
controlling KL/r 62.83 Controlling 72.88 controlling KL/r
4.71*sqrt(E/Fy) 113.43 4.71*sqrt(E/Fy) 113.43 4.71*sqrt(E/Fy)
Fe 72.51 ksi Fe 53.89 ksi Fe
Fcr 37.47 ksi Fcr 33.91 ksi Fcr
Pn 528.26 k Pn 478.11 k Pn
Pc 316.32 k Pc 286.3 k Pc
Pr/Pc 0.124 Pr/Pc 0.177 Pr/Pc

Combined equation H1-1b Combined equation H1-1b Combined equation

result 0.548 result 0.184 result

Conclusion: Both columns are over sized for this application.

of 5k and 10k are applied at grid A
of 5k and 10k are applied at grid A
left to right. Out of the plane of
m left to right. Out of the plane of
D.

e criteria.
rce criteria.
Column A2 Column B2
B
2
Strong Axis bending in plane Weak Axis bending in plane

0 ft-k Mnt(t) 0 ft-k

-20.41 ft-k Mnt(b) 3.31 ft-k
20.84 k Pnt(t) 20.25 k
21.32 k Pnt(b) 20.73 k
0 ft-k Mlt(t) 0 ft-k
-14.75 ft-k Mlt(b) 1.8 ft-k
0 k Plt(t) 7.27 k
0 k Plt(b) 7.26 k

10 ft Length 10 ft
0.408 Gtop 0.0434
0.817 Gbtm 0.0868
 0.7 Ky(braced) 0.53
1.2 Ky(unbraced) 1.01
5.85 in r 1.91 in
19633 k Pe1 3637 k
6681 k Pe2 1002 k

0 ft-k M1 0 ft-k
-20.41 ft-k M2 3.31 ft-k
0.600 CM 0.600
0.600 use CM 0.600
21.320 k Pr' 27.990 k
1.00 B1 1.00

S(Pnt) 41.09 k
S(Pe2) 7682 k
B2 1.000 <--- level (not single column) dependent

at bottom of column: at bottom of column:

21.32 k Pr 27.99 k
-35.16 ft-k Mry 5.11 ft-k

1.67 Flexure W 1.67

326.67 ft-k Yielding Mny 0.00 ft-k
204.75 ft-k FLB: B4.1 c1 C
10.00 ft Mr 37.33 ft-k
14.01 ft lp 9.15
21.88 ft lr 24.08
1.000 Mny -6.00 ft-k
326.67 ft-k web: N/A
C controlling: Mny -6.00 ft-k
204.75 ft-k Mcy -3.60 ft-k
9.15 Mr/Mc 0.104
24.08
326.67 ft-k
C

326.67 ft-k
195.6 ft-k
0.180

1.67 Axial W 1.67

Not Slender flange: B4.1 c3 Not Slender
Not Slender web: B4.1 c10 Not Slender
1.2 Kx 1
1 Ky 1.01
24.62 (KL/r)x 20.51
 62.83 (KL/r)y 63.46
62.83 Controlling 63.46
113.43 4.71*sqrt(E/Fy) 113.43
72.51 ksi Fe 71.08 ksi
37.47 ksi Fcr 37.25 ksi
528.26 k Pn 525.20 k
316.32 k Pc 314.5 k
0.067 Pr/Pc 0.089

H1-1b Combined equation H1-1b

0.213 result 0.149