Western Philippines University

College of Engineering and Technology

Civil Engineering Department
STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN
By Dr. Cesario A. Bacosa , Jr

Module 4. COMPRESSION MEMBERS

Compression members are prismatic members subject to loads which tend to squeeze or shorten the
member. Among the types of compression members are the columns, the top chords of trusses, bracing members,
the compression flanges of beams. There are two significant differences between tension and compression members.
These are:
1.
2.

Whereas tensile loads tend to hold a member straight compressive loads tend to bend them out of the
plane of the loads (buckling).
The presence of rivet/bolt holes in tension members reduces the area available for resisting the loads;
but in compression members the rivets/bolts are assumed to fill the holes and the entire gross area is
available for resisting load.

Types of Compression Members:

Single angle

Double angle

Tee

Rectangular
Tubing

Four angle
box section

2-channels
with lacing

channel

W shape

W shape

W and
Channels

Square
Tubing

Pipe

Built-up

Built-up

with cover PLs

NSCP Specifications
505.1.1. This section applies to prismatic members with compact and non-compact sections subject to axial
compression through the centroidal axis. For members with slender elements, see Section 502.6.2. From
members subject to combined axial compression and flexure, see Section 508. For tapered members, see
Section 506.8.
505.3.1 When

KL
Cc :
r

KL / r Fy
Fa 1

2Cc2 FS

where: FS
505.3.2

When

KL
Cc ,
r

(505-1)

5 3( KL / r ) ( KL / r )3

3
8Cc
8Cc3

Fa

Cc

12 2 E
23( KL / r ) 2

For E = 200,000 MPa, this gives,

2 2 E
Fy

(505-1a)
(505-2)

Fa

1.03x106
( KL / r ) 2

(505-2a)

where:
Fa = allowable compressive stress
Fy = yield strength of steel
K = effective length factor
L = unsupported length of member
r = radius of gyration about axis of buckling
KL/r = slenderness ratio
E = modulus of elasticity of steel (200,000 MPa)
502.8.1 Maximum slenderness ratio:
KL
200 all compression members
r
Other column formulas:
1. Straight-Line Formula
KL
KL
120 ,
Fa 110 0.483
when 30
MPa
r
r
KL
30 , Fa 110 MPa
when
r
2. Rankine-Gordon Formula:
KL
120
for main members: 60
r
KL
200
for secondary members: 60
r
124
MPa
Fa
( KL / r ) 2
1
18000
KL
60 , use Fa 103 MPa
when
r
3. Eulers Formula
P
EI 2
P c
FS = factor of safety
Pc
2
FS
KL
when

KL
100 ,
r

Pc
E 2

A ( KL / r )2

when

KL
100 ,
r

Pc
FPL
A

Effective Lengths for Main Members Only

(a)

Buckled shape of
column is shown
by dashed line

Effective Length,
KL

0.5L

(b)

0.7L

(c )

(d)

1.0L

1.0L

(e)

2.0L

(f)

2.0L

Recommended
design value
when ideal
conditions are
approximated

0.65L

0.80L

1.20L

1.00L

2.10L

2.00L

Rotation fixed and translation

Rotation free and translation
Rotation fixed and translation
Rotation free and translation free

End Condition
Code

NSCP Table 4. Values of Cc (From Equation 505-1a)

Fy (MPa)
227
241
248
269
276
290
310

Fy (ksi)
33
35
36
39
40
42
45

Cc
131.9
128.0
126.2
121.1
119.6
116.7
112.8

Fy (MPa)
317
345
379
414
448
620
689

Fy (ksi)
46
50
55
60
65
90
100

Cc
111.6
107.0
102.1
97.7
93.9
79.8
75.7

Problem 201. Select the lightest W shape that can be used as a column 7 meters long to support an axial load of 450
kN with a factor of safety of 3. Assume 1) both ends hinged and 2) one end fixed and the other hinged. Use FPL= 200
MPa, E = 200 GPa and Eulers Formula.
Solution:
1) both ends hinged, KL 1.0(7) 7.0 m
Pc P(FS ) 450(3) 1350 kN

Pc

EI 2

KL

Pc KL
E

1350(7)2109
33.516 x106 mm4
200 x103 ( 2 )

KL
KL 7000
100,

70 mm
least r
r
100 100
W250x73: Iy = 38.8x106 mm4, ry = 64.6 mm
P
P 1350 x103
FPL C :
A c
6750 mm2
A
FPL
200
KL
KL 7000
100,

70 mm
least r
r
100 100
W310x97: A = 12300 mm2, ry = 76.9 mm
Therefore, use W250x73 section.
2) one end fixed and the other hinged, KL 0.7(7) 4.9 m

Pc

EI 2

KL

KL
100,
r
W360x64:
P
FPL C :
A

Pc KL
E

1350(4.9) 2
16.421x106 mm4
200 x103 ( 2 )

KL 4900

49 mm
100 100
Iy = 18.8x106 mm4, ry = 48.1 mm
P 1350 x103
A c
6750 mm2
FPL
200
least r

KL
KL 4900
100,

49 mm
least r
r
100 100
W250x58: A = 7420 mm2, ry = 50.4 mm
Therefore, use W250x58 section.
Problem 202. Select a W shape section that can be used as a column to support an axial load of 700 kN on an effective
length of 5.5 meters. Use Fy = 248 MPa and NSCP formulas.
Solution:
1) trial calculations
Fy 250
KL
5
0 , FS :
Fa

150 MPa
at
FS 5 / 3
r
3
assume 0.80Fa = 0.80(150) = 120 MPa
P
700 x103
required A

5833 mm2
0.80Fa
120
2) Select trial section and compute axial capacity [NSCP 505.1.1]:
Try W200x46: A = 5860 mm2, ry = 51.2 mm
From Table 4 (505-1a), Cc 126.2

KL 5500

107.4 Cc , use (505-1)

r
51.2
5 3(107.4) (107.4)3
FS

1.909
3 8(126.2) 8(126.2)3

(107.4)2 248
Fa 1
82.85 MPa
2
2(126.2) 1.909

P Fa A 82.85(5860)103 486 kN < 700 kN

NO
3) Try a larger section and compute axial capacity [NSCP 505.1.1]:
Try W250x67: A = 8550 mm2, r = 51.0 mm
KL 5500

107.8 Cc
r
51.0
5 3(107.8) (107.8)3
FS

1.909
3 8(126.2) 8(126.2)3

(107.8)2 248
Fa 1
82.49 MPa
2
2(126.2) 1.909

P Fa A 82.49(8550)103 705 kN > 700 kN

OK

Therefore, use W250x67.

Problem 203. A hinged-end column 10 m long is fabricated from a W200x46 section and two C310x45 channels
arranged as shown in figure. Using Fy = 248 MPa, determine the safe axial load 1) using NSCP Formulas, 2) using
Straight-line Formula and 3) using Rankine-Gordon Formula.
Solution:
1) NSCP Formulas [NSCP 505.1.1]
1.1) Properties of built-up section:
A 5860 2(5690) 17240 mm2

I x 45.5 x106 2 2.12 x106 5690(97.5) 2 157.92 x106 mm4

I y 15.3x106 2 67.3x106 149.90 x106 mm4 (least I)

I
149.90 x106

93.25 mm
A
17240
1.2) Allowable axial stress
From Table 4 (505-1a), Cc 126.2
least r

KL 10000

107.2 Cc use (505-1)

r
93.25
5 3(107.2) (107.2)3
FS

1.909
3 8(126.2) 8(126.2)3

13.0
114.5
x
114.5

(107.2) 248
Fa 1
83.04 MPa
2
2(126.2)

1.909
1.3) Allowable axial load
P Fa A 83.04(17240)103 1432 kN
2

2) Straight-line Formula
2.1) Allowable axial stress
since KL / r 107.2 120
KL
use Fa 110 0.483
MPa
r

Fa 110 0.483107.2 58.22 MPa

2.2) Allowable axial load
P Fa A 58.22(17240)103 1004 kN
3) Rankine-Gordon Formula
3.1) Allowable axial stress
since KL / r 107.2 120
124
124
Fa

75.68 MPa
( L / r )2
(107.2)2
1
1
18000
18000
3.2) Allowable axial load
P Fa A 75.68(17240)103 1305 kN

229 mm

13.0
305 mm

Section Properties:
W200x46:

C310x45:

A = 5860 mm2

A = 5690 mm2

d = 203 mm

d = 305 mm

bf = 203 mm

bf = 80 mm