TUTORIAL 4

FLEXURAL MEMBERS
Bending
Shear
06 March 2012

Summary of design process

The design process for a beam can be summarised as follows
(a) Determination of all forces and moments on critical section
(b) Selection of UB or UC
(c) Classification of section
(d) Check shear strength; if unsatisfactory return to (b)
(e) Check bending capacity; if unsatisfactory return to (b)
(f) Check deflection; if unsatisfactory return to (b)
(g) Check web bearing and buckling at supports or concentrated load; if
unsatisfactory provide web stiffener
(h) Check lateral torsional buckling; if unsatisfactory return to (b) or provide
lateral restraints
(i) Summarise results

Problem 1:
A simply supported beam 406 x 178 x 74 UB S 275 is required to span 4.5 m
and to carry an ultimate design load of 40 kN/m. Check the suitability of the
section with respect to shear.
ANSWER:

STEP 1: Section Properties:

A= 95 cm2 ; b=179.7mm; tw=9.5 mm; tf=16mm; tr=10.2mm; D=412.8mm;
d=360.4 mm; d/t=37.9; b/T=5.62

STEP 2: Design shear force at the end of the beam,

wl 40 4.5
Fv =
=
= 90kN
2
2
STEP 3: Calculation of Shear Area:

For rolled UB section:

Av= 9500 -2x179.7x16 +(9.5+2x10.2)16 = 9500-5750.4+478.4 = 4228mm2
Which is more than Dt = 412.8x9.5 = 3922 mm2

 STEP 4: Section Classification

Since web thickness tw=9.5mm and t 40mm, from table 3.1 page 26:
fy = 275 N/mm2 , fu = 430 N/mm2

235
=
fy

0 .5

235
=

275

0 .5

= 0 . 92

Since the beam is subject to pure bending the neutral axis will be at mid depth
Referring to table 5.2:
c/t=d/t=37.9 < 72 :

The web is plastic note 72=72 x 0.92=66.24

Since c/t < 72 , No need to check shear buckling

STEP 5: Calculation of Shear Capacity:

pl , Rd

4228

(275
1 . 00

)=

V pl , Rd =
671285

Av f y / 3

M0

N = 671 . 3 kN

Vpl,Rd = 671.3 kN 90kN, shear due to load;

The value shows that excessive reserve of shear strength in the web

Problem 2:
A simple supported beam of 5 m span, carries a reinforced concrete floor
capable of providing lateral restraint to the top compression flange. The
uniformly distributed load is made up of 20 kN/m imposed load plus 20 kN/m
dead load. Choose a suitable I section beam of S275 steel. It may be assumed
that the section is held on web cleats and that web bearing and buckling are not
critical

Answer:
STEP 1:Factored Loads
Imposed load :
20 x 1.5
Dead Load:
20 x 1.35
Total load:

= 30.0 kN/m
= 27.0 kN/m
= 57.0 kN/m

Feebody diagram
57 kN/m

5m

 STEP 2: Maximum bending moment = wL2/8

MEd= 57 x 5 x 5/8 = 178.125 kNm
STEP 3 : Plastic modulus required
= M / fy = 178.125 x 1000000/275 = 647727.3 mm3
Wpl,y required
= 647.8 cm3 < 681.82 cm3
STEP 4: Looking at the tables for UB, choose a section that has Wpl,x value
higher than 647.8 cm3
305 x 127 x 48 UB Wpl,y = 711 cm3 weight/m is 48.1 kg/m
305 x 165 x 46 UB Wpl,y = 720 cm3 weight/m is 46.1 kg/m
356 x 171 x 45 UB Wpl,y = 775 cm3 weight/m is 45.0kg/m
The deeper beam is lighter and more efficient in carrying the bending
moment and would normally be the first choice.
Engineers choice may be affected by the available space in many
structures there is a tight limit on head room and the storey height, which
may dictate the adoption of a shallower beam

 STEP 5: Considering also the self weight of the beam, the loading on
the beam = 57 + 0.45 x 1.35 = 57.6075 kN/m
Maximum bending moment : MEd= 57.6075 x 5x5/8 = 180.02 kNm
Wpl,y required = 180.02x1000000/275 =6654618 mm3
= 665.46cm3

Wpl,y required < Wpl,y provided. Hence UB is satisfactory

STEP 6: Properties of 356 x 171 x 45 UB
h=351.4 mm;
b=171.1 mm; tw=7.0; tf=9.7; r=10.2; d=311.6;
d/t=44.5;
Iy=12070;
Iz=811; ry=14.5;
rz=3.76;
Wel,y=687;
Wel,z=94.8;
Wpl,y=775 ;
Wpl,y=147;
u=0.874;
x=36.8;
A = 57.3cm2

STEP 7: Maximum shear force: VEd= ( 57.61 x 5 )/ 2 = 144.03 kN

STEP 8: Design value of Shear Capacity = Vc,Rd

can be taken as 1.2 (except for steel grades higher than S460 where
=1.00 is recommended.

V pl , Rd =

Av f y /

M0

A v = A 2 bt

In which Av is the shear area, taken as follows

+ (t w + 2 r )t f h w t w

Av = 5730 2 171 . 1 9 . 7 + (7 . 0 + 2 10 . 2 )9 . 7 1 . 0 311 . 6 7

Av = 2676.44 2181.2

V pl , Rd

2676 .44 275 / 3

=
= 424941 .9 N = 424 .9 kN
1.00

The design value of shear force VEd=144.03 kN is well within the plastic shear
resistance, Vpl,Rd = 424.9kN.
Note: In practice, shear stress is seldom critical. It may, however become so
when a very short span carries a heavy load, or when carrying a heavy
concentrated load near support.

 STEP 9:DEFLECTION
The assessment of the structures behaviour for deflection is a matter of
engineering judgement

Unfactored Loads
Imposed load = 20.0 kN/m
Dead Load = (20+0.45) = 20.45 kN/m
For variable action

5WL3
5 20 5 1000 50003
=
Deflection, =
384 EI 384 205000 12070 10000
=6.58 mm < L/350 =14.3 mm Hence OK
For variable +permanent action

5WL3
5 40.45 5 1000 50003
Deflection, =
=
384 EI 384 205000 12070 10000
=13.30 mm < L/250 = 20 mm Hence OK

 Deflection is well within the allowable deflection

STEP 12: Restraint is provided by the floor and no further check is required.
STEP 13: The beam is assumed to be supported on web cleats; web
bearing and buckling are not therefore design criteria.
A check should be carried out on the maximum deflection of the beam due
to the most adverse realistic combination of unfactored imposed
serviceability loading.
In BS EN 1993-1-1:2005 this is covered by Section 7.0, and the following
clauses are addressed.
Clause 7.1: General
Clause 7.2: Serviceability limit state for buildings
Very little coverage in EC3
Reference to EN 1990 on the basis that many serviceability criteria are
independent of the structural material
Clause 3.4, Clause 6.5 and A1.4 of En 1990

 Calculation of deflections from first principles has to be done

using the Area-Moment Method, Macaulay's Method, or some
other similar approach, a subject of structural mechanics/
analysis.
However, many calculations of deflection are carried out using
formulae for standard cases, which can be combined as
necessary to give the answer for more complicated situations.

Problem 3:
A simply supported beam of 7 m span carries a reinforced concrete floor
capable of providing lateral restraint to the top compression flange. The total
UDL is made up of 100 kN dead load (including self weight) plus 150 kN
imposed load. In addition the beam carries a point load (PL) at midspan made
up of 50kN dead load and 50 kN imposed load. Choose a suitable Universal
beam using S275 steel. Also carry out the web buckling and web bearing
checks, assuming a stiff bearing length of 75 mm.

DL=50kN
LL=50kN
DL=100 kN
LL=150kN

7m

STEP 1: Load factors,f: DL=1.35 and LL=1.5

Factored loads:
UDL =100x1.35 +150 x 1.5=135+225=360kN
Point Load = 50 x 1.35 + 50 x 1.5 = 142.5kN

STEP 2: Load diagram

PL=142.5kN
UDL=360kN

7m

STEP 3:
Maximum BM=My=WL/8+WL/4=360 x7/8+142.5x 7/4=315+249.375 = 564.375kNm
STEP 4:
Sy required = My / fy=564.375x1000000/275=2052272.7mm3 = 2053cm3

From tables choose a suitable section.

Choosing 533 x 210 x 92 UB (Wpl=2360 cm3)
Properties
h=533.1 mm, b=209.3 mm, d=476.5 mm, r=12.7 mm, tf=15.6mm,
Iz=55230cm4, tw=10.1mm, Wel,y=2072cm3 ; A = 118cm2
STEP 5:
Check the design strength,fy
Since T=15.6mm<40 mm Therefore fy=275N/mm2 =0.924
STEP 6 section classification
Flange: c = (209.3 -10.1-2x12.7)/2=86.9 mm
c/tf = 86.9/15.6=5.57 <9
<9x 0.924=8.32.plastic
Web: part subject to bending
d/t=476.5/10.1=47.2 < 72 .neutral axis at mid-depth
72x 0.924=72.plastic
The section is plastic. Note that a compact section would be sufficient as
there is no plastic re-distribution of moments.

Considering the Self weight =92kg/m = 92x10/1000 = 0.92kN/m

Self weight =0.92 x 7= 6.44kN
UDL = (100+6.44)x1.35 +150 x 1.5=135+225=368.7kN
Point Load = 50 x 1.35 + 50 x 1.5 = 142.5kN
Maximum BM=Mx=WL/8+WL/4=368.7 x7/8+142.5x 7/4=322.62+249.375=
= 571.99kNm
Maximum SF = (368.7+142.5)/2 = 255.6kN = 255600 N
Sx required = Mx/fy=571.99x1000000/275=2079954.545mm3=2080mm3

STEP 7: check whether Sx will be satisfactory taking self weight

into consideration
Sx required< Sx provided
2060 < 2360

 STEP 8: Factored shear force Fv=(368.7+142.5)/2 = 255.6 kN

A 2 bt

STEP 9: Av =

+ (tw + 2 r )t

Shear area = 11800 2 x 209.3x15.6 + (10.1+2x 12.7)15.6

= 11800 6530.16 + 553.8 =5823.64 mm2

STEP 10: Design Shear plastic resistance

V pl , Rd =

Av f y /

M 0

)=

5823 . 64 275 /
1 .0

255.600 kN < 924.65 kN Hence OK

) = 924 . 65 kN

STEP 11:

Check for Design Resistance for bending Mc,Rd, allowing for effects of coexisting shear
Factored Fv at maximum moment = 71.25 kN
Maximum moment = 571.99kN
Clause 6.2.8 (3) : When Shear force is less than half the plastic shear
resistance, its effect on the moment resistance maybe neglected except where
shear buckling reduces the section resistance.

Vpl,Rd = 924.65 kN

Note that 0.5Pv=0.5x924.65=462.32kN

Since Fv < 0.5Pv, the Shear Force is LOW

Mc,Rd=py x Sx= 275 x 2360 x1000/1000000=649 kNm

To avoid irreversible deformation under serviceability loads, the value of Mc should be

limited to 1.5pyZ generally and to 1.2pyZ in the case of simply supported beam or a
cantilever (Clause 4.2.5.1)

1.2 275 2072 1000

1 .2 p y Z x =
= 684kNm
1000000

PL=142.5kN
UDL=368.7kN

7m
255.6kN

71.25kN
71.25kN

571.99kNm

255.6kN

 The lesser of the two values is 649kNm

Since Mc,Rd=649kNm> My=571.99kNm, the section is Satisfactory.

STEP 12: Deflection

Serviceability loads
Case 1: unfactored imposed loads only
P=50kN (imposed point load)
W=150kN (imposed UDL)
Actual deflection==PL3/48EI+5WL3/384EI

50 1000 70003
5 150 70003
+
=
= 9.10mm
4
4
48 205000 55230 10 384 205000 55230 10

STEP 13:

Allowable deflection =L/350=7000/350=20 mm

The deflection is satisfactory.

 Case 2: unfactored dead load and imposed loads

Udl =256.44 kN and point load = 100kN

100 1000 70003

5 256.44 70003
=
+
4
48 205000 55230 10 384 205000 55230 104

= 6.31 + 10.11 = 16.42

Should be less than L/250 = 7000/250 = 28 mm Hence OK

STEP 14: Check for web bearing/crushing

At locations of heavy concentrated loads such as support reactions or
where columns are supported on a beam flange, additional stress
concentrations occur in the web. This introduces the possibility of the
web failing in a buckling mode similar to the vertical strut or by localised
bearing failure at the top of the root fillet.

Critical section for bearing

 The code specifies that the bearing capacity Ry,Rd of the unstiffened web at
the web to flange connection is given by

R y , Rd

(
S
=

In which
Ss=length of stiff bearing
Tw= web thickness
Fyw= yield strength of web
M1=material partial safety factor(1.05)

bf
s y = 2t f
tw

0 .5

+ S y )t w f yw

M1

f yf f , Ed

1
f f
yw yf
0.5

2 0.5

2 0.5

209.3 275 0
s y = 2 15.6

1
10.1 275 f yf

0 .5

s y = 142.03

0 .5

R y , Rd

(
75 + 142 .3 )10 .1 275
=
1 . 05 1000

= 579 .8 kN

This is greater than the support reaction =255.6kN

STEP 15: Check for Crippling resistance

0 .5 t
R

a , Rd

2
w

(Ef

0 .5

yw

f
w
M

0 .5

t
+ 3
t

w
f

s s

Ss is limited to 0.2d (for 533 x 210 x 92 UB d=476.5 mm. So 0.2 x 476.5=95.3mm)

Since the actual Ss=75 mm OK.

R a , Rd

Ra,Rd

0 .5

15
.
6

10 . 1 75
0 .5
2
0 . 5 10 . 1 (210000 275 )
+ 3

10
.
1
15
.
6
476
.
5

=
1 . 05

51.005(7599.3421)[1.2428+ 0.305715]
=
= 571629.7 N
1.05

This is greater than the support reaction =255.6kN . Hence OK.

STEP 16 Check for web buckling :

The buckling resistance is determined by taking a length of web
as a strut
The length of web is taken from Eurocode 3 which gives following
equation

beff = 0 .5( h + s s )
2

2 0 .5

ss
+a+
2

but h + ss
2

2 0.5

Where a=distance from end of bearing to end of beam, assumed

to be zero
Depth of beam, h=533.1mm

75
beff = 0.5(533.1 + 75 ) + 0 + = 306.7mm
2
2

2 0.5

 The top flange is held by a slab and the bottom by seating cleats.
Assuming they provide restraint against rotation and displacement;
the effective height of the web for buckling can be taken as 0.7x
distance between fillets
l = 476.5x0.7=333.55mm
t
Radius of gyration for web = i = w = 0.29t w = 0.29 6.9 = 2.001
12

Slenderness =

l 333.55
= =
= 166.69
i 2.001

0.5
= ( A )
1
Where 1=93.9=93.9x0.924=86.8
Assume A=1.0

( A )

0 .5

166.69
(1.0)0.5 = 1.92
=
86.8

 Since the web strut can be considered as a solid section; use strut
curve C

From graph, corresponding to =1.92; =0.23

 Buckling resistance Nb,Rd=

N b , Rd

0.23 275 306.7 10.1

=
= 186.6kN
1.05 1000

Support reaction = 255.6kN Therefore not safe from buckling

 Problem 4:

 Step 2: Design Values

 Step 3: Section Selection and Properties

 Step 4: Section Classification

 Step 5: Shear Resistance Check

Shear Area:

A v = A 2 bt

+ (tw + 2 r )t

A v = 5860 2 142 . 2 11 . 2 + ( 6 . 9 + 2 10 . 2 ) 11 . 2

Av = 2980 . 48 mm

V pl , Rd

2980 . 48 275 /
=
1 .0

) = 473214

. 756 N = 473 . 2 kN

 Step 6: Web Crushing Resistance Check

 Step 7: Web Crippling Resistance Check

 Step 8: Web Buckling Resistance Check

 Step 9: Deflection Check