SECTION 506: DESIGN OF MEMBERS

FOR FLEXURE
4.1 General Provisions

1. The design flexural strength, Φ b M n , and the allowable flexural strength, M n /Ωb , shall be
determined as

a. For all provisions in this section:

LRFD: Φ b=0.90 ASD: Ω b =1.67

b. The provisions in this section are based on the assumptions that points of supports
for beams and girders are restrained against rotation about their longitudinal axis.

The following terms are common to the equations in this section except where
noted:

1.25 M max
C b= R ≤3.0
2.5 M max +3 M A +4 M B +3 M C m

where:
M max = absolute value of maximum moment in unbraced segment, N-mm
MA = absolute value of maximum moment at quarter point, N-mm
MB = absolute value of maximum moment at centerline, N-mm
MC = absolute value of maximum moment at three quarter point, N-mm
Rm = cross section monosymmetric parameter
= 1.0, doubly symmetric members
= 1.0, singly symmetric members subjected to single curvature bending
Cb = lateral-torsional buckling modification for nonuniform moment diagrams when
both ends of the unsupported segment are braced
= is permitted to be taken as 1.0 for all cases such as cantilevers or
overhangs

2. Classify the steel cross section to be designed. Refer to Table 506.1.1. Before proceeding
to the page number indicated, check the steel section’s compactness of the flange and web
shown in Step 3.
Table 506.1.1
Selection Table for the application of Section 506 Sections
 Cross Section Flange Slenderness Web Slenderness Limit States

3. Check for compactness of flange and web of the steel section classified and obtain their
values. Refer to Table 502.4.1 and Table 502.4.2.

4.2 Doubly Symmetric Compact I-Shaped Members and Channels Bent About Their
Major Axis

This section applies to doubly symmetric I-shaped members and channels bend
about their major axis, having compact webs and compact flanges.

The nominal flexural strength, M n , shall be lower value obtained according to the limit
states of yielding (plastic moment) and lateral torsional buckling.

LIMIT STATES

a. Yielding
M n=M p=F y S x (506.2-1)
where:
F y = specified minimum yield stress, MPa
S x = plastic modulus about the x-axis, mm4

b. Lateral Torsional Buckling

1. When Lb ≤ L p , the limit state of lateral torsional buckling does not apply.
2. When L p < Lb ≤ Lr ,
 [
M n=C b M p−( M p−0.7 F y S x )
( Lb −L p
Lr−L p )]
≤Mp (506.2-2)

3. When Lb > Lr ,
M n=F cr S x ≤ M p (506.2-3)

where:
Lb = Length between points that are either braced against lateral
displacement of compression flange or braced against twist of the
cross-section, mm

)√
Cb π 2 E
( )
2
J c Lb
1+ 0.078

(
F cr = Lb
2
S X ho r ts (506.2-4)
r ts
E = modulus of elasticity of steel, 200,000 MPa
Jc = torsional constant, mm4
SX = elastic section modulus about the x-axis, mm3

Lp = 1.76 r y
√ E
Fy
(506.2-5)

√ √√ ( )
2
Lr = E Jc 0.7 F y S X ho (506.2-6)
1.95 r ts 1+ 1+ 6.76 +
0.7 F y S X ho E Jc

where:

r ts 2=
√I y Cw (506.2-7)
Sx

For a doubly symmetric I-shape:

c=1 (506.2-8a)

For a channel:
ho √ I y
c= (506.2-8b)
2 Cw

where:
h o=¿ distance between the flange centroids, mm
USER NOTE:
The square root term in Equation 506.2-4 may be conservatively taken as equal to 1.0
whereas Eq. 506.2-6 becomes

Lr =π r ts
√ E
0.7 F y
 2
I y ho
For doubly symmetric I-shapes with rectangular flanges, C w = and Eq. 506.2-7
4
2 I y ho
becomes r ts = may be approximately and conservatively as radius of gyration of
2SX
the compression flanges plus one sixth of the web:
bf
r ts =

√ (
12 1+
1 h tw
6 bf t f )
4.3 Doubly Symmetric I-Shaped Members with Compact Webs and Noncompact or
Slender Flanges Bent About Their Major Axis

This section applies to doubly symmetric I-shaped members bent about their major
axis having compact webs and noncompact or slender flanges.

The nominal flexural strength, M n , shall be lower value obtained according to the limit
states of lateral torsional buckling and compression flange local buckling.

LIMIT STATES

a. Lateral-Torsional Buckling

1. When Lb ≤ L p , the limit state of lateral torsional buckling does not apply.
2. When L p < Lb ≤ Lr ,

[
M n=C b M p−( M p−0.7 F y S x )
( Lb −L p
Lr−L p
≤Mp
)] (506.2-2)

3. When Lb > Lr ,
M n=F cr S x ≤ M p (506.2-3)

where:
Lb = Length between points that are either braced against lateral
displacement of compression flange or braced against twist of the
cross-section, mm

)√
Cb π 2 E
( )
2
J c Lb
1+ 0.078

(
F cr = Lb
2
S X ho r ts (506.2-4)
r ts
E = modulus of elasticity of steel, 200,000 MPa
Jc = torsional constant, mm4
SX = elastic section modulus about the x-axis, mm3
 Lp = 1.76 r y
√ E
Fy
(506.2-5)

√ √√ ( )
2
Lr = E Jc 0.7 F y S X ho (506.2-6)
1.95 r ts 1+ 1+ 6.76 +
0.7 F y S X ho E Jc

where:

r ts 2=
√I y Cw (506.2-7)
Sx

For a doubly symmetric I-shape:

c=1 (506.2-8a)

For a channel:
ho √ I y
c= (506.2-8b)
2 Cw

where:
h o=¿ distance between the flange centroids, mm

b. Compression Flange Local Buckling

1. For sections with noncompact flanges

[
M n=C b M p−( M p−0.7 F y S x )
( λ−λ pf
λ rf −λ pf )] (506.3-1)

2. For sections with slender flanges

0.9 E k c S x
M n= 2 (506.3-2)
λ
where:
bf
λ=
2t f
λ pf =λ p=¿ limiting slenderness for a compact flange
λ rf =λ r=¿ limiting slenderness for a noncompact flange

4
k c=

√ 12
( )
h and 0.35 ≤ k c ≤0.76
tw

4.4 Other I-Shaped Members with Compact or Noncompact Webs Bent About Their Major
Axis
 This section applies to: (a) doubly symmetric I- shaped members bent about their
major axis with noncompact webs; and (b) singly symmetric I-shaped members with webs
attached to the mid-width of the flanges, bent about their major axis, with compact or
noncompact webs.

The nominal flexural strength, M n , shall be lowest value obtained according to the
limit state of compression flange yielding, lateral torsional buckling, compression flange
local buckling and tension flange yielding.

LIMIT STATES

a. Compression Flange Yielding

M n=R p c M y c (506.4-1)

b. Lateral-Torsional Buckling

1. When Lb ≤ L p , the limit state of lateral torsional buckling does not apply.
2. When L p < Lb ≤ Lr ,

[
M n=C b R pc M yc −( R pc M yc −F L S xc )
( Lb−L p
Lr −L p )] (506.4-2)

3. When Lb > Lr ,
M n=F cr S xc ≤ R pc M yc (506.4-3)

where:

M yc = F y S xc (506.4-4)

)√
Cb π 2 E
( )
2
J Lb
1+ 0.078

(
F cr = Lb
2
S xc ho r t (506.4-5)
rt

I yc
For ≤0.23 , J shall be taken as zero.
Iy
The stress, F L, shall be determined as follows:

S xt
For ≥ 0.7
S xc
FL = 0.7 F y (506.4-6a)

S xt
For ¿ 0.7
S xc
 S xt
FL = Fy ≥ 0.5 F y (506.4-6b)
S xc

Lb = Length between points that are either braced against lateral

displacement of compression flange or braced against twist of the
cross-section, mm
Lp = 1.1 r t
√ E
Fy
(506.4-7)

√ √√ ( )
2
Lr = E Jc 0.7 F y S X ho (506.4-8)
1.95 r t 1+ 1+6.76 +
0.7 F y S X h o E Jc

The web plastification factor, R pc , is determined as follows:

hc
a. For ≤ λ pw
tw
Mp
R pc = (506.4-9a)
M yc

hc
b. For ¿ λ pw
tw

R pc =
[ ( Mp
−
Mp
M yc M yc
−1
)( λ−λ pw
λrw −λ pw )]
M
≤ p
M yc
(506.4-9b)

where:

Mp = Z x F y ≤1.6 S xc F y
S xc , S xt = elastic modulus referred to tension and compression flanges,
respectively, mm3
hc
λ =
tw
λ pw = λ p, the limiting slenderness for a compact web
λ rw = λ r, the limiting slenderness for a noncompact web

The effective radius of gyration for lateral-torsional buckling, r t , is determined as

follows:

1. For I-shapes with a rectangular compression flange:

 b fc
rt =

√ ( )
2
ho 1 h (506.4-10)
12 + a
d 6 w ho d

where:
hc t w
aw = (506.4-11)
bfc t fc
b fc = compression flange width, mm
t fc = compression flange thickness, mm

2. For I-shapes with channel caps or cover plates attached to the compression
flange:
rt = radius of gyration of the flange components in flexural
compression plus one-third of the web area in compression
due to application of major axis bending moment alone, mm
aw = the ratio of two times the web area in compression due to
application of major axis bending moment alone to the area of
the compression flange components

USER NOTES:

For I-shapes with a rectangular compression flange, r t may be approximated accurately

and conservatively as the radius of gyration of the compression flange plus one-third of
the compression portion of the web; in other words,
bf
rt =

√ ( 1
12 1+ a w
6 )
c. Compression Flange Local Buckling

1. For sections with· compact flanges, the limit state of local buckling does not
apply.
2. For sections with noncompact flanges,

[
M n= R pc M yc −( R pc M yc −F L S xc )
( λ− λ pf
λrf − λ pf )] (506.4-12)

3. For sections with slender flanges,

 0.9 E k c S xc
M n= 2 (506.4-13)
λ
where:
R pc = web plastification factor
kc = 4

√ 12
( ) h and 0.35 ≤ k c ≤0.76
tw

λ =
( ) b fc
2 t fc
λ pw = λ p, the limiting slenderness for a compact web
λ rw = λ r, the limiting slenderness for a noncompact web

d. Tension Flange Yielding

1. When S xt ≥ S xc , the limit state of tension flange yielding does not apply.
2. When S xt < S xc ,

M n=R pt M yt (506.4-14)

where
M yt =F yt S xt

The web plastification factor corresponding to the tension flange yielding limit state, R pt
is determined as follows:
hc
a. For ≤ λ pw
tw
Mp
R pt = (506.4-15a)
M yt

hc
b. For ¿ λ pw
tw

R pt =
[ ( )(
Mp
M yt
−
Mp
M yt
−1
λ− λ pw
λ rw −λ pw
M
)]
≤ p
M yt
(506.4-15b)

where:
hc
λ =
tw
λ pw = λ p, the limiting slenderness for a compact web
λ rw = λ r, the limiting slenderness for a noncompact web
4.5 Doubly Symmetric and Singly Symmetric I-Shaped Members with Slender Webs Bent
about their Major Axis

This section applies to doubly symmetric and singly symmetric I-shaped members
with slender webs attached to the mid-width of the flanges, bent about their major axis.

The nominal flexural strength, M n , shall be the lowest value obtained according to
the limit states of compression flange yielding, lateral-torsional buckling, compression
flange local buckling and tension flange yielding.

LIMIT STATES
a. Compression Flange Yielding
M n=R pg F y S xc (506.5-1)

b. Lateral-Torsional Buckling
M n=R pg F cr S xc (506.5-2)

3. When Lb ≤ L p , the limit state of lateral torsional buckling does not apply.
4. When L p < Lb ≤ Lr ,

[
F cr =Cb F y −( 0.3 F y )
( Lb−L p
)]
Lr −L p
≤ Fy (506.5-3)

3. When Lb > Lr ,
2
Cb π E
F cr = ≤ Fy

( )
2
Lb (506.5-4)
rt

where:

Lp = 1.1 r t
√ E
Fy
(506.4-7)

Lr = π rt
√ E
0.7 F y
(506.5-5)

R pg = bending strength reduction factor:

( √ )
aw hc E
R pg = 1− −5.7 ≤ 1.0 (506.5-6)
1200+300 a w t w 0.7 F y
where:

hc t w
aw = <1 0 (506.4-11)
bfc t fc
 rt = effective radius of gyration for lateral torsional buckling.

c. Compression Flange Local Buckling

M n=R p g F cr S xc (506.5-7)

1. For sections with· compact flanges, the limit state of local buckling does not
apply.
2. For sections with noncompact flanges,

[
F ct = F y −( 0.3 F y )
( λ−λ pf
λrf −λ pf )] (506.5-8)

3. For sections with slender flanges,

0.9 E k c
M n=

( )
2
bfc (506.5-9)
2 t fc

where:
kc = 4

√ 12
( )
h and 0.35 ≤ k c ≤0.76
tw

λ =
( )
b fc
2 t fc
λ pw = λ p, the limiting slenderness for a compact web
λ rw = λ r, the limiting slenderness for a noncompact web

d. Tension Flange Yielding

1. When S xt ≥ S xc , the limit state of tension flange yielding does not apply.
2. When S xt < S xc ,

M n=F y S xt (506.5-10)