Dr. Kazi M.A.

Sohel

Local Buckling & Section Classification

Outline
Introduction
Classes of Cross‐Sections
Maximum Width to Thickness Ratios
for Compression Parts
Internal Compression Parts
Outstand Compression Parts
Angles & Tubular Sections
Effective Cross‐Section for Class 4 Sections
Class 3 Web + Class 1 or 2 Flange
Examples
Example SC‐1 (Section classification for combined bending and
compression)
Example SC‐2 (Effective area of a Class 4 compression member)
Example SC‐3 (Section with Class 3 web and Class 1 flanges)
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Column local buckling

Local buckling failure of angle

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Introduction

 Steel members are generally composed of thin elements for structural efficiency.
 The slender elements are prone to local instabilities under compressive stress, even
before the yield strength is reached.
 The effects of local buckling are accounted for in EC3 by classifying the cross-
section into Classes 1, 2, 3 or 4.
 Cross-section classification is made by comparing actual width-to thickness ratios
of the plate elements with a set of limiting values.
 The classification of the overall cross-section is taken as the least favourable of the
constituent elements.

Local buckling in the flange

Local buckling in the web

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Local Buckling
When the section is not standard section but fabricated from thin elements, the section
element may buckle locally before fy is reached due to slenderness

Axial force only

Rectangular
hollow section

Local Buckling and Section Classification

Critical Buckling Stress of Plate:
 2E  1  Axial force + Bending
f cr  k    fy
12 1  2    c t  
2

–Plate slenderness ratio (c/t)

Factors Influencing local buckling strength of plate: –Stress distribution
–Boundary conditions, k –Initial plate deformation
internal elements or outstands –Initial residual stresses 5
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Elements to be classified
The classification limits provided in Table 5.2 in EN 1993-1-1 (EC3 part 1-1) are compared
with c/t ratios (compressive width-to-thickness ratios), with the appropriate dimensions for c
and t taken from the accompanying diagrams. The compression widths c always adopt the
dimensions of the flat portions of the cross sections, that is root radii and welds are explicitly
excluded from the measurement.

b
cf Outstand

r
h tw cw

tf

Universal Beam For a Hot finished RHS

cf = (b-2r - tw)/2 cw=h-2(tf + r) cf = b-2(tw+r) cw=h-2(t + r)

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Why classify ?

Bending stress distributions at maximum moment capacity

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Classes of Cross-Sections
Class 1 Cross sections with both plastic moment capacity and plastic Mc,Rd = fyWpl /M0
hinge rotation capacity.
Class 2 Cross-sections with plastic moment capacity but limited plastic Mc,Rd = fyWpl /M0
hinge rotation capacity.
Class 3 Cross-sections in which the stress in the extreme compression Mc,Rd = fyWel /M0
fibre can reach the yield strength, but only the elastic moment
capacity can be developed.
Class 4 Cross-sections in which local buckling will occur before the Mc,Rd = fyWeff
attainment of yield stress. /M0

Wpl =plastic section modulus Wel =elastic section modulus

γM0 = partial factor for resistance of cross-sections whatever the class is

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Max Width-to-Thickness Ratios for Compression Parts
EN 1993-1-1 (Table 5.2) (Internal compression Elements)

Axis of
Web
bending

Internal Axis of
Flange bending

Class Part subject Part subject to Part subject to bending Stress distribution 235

to bending compression and compression (compression +ve) fy
Class 1 c/t ≤ 72ε c/t ≤ 33ε if  >0.5, c/t  396
13  1

if  0.5, c/t  36


Class 2 c/t ≤ 83ε c/t ≤ 38ε if >0.5, c/t  456
13  1

if  0.5, c/t  41.5 *)  ≤ -1 applies


where either the
class3 c/t ≤ 124ε c/t ≤ 42ε compression stress
σ ≤ fy or the tensile
strain εy>fy/E
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Consider the case of I or H section subjected to compression and major axis bending, where the
neutral axis lies within the web.

The ratio of the compressed width to the total width The ratio of the tensile stress to the compressive stress
of the element, , can be calculated as follows: at the extreme fibers, , can be calculated as follows:

fy
+
c h
-

fy

2 N ED
 1
Af y
NEd = axial compression force
 = 1 for uniform compression, i.e., NEd = Afy
 = -1 for pure bending, i.e., NEd = 0,


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Max Width-to-Thickness Ratios for Compression Parts
EN 1993-1-1 (Table 5.2) (outstand compression parts)

Rolled sections Welded sections

class Part subject to Stress distribution Part subject to bending and compression
compression (compression +ve) Tip in compression Tip in tension
1 c/t ≤ 9ε 9 9
c/t  c/t 
  

2 c/t ≤ 10ε 10 10

c/t  c/t 
  

3 c/t ≤ 14ε c / t  21 k σ c / t  21 k σ

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Max Width-to-Thickness Ratios for Compression Parts

Angles Tubular section

(not in continuous contact with other components)

Class Section in compression Class Section in compression

1 h/t  9 1 d/t  502

2 h/t  10 2 d/t  702

3 h/t  15, bh

t
 23 3 d/t  902

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Effective Cross-Section for Class 4 Sections
EN 1993-1-5 Clause 4.4

Ac ,eff   Ac The effective area Aeff should be determined assuming that the cross section is subject
only to uniform axial compression.
The effective section modulus Weff should be determined assuming the cross section is
beff   bc subject only to bending moment.
For biaxial bending, effective section moduli should be determined about both main axes.
where Ac and bc are the area of the section and the width of the element in compression, respectively

Steps in determining the reduction factor for plate buckling 

(1) Determine the stress distribution

Additional rules for elements of I section and Box Girder
For flange elements, use the gross cross-sectional area to determine the stress distribution.
For web elements, use the effective area of the compression flange and the gross area of the web to determine
the stress distribution.
(2) Determine stress ratio  =2 /1 and buckling factor k
This depends on whether it is internal or external compression element.

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Stress ratio  and buckling factor k

Internal Compression Elements

   2 1
 = +ve in compression

Outstand Compression Elements

Tip under larger compressive stress

Tip under smaller compressive stress

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(3) Calculate

(4) Calculate 

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Effective Width for Class 4 Elements

Internal Compression Elements

Outstand Compression Elements

Tip under smaller compressive stress
Tip under larger compressive stress

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Cold formed steel sections

• These sections are made from

thin- steel sheets.
• They are prone to local buckling.
• Effective section properties are
needed.

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Class 3 Web + Class 1 or 2 Flange
EN 1993-1-1 (Cl 5.5.2(11) & Cl 6.2.2.4)
Cross-sections with Class 3 webs and Class 1 or 2 flanges can be classified as effective Class 2
cross-sections with the compressed portion of the web being replaced by a part of 20tw adjacent to
the compression flange (measured from the base of the root radius for rolled section and the base of
the weld for welded section), with another part of 20tw adjacent to the plastic neutral axis of the
effective cross-section.

Neglected ineffective area

Hot rolled section Welded section

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Implications for Design
• Class 1. Plastic – must be used in plastic design, can sustain high strain. Can be used
without restriction in “normal” design
• Class 2. Compact –can be used with the plastic modulus in bending
• Class 3. Semi-compact – when in bending the elastic modulus or an effective plastic
modulus must be used
• Class 4. Slender – Effective section properties must be used

Section and Design Tables

Steel building design: Design data,

Publication P363, The Steel
Construction Institute and the
British Constructional Steelwork
Association, UK, 2013.

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Based on Steel building

design: Design data
Ratios of Design Axial Force
(NEd) to Design Axial Plastic
Resistance (Npl,Rd),
n = NEd / Npl,Rd

Class 3
Class 2

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General Guidance
when using the Deign Tables
Steel building design: Design data, Publication P-363, jointly published by The Steel
Construction Institute and the British Constructional Steelwork Association UK, 2013.
• None of the universal beam and column sections in grade S275 and S355 are class 4
under bending only.
• None of the universal columns can be class 4 under pure compression; but some
universal beams and hollow sections can be class 4. Sections that can be class 4 under
pure compression are marked with * in the design tables.
• None of the UC or UB sections listed in the design tables are slender due to the flange
being class 4. Under combined axial compression and bending, the section would be
Class 2 or Class 3 up to given n = NEd/N pl,Rd limits.

Summary of design procedure

1. Select, from experience, a suitable section based on the factored load effects
2. Determine the section classification
3. If necessary calculate effective plastic modulus for Class 3 (semi-compact) sections
4. If necessary calculate effective section properties for class 4 (slender sections)
5. Proceed with design procedures suitable for the section classification
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Example SC-1: Section classification for combined bending and compression
A member is to be designed to carry combined bending and axial load. In the presence of a
major axis (y-y) bending moment and an axial compression of 300 kN, determine the cross-
section classification of a 40617854 UB in grade S275 steel.

Design Strength
tw = 7.7mm, tf = 10.9 mm.
Maximum thickness = 10.9 mm < 16 mm (EC3-1-1: Table 3.1; EN 10025-2)
For S275 steel, fy = 275 N/mm2

Section Classification
First, classify the cross-section under the most severe loading condition of pure compression
to determine whether anything is to be gained by more precise calculations.
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Cross-section classification under pure compression
Classification of Flange Classification of Web
  235 / f y  235 / 275  0.92
cw
 46.8  42  42  0.92  38.8 Web is Class 4.
cf
 6.86  9  9  0.92  8.32  Flange is Class 1. tw
tf

Under pure compression, the overall cross-section is therefore Class 4.

Material efficiency are therefore to be gained by using a more precise approach.

Cross-section classification under combined loading

Flange classification remains the same as Class 1.
Classification of Web
456 456  0.92
1  h 1 N ED    52.33
    t f  r    1 13  1 13  0.70  1
c  2 2 tw f y 

cw 456
 46.8   52.3
1  402.6 1 300000  tw 13  1
    10.9  10.2    1
360.4  2 2 27.7  275 
Web is Class 2.
=0.70
Under combined loading, the overall
456
When   0.5 : c / t  cross-section is therefore Class 2.
13  1
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Based on Steel building

design: Design data

Page C-149
n = 300/1900= 0.16 < 0.217 Section is Class 2

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Example 2
S275 steel 457x152x52 UB Grade S275
A. Subject to bending about it’s major axis
B. Subject to 800kN axial load and bending about it’s major axis
C. Subject to 1500kN axial load and bending about it’s major axis

Solution:
Based on Steel building design: Design data

Page 229 or C-147

Class 2 if n < 0.169

Class 3 if n < 0.586
Class 4 if n > 0.586

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A. Pure bending about it’s major axis
S275 steel 457x152x52 UB Grade S275
n = 0, therefore class 2 Npl,Rd =fyA
Mpl,Rd = fyWpl,Rd

B. Subject to 800kN axial load and bending about it’s major axis
n = NEd / Npl,Rd = 800/1830 = 0.437 > 0.169 class 3
Npl,Rd =fyA
Mel,Rd = fyWel,Rd

C. Subject to 1500kN axial load and bending about it’s major axis
n = 1500/1830 = 0.82 > 0.586 class 4
Npl,Rd =fyAeff
Mel,Rd = fyWeff

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Design Options
For optimum design of welded section, the designer has the following choices
1. Eliminate local buckling by ensuring width-to-thickness ratio is sufficiently small
2. If higher width-to-thickness is used, use stiffeners to reduce plate width
3. Determine section capacity allowing for local buckling

Questions??
Q1 What happen when the limiting plate slenderness ratios are exceeded?
Cross section strength cannot be fully developed. i.e., cross section strength is governed by local
buckling instead of yielding.

Q2 How can we prevent local buckling of a plate component?

Ensure that c/t ratio is compact. Provide plate stiffener

Q3 What effect does a slender and unstiffened element have on the strength of compression
member as opposed to that of a non-slender element?
Slender element reduces the compression resistance of the compression member because of local
buckling effect.
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Q4. Which of the followings are considered to be an internal elements?

1. leg of an angle
2. flange of a channel
3. Web of a I section
4. Wall of HSS

Q5 Determine the section classification of the following sections with S355 steel:

• UC 254 x 254 x 89 S275 subject to axial load.

Answer: at least class 2
• UC 203 x 203 x 46 S355 subject to bending.
Answer: at least class 2
• UB 457 x 152 x 60 S355 subject to bending.
Answer: at least class 2
• UB 457 x 152 x 60 S355 subject to axial force 1500kN.
Answer: class 4

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 2 EI
Pcr 
L2

 EI 2  2E
P
 cr   f cr  r2
A AL2 L2
 2E
 E I 
2
 f cr 
 f cr   
 r
2
L  A
2 L I
where, r  , radius of gyration
A 33