CLASSIFICATION OF CROSS-SECTIONS:

Compression and bending (clause 5.5.2)

EC 3
1 INTRODUCTION
This example gives details for the classification of cross sections under combined loading.
Using the loading conditions below, determine the classification of the cross-section of a 254 x
102 x 28 UB in grade S355 steel.
N
Ed
N
Ed

a) Pure compression
b) An axial force N
Ed
and pure bending about the y-y axis where:
N
Ed
200 kN := compression force
1.1 Section properties
h 260.4 mm := depth
b 102.2 mm := width
t
w
6.3mm := web thickness
t
f
10mm := flange thickness
r 7.6mm := root radius
A 36.1cm
2
:= section area
1.2 Material properties
E 210000
N
mm
2
:= moddulus of elasticity cl 3.2.6
2 CLASSIFICATION OF CROSS-SECTIONS (cl 5.5.2)
Grade of steel =S 355
t
f
10mm = t
f
40mm s 1 = cl 3.2.1
therefore, f
y
355
N
mm
2
:=
table 3.1
Hence:

235
N
mm
2

f
y
:= 0.814 =
a) Pure compression
2.1 Classification of flange
table 5.2
(sheet 2)
c
f
b t
w
2r
2
:= c
f
40.35mm =
c
f
t
f
4.035 = ClassF 4
c
f
t
f
14 > if
3
c
f
t
f
14 s if
2
c
f
t
f
10 s if
1
c
f
t
f
9 s if
:=
Flange is ClassF 1 =
2.2 Classification of web
table 5.2
(sheet 1)
c
w
h 2t
f
2r := c
w
225.2mm =
c
w
t
w
35.746 = ClassW 4
c
w
t
w
42 > if
3
c
w
t
w
42 s if
2
c
w
t
w
38 s if
1
c
w
t
w
33 s if
:=
Web is ClassW 2 =
2.3 Overall classification cl 5.5.2(6)
Class max ClassF ClassW , ( ) :=
The overall cross-section of the member is Class 2 =
3 CLASSIFICATION OF CROSS-SECTIONS
b) An axial force N
Ed
and bending about (y-y)
Flange classification is ClassF 1 =
3.1 Classification of web
For a Class 1 or 2 I or H section where the neutral axis lies in the web:

1
2
1
N
Ed
c
w
t
w
f
y

+
|

\
|
|
.
:= 0.699 =
For web in combined compression and bending:
table 5.2
(sheet 1)
c
w
t
w
35.746 =
456
13 1
45.911 =
396
13 1
39.87 =
when 0.5 >
ClassW 3
c
w
t
w
456
13 1
> if
2
c
w
t
w
456
13 1
s if
1
c
w
t
w
396
13 1
s if
:=
Therefore, web is ClassW 1 =

3.2 Overall classification
Class max ClassF ClassW , ( ) :=
The overall cross-section of the member is Class 1 =
4 CONCLUSION
For this cross-section, the section classification is Class 2 under pure compression and
Class 1 under an axial load (N
Ed
) of 200 kN and bending about (y-y).