1

Bending of Square and Rectangular Box shaped members per AISC 8th and 9th Edition

TU8x8x3/16"

Member Size (TUhxbxt)

h w := 8 in

Member height (in)

b f := 8 in

Member width (in)

t f := 0.1875 in

Nominal member flange thickness (in)

t w := 0.1875 in

Nominal member web thickness (in)

Atot := 5.37 in
4

Moment of Inertia about axis of bending (strong axis) (in^4)

Moment of Inertia about weak axis (in^4)

Ix := 54.4 in
Iy := 54.4 in
E := 29000

Cross sectional area of section (in^2)

kip

Modulus of Elasticity (ksi)

in
Fy := 46

Yield strength of material (ksi)

Sy := 46 ksi

Yield Strength with units in Mathcad (ksi

M r := 275 in kip

Maximum required moment for load case being considered (in-kip)

fa := 12

Computed axial stress (ksi)

f := 18

Computed compressive stress in the stiffened elements, based on the

design properties as specified in Section C4 (ksi). If unstiffened elements
are included in the total cross section, f for the stiffened element must
bge such that the maximum compressive stress in the stiffened element
does not exceed F a Qs or Fb Qs, as applicable.

M 1 := 100 in kip

Smaller bending moment at the ends of the unbraced length (in-kip)

M 2 := 100 in kip

Larger bending moment at the ends of the unbraced length (in-kip)

Lb := 50 ft

Laterally unsupported length (ft)

Determine if HSS flange is: compact, non compact, or slender:

b := b f 3 t f

For flanges of rectangular hollow structural sections (HSS), the width "b"
is the clear distance between webs less the inside corner radius on each
side. The inside radius shall be taken as 3 times the thickness. AISC
9th Ed. Pg 5-34 - Section B5.1d.

b = 7.438 in

b
tf

= 39.667

pf :=

190

rf :=

238

Width thckness ratio

pf = 28

Fy

AISCM 8th Ed. Pg 5-20 Section 1.5.1.4.1

Paragragh 3

rf = 35.1

Fy

AISCM 8th Ed. Pg 5-30 Section 1.9.2.2

The lateral unsupported length of the compression flange of a box-shaped member of

rectangular cross section shall not exceed the least of the following:

Lc1 := 1950 + 1200

M1 b

M 2 Fy

Lc1 = 42.442 ft AISCM 8th Ed. Pg 5-20 Section 1.5.1.4.1

Paragragh 6

Except that it need not be less than:

Lc2 := 1200

Fy
b

Lc2 = 16.168 ft

Lc := max( Lc1 , Lc2)

Lc = 42.442 ft

Maximum laterally unsupported

compression flange of a box shaped
member

Also for compactness, a section with a depth that is not more than 6 times the width and
For a section whose flange thickness is not more than 2 times the web thickness.
AISCM 8th Ed. Pg 5-20 Section 1.5.1.4.1 Paragragh 6
HSSFlange :=

"Compact" if

b
tf

"Non Compact" if

pf Lb Lc h w 6 b f
b
tf

"Slender" otherwise
HSSFlange = "Slender"

> pf

b
tf

rf Lb > Lc

Determine if HSS web is: compact, non compact, or slender:

For webs of rectangular hollow structural sections (HSS), the height "d"
is the full nominal depth. AISC 9 Ed. Pg 5-35 - Section B5.1b

d := h w
d = 8 in

d
tw

= 42.667

The depth thickness ratio of the web shall not exceed the following:
fa
640
fa
pw :=
1 3.74 if
0.16
Fy
Fy
Fy
257

pw = 37.9

AISCM 8th Ed. Pg 5-20

Section 1.5.1.4.1 Paragragh 4

otherwise

Fy
HSSWeb :=

"Compact" if

hw
tw

"Non Compact" if

pw
hw
tw

> pw

HSSWeb = "Non Compact"

If "Compact" then:
Fbc := 0.66 Sy

Fbc = 30.36 ksi

AISCM 8th Edition Pg 5-21 - Section 1.5.1.4.3

If " Non Compact" then:

Fbnc := 0.60 Sy

Fbnc = 27.6 ksi

AISCM 8th Edition Pg 5-21 - Section 1.5.1.4.4

If flange is "Slender" then the allowable moment must be calculated using the calculated effective
width and the resulting effective section modulus:

The AISCM says this

is the compressive
stress in the stiffened
elements based on
the section properties
of the effective width
calculated in Section
C4.

b e1 := 253

tf

50.3
b

tf

b e1 = 7.839 in
b e :=

b e1 if b e1 < b
b if b e1 > b

AISCM 8th Edition Pg 5-95 - Section C3

Is this value supposed to be
the "actual" width or the
"design" width?

b e = 7.438 in
This is a situation the
TU8x8x3/16" qualifies as a
"Slender" tube and the
section modulus needs to be
reduced, but the "effective"
width is larger than the
"actual" width and thus ther
is no difference in the section
modulus.

Calculate Removed Area:

b rem := b b e

b rem = 0 in

Arem := b rem t f

Arem = 0 in

Length of flange removed as a result of the effective

width being used.
Area of flange removed as a result of the effective
width being used.

Calculate new neutral axis measured from the bottom of the section:

hw

Atot Arem hw
2

Yeff :=
(Atot Arem)

tf

2

Yeff = 4 in

Calculate difference between "New" and "Old" neutral axis:

d na :=

hw
Yeff
2

d na = 0 in

Calculate the moment of inertia of the "Removed" area:

t 3
f

Irem := b rem

Irem = 0 in

12

Calculate the distance from the "New" neutral axis to the centroid of the "Removed" area:
tf

d neg := h w Yeff
2

d neg = 3.906 in

Calculate the effective moment of inertia of the "Total Area" minus the "Removed Area":
Total area moment of inertia moving the axis from the old CG/N-A to the new CG/N-A
(by means of parallel axis theorem):
2

Itotnew := Ix + Atot d na

Itotnew = 54.4 in

Removed area moment of inertia moving the axis from the old CG/N-A to the new CG/N-A
(by means of parallel axis theorem):

Iremnew := Irem + Arem d neg

Iremnew = 0 in

Is my rational on calculating
the effective section modulus
correct?

Is my rational on calculating
the effective section modulus
correct? (Continued from
above)

Calculate the effective moment of inertia by subtracting the "Removed" area moment of
inertia at the new CG/N-A from the "Total" area moment of inertia about the new CG/N-A:
4

Ieff := Itotnew Iremnew

Ieff = 54.4 in

Calcualte the effective seciton modulus:

Ieff
Seff :=
h w Yeff

Seff = 13.6 in

Calculate the nominal moment:

What allowable stress is

supposed to be used with
the effective section modulus
(Slender flanges)? Is 0.60Fy
correct? The AISC 8th and
9th edition are vague.

Mmax := 0.6Sy Seff

Fbs :=

Mmax
S
eff

Mmax = 375.4 in kip

Fbs = 27.6 ksi

Equivalent Allowable Stress based on

allowable moment and section.

The allowable stress, Fb shall be the lowest value obtained according to :

1. Flange Local Buckling
2. Slenderness
3. Web Local Buckling
Therefore:
Fbf :=

Fbc if HSSFlange = "Compact"

Fbf = 27.6 ksi

Fbnc if HSSFlange = "Noncompact"

Fbs if HSSFlange = "Slender"
Fbw :=

Fbc if HSSWeb = "Compact"

Fbw = 27.6 ksi

Fbnc otherwise

Fb := min Fbf , Fbw

Fb = 27.6 ksi

Note: Lateral Torsional Buckling does NOT apply to flexural members bent about their weak axis
or HSS bent about either axis, per AISC Specification Sections F6, F7 and F8 (no mention is
made of lateral torsional buckling). AISC 13th Edition, Pg 3-5.