LECTURE 5

DESIGN OF BENDING MEMBERS

 5.1 Design of Beams
Beams span between supports to carry lateral
loads which are resisted by bending and shear.
However, deflections and local stresses are
also important.
Beams may be cantilevered, simply supported,
fixed ended or continuous, as shown in Figure
below. The main uses of beams are to support
floors and columns, carry roof sheeting as
purlins and side cladding as sheeting rails.
Types of beams
Beam sections
 Beam loads
Types of beam loads are:
(1) concentrated loads from secondary beams and
columns;
(2) distributed loads from self-weight and floor
slabs.
The loads are further classified into:
(1) dead loads from self weight, slabs, finishes,
etc.
(2) imposed loads from people, fittings, snow on
roofs, etc.
Classification of beam cross-sections
(3.5)

Beam cross-sections are classified as follows in

accordance with their behaviour in bending:

Class 1 Plastic cross-section: This can develop a

plastic hinge with sufficient rotation capacity to
permit redistribution of moments in the
structure. Only class I sections can be used for
plastic design.
Class 2 Compact cross-section: This can
develop the plastic moment capacity, but local
buckling prevents rotation at constant moment.

Class 3 Semi-compact cross-section: The stress

in the extreme fibres should be limited to the
yield stress because local buckling prevents
development of the plastic moment capacity.
Class 4 Slender cross-section: Premature
buckling occurs before yield is reached.
Elements are generally of uniform thickness,
but, if tapered, the average thickness is used.

Elements are classified as plastic, compact or

semi-compact if they meet limits given in
Tables 11 and 12 in association with Figures 5
and 6 of the code.
 5.2 Design principle

 Members in Bending are covered in section

4.2 BS 5950-1:2000
 General
 All Members subject to bending should meet the conditions
given in section 4.2.1.1 i.e

a) At critical Points the combination of maximum moment and co-existent

shear, and the combination of maximum shear and co-existent moment
should be checked.
b) The deflection criteria given in 2.5.2 of the code should be taken into
account.
c) Unless the member is fully restrained against lateral-torsional buckling
as indicated in 4.2.2, its resistance to lateral –torsional buckling should
be checked in accordance with 4.3
d) For Class 4 slender sections, local buckling should be taken into
account as given in 3.6
e) When the load or reactions are applied through the flange to the web the
conditions of 4.5 for bearing and buckling should be met
Table 8 BS 5950
5.3 Design of Laterally Restrained Members in Bending
5.3.1 Shear Capacity: (section 4.2.3)

The Shear Force Fv should not be greater

than the Shear Capacity Pv given by

Pv=0.6pyAv

In which Av is the shear Area taken as follows

See 4.2.3: BS 5950-1:2000
A is the area of the cross section
Ao is the area of the rectilinear element of the cross
section which has the largest dimension in the
direction parallel to the shear force
B is the overall breadth
D is the overall depth
d is the depth of the web
t is the web thickness

In CHS and RHS sections the shear areas should be

assumed to be located adjacent to the neutral axis
5.3. Design of Laterally Restrained Members in Bending
5.3.2 Moment Capacity: (see section 4.2.5 BS 5950)

 The Moment capacity should be determined from the

following section of BS 5950-1:2000: 4.2.5.2, 4.2.5.3 &
4.2.5.4, which allow for effects of coexisting shear

 Effects of holes should be allowed for as detailed in

4.2.5.5 of the code
 5.3.2.1 Low Shear ( Fv ≤ 0.6Pv ): see 4.2.5.2 BS5950

Class of section Moment Capacity (Mc )

Where the shear
(in accordance Force
with 3.5.2) Fv ≤ 0.6Pv The moment capacity is
given
Class by the following
1 plastic or table Mc = py S ≤1.2 py Z
Class 2 Compact sections
Class 3 Semi-compact sections Mc = py Z or alternatively Mc = py Seff

Class 4 Slender cross sections Mc = py Zeff

 Where
S is the plastic Modulus
Seff is the effective plastic Modulus see 3.5.6 Bs 5950
Z is the section Modulus
Zeff is the effective section modulus see 3.6.2
 5.3.2.2 High Shear, Notched Ends and Bolt Holes

 Moment Capacity at a section with Fv > 0.6Pv

Should be determine in accordance with 4.2.5.3 of BS 5950
 At Notched ends of I, H or Channel section members the
Moment Capacity Mc should be determined in accordance
with 4.2.5.4 of BS 5950
 Allowances for bolt holes should be in accordance with
4.2.5.5 of BS 5950
 5.4 Determination of Plastic Modulus of a Cross
Section

 Consider a member subjected to bending:

 If the Bending Moment is small the stress and

strain vary linearly across the section (fig b).
When the moment is increased, yield stress is
attained in the top fiber (fig c) and with further
increase the yield stress is reached in the
bottom fiber as well. (fig d). If the bending
moment continues to increase, yield will spread
from outer fibers inward until the two zones of
yield meet. (fig f ). The cross section is said to
be fully plastic
(a) (b) (c) (d)
(e) (f)
 The resultant of Compressive stresses acting on
the full plastic section is given by
 Fc=Acσy where Ac= area under compression and
σy is the yield stress.
From Mechanics Fc must go through the centroid of the
area under compression.
 Similarly the resultant of the tensile stresses is given by
 Ft=Atσy where At= area under tension and σy is the
yield stress.
Again from Mechanics Ft must go through centroid of the
area under tension.
 Fc = Acσy

la

Ft = Atσy
 Equilibrium requirements in horizontal
direction gives:
 Fc=Ft or Acσy =Atσy
 i.e. Ac = At
 But Ac + At =A ( the cross Sectional Area)
 Therefore Ac = At = A/2
 Taking moments about the centrod of the tensile
stress gives
A
M pl  Ac  y  la    y  la
2

Where la is the distance between the centroid of the

upper half and the centroid of the lower half of the cross
section .
A
The quantity  la is called the PLASTIC
2
MODULUS of the cross section