Compression Member Design Tool

Column Length (m): Column Diameter (mm): Modulus of Elasticity (GPa): Yield Strength (MPa):

Compression Member Design Example

Consider a steel column that is 3.048 m long with a circular cross-section of 60 mm diameter. The modulus of elasticity of the steel is 200 GPa, and the yield strength is 250 MPa. Determine the safe axial load that the column can support based on the Indian code IS 800:2007.

Solution

The cross-sectional area of the column is:

      A = (π/4) x D^2
        = (π/4) x (60 mm)^2
        = 2827.43 mm^2
    

The slenderness ratio of the column is:

      λ = KL/r
        = 1 x 3.048 m / 30 mm
        = 101.6
    

The critical stress of the column is:

      σcr = (π^2 x E) / (λ^2 x fy)
          = (π^2 x 200000 MPa) / (101.6^2 x 250 MPa)
          = 104.07 MPa
    

The allowable stress of the column is:

      σa = fy / γm0
         = 250 MPa / 1.10
         = 227.27 MPa
    

The safe axial load that the column can support is:

      Pu = σa x A
         = 227.27 MPa x 2827.43 mm^2
         = 643.64 kN