Steel - buckling resistance of members

The task Buckling Resistance of Members contains:

  • Design Code tab

  • Loadcases tab

  • Selection tab

  • Text Output tab

Tip

If you click on the figure it will show up in original size.

See also

The task “Buckling Resistance of Members” was explained in the Portal Frame tutorial (Analysis and Design).

Design Code tab

The Design Code tab is the first step, where the design code should be selected. In version 2018, following design codes are available:

  • Eurocode 3

  • DIN 18800 / OEN 4300

Hint

In version 2020, the design code BS 5950 has been removed from the BDK task in SSD. The design code is not maintained any more.

../../_images/buckling_resistance_task_1.png

Depending on the selected design code, the task will show up corresponding options. For e.g. Eurocode 3 you can select between method 1 and 2, you can modify the partial safety factors, change the imperfection factors for the buckling curves, change the cross-section parameters etc.

Loadcases tab

The Loadcases tab will show all loadcases with an action “Design (D)”. Next steps are necessary to define a “Design (D)” loadcase:

  • Run the defined loadcases with the “Linear analysis” task

  • Combine the loads with the “Combine Loads” task, there you should select the type of the results “ULS - combination”

  • Analyze the combined loadcases with the task “Analysis of Combined loadcases”

../../_images/buckling_resistance_task_2.png

Selection tab

The Selection tab is the most important tab in the task. It contains two tables:

  • Structural lines

  • Sequence of Structural lines

../../_images/buckling_resistance_task_3.png

The table for Structural lines shows all available structural lines with steel material. The table for Sequence of Structural lines is used to generate a sequence of the existing structural lines.

E.g. you can convert two or more structural lines to one design element.

Hint

The requirements for create a sequence of structural lines are:

  • the structural lines are connected,

  • the new design element (structural lines sequence) should be straight.

If this conditions are NOT met, then you will get a warning in BDK.

In the table bellow you will find the description for “Structural lines” and “Sequence of Structural lines” table columns.

Column

Description

ID

Identification number of the design element. If nothing is specified BDK will try to use “SLN Number” = “ID Design Element Number”.

SLN

Identification number of the structural line

Sequence

Sequence of structural lines. In the “Sequence of structural lines” column, you can need to define more than one SLN (“,” character is the separator, “-” will take into account all loadcase number “from - to”). Bellow you will find few input examples.

If you want to create a sequence of structural lines 1 and 2:

1,2

If you want to create a sequence of structural lines 1, 2, 10, 11 and 12:

1,2,10-12

etc.

It is highly recommended that you always define a custom design element number for “Sequence of structural lines” (ID). (e.g. 1001)

Length

Length of the structural lines

Stability Check

Stability check is the type of the buckling check. There are 3 available options:

  • Eurocode 3:

  • LTB - “Lateral Torsional Buckling acc. to EN 1993-1-1, 6.3.3

  • FLEX - “Flexural/Torsional Buckling acc. to EN 1993-1-1, 6.3.1

  • LAT - “Lateral Buckling” acc. to EN 1993-1-1, 6.3.2

DIN 18800/OEN 4300

  • LTB - “Lateral Torsional Buckling”

BS 5950

  • LTB - “Lateral Torsional Buckling”

LCST

Loadcase number for storing the results

In the LCST column, you can add more than one LCST value (“,” character is the separator, “-” will take into account all loadcase number “from - to”). Bellow you will find few input examples.

To save the results to loadcase 951 input:

951

To save the results to loadcases 951 and 953 input:

951,953

The results will be saved to loadcases 951, 952, 955, 956, 957, 958:

951,952,955-958

etc.

Start/End Supports

The boundary conditions for START and END of the design element are here explicit defined. Default is “Fork-Fork”.

CVL (Lateral Restraints)

The lateral restraints (Continuous and Point) along the design-element are defined in this column.

  • Reference column:

    • START: The station will be referenced to START of the design element.

    • MID: The station will be referenced to MIDDLE of the design element.

    • END: The station will be referenced to END of the design element.

    • XI: This represents a percental length of the design element, min. value is = 0, max. value is = 1

      e.g. Reference = XI and Station = 0.3 represents a lateral restraint at position 30% if the design element length

    • HDIV: Will create lateral restraints at equal distance

      e.g. Reference = HDIV and Station = 3, will generate 3 lateral restraints at equal distance.

  • CY/CY Type Column: Spring constant for lateral displacement y (FIX, FREE or SPRING value)

  • DX/DX Type: Rotational spring constant (Torsion) (FIX, FREE or SPRING value)

CVM (Intermediate Supports)

Define intermediate supports at position of Structural Points. The table will show all structural points along the design element. For Intermediate Supports you can define CB, CY, CZ, DX, DY, DZ boundary conditions (see BDK Manual for more details).

β (y-y) and β (z-z)

Buckling factors. If nothing is specified the buckling lengths will be determined automatically (default).

Cross-Section Class

If automatic is defined then the cross-section class will be determined automatically. It is also possible to input the cross-section class manually.

Lateral Torsional Buckling curves

If automatic is defined then the buckling curves will be determined automatically. It is also possible to input the LTB buckling curves (a,b,c,d) manually.

Buckling Factor

Two options are possible (Eurocode 3 only):

  • General Case acc. EN 1993-1-1, 6.3.2.2

  • LTB Curve for rolled section or equivalent welded sections acc. EN 1993-1-1, 6.3.2.3

Sway (y-y), Sway (z-z)

If the sway checkboxes is checked, BDK will set the equivalent uniform moments Cmy = 0.90 or Cmz = 0.90 respectively (EN 1993-1-1, Method 2, Table B.3.). If the sway mode is un-checked, then BDK will determine the Cmy and Cmz values according to the Eurocode formulas.

Torsional susceptible

If automatic is selected BDK will try to find automatically if the cross-section is torsional susceptible. The type of the cross-section is checked. Also the moment of inertia It is compared with Iy and Iz. If you want to modify this value explicitly, then Yes or No options are available (acc. to EN 1993-1-1, Method 2 (Annex B), Table B.1 or B.2)