S

S
t
t
e
e
e
e
l
l
S
S
t
t
r
r
u
u
c
c
t
t
u
u
r
r
e
e
s
s


S
S
a
a
m
m
p
p
l
l
e
e
W
W
o
o
r
r
k
k
e
e
d
d
P
P
r
r
o
o
b
b
l
l
e
e
m
m
s
s
t
t
o
o
A
A
S
S
4
4
1
1
0
0
0
0






















ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 2 -
NOTE: All references to Clauses or Tables in the Examples are references to
Clauses/Tables in AS 4100 Steel Structures unless noted otherwise
Table of Contents

Example 1 - Determine the Design Section Moment Capacity of a Universal Beam
with Full Lateral Restraint ...............................................................................- 3 -
Example 2 - Determine the Design Member Moment Capacity of a Laterally
Unrestrained Universal Beam.........................................................................- 4 -
Example 3 - Design a Laterally Unrestrained Beam...........................................................- 6 -
Example 4 - Determine the Design Section Capacity for a Concentrically Loaded
Member in Compression.................................................................................- 8 -
Example 5 - Design a Universal Column Compression Member......................................- 10 -
Example 6 - Determine the Design Capacity for an Eccentrically Connected Single
Angle Member in Tension.............................................................................- 12 -
Example 7 - Determine the Design Moment Capacity for the Major Axis for a
Section also subject to Axial Compression...................................................- 13 -


ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 3 -
Example 1 - Determine the Design Section Moment Capacity of a
Universal Beam with Full Lateral Restraint

Determine the design section moment capacity of a 460UB82.1 beam of Grade 300PLUS
steel which has full lateral restraint.




Choose f
y
= 300 MPa

1. Calculate the flange slenderness
ef
(Clause 5.2.2)

250
300
16 x 2
9 . 9 191

250
f
t
b

y
ef

=

9 20 . 6
ep
= < = (Table 5.2, uniform compression, HR)


2. Calculate the web slenderness
ew
(Clause 5.2.2)

250
320
9 . 9
16 x 2 460

250
f
t
b

y
ew

=

82 0 . 9 4
ep
= < = (Table 5.2)

Section is compact.

min x x ex
] Z 5 . 1 , S [ Z =
3 3
ex
mm 10 1840 Z =


3. Determine the design section moment capacity
*
x
M

( )
6 3
ex yf sx
10 / 10 x 1840 x 300 x 9 . 0 Z f M = = (Clause 5.1, 5.2.1)

= 497 kNm


4. Design Capacity Tables, Student Edition 2009, Table 5.3, M
sx
= 496 kNm
Geometric Data
From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural
Steel Products" 4th Edition

d = 460 mm
b
f
= 191 mm
t
f
= 16 mm
t
w
= 9.9mm
S
x
= 1840 x 10
3
mm
3
Z
x
= 1610 x 10
3
mm
3

Flange f
yf
= 300 MPa
Web f
yw
= 320 MPa

ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 4 -
Example 2 - Determine the Design Member Moment Capacity of a
Laterally Unrestrained Universal Beam

Determine the maximum design uniform bending moment M* that a 530UB82.0 of Grade
300PLUS steel can sustain. The beam is simply supported over a span of 5.0 m, and is fully
restrained at the supports against lateral deflection and twist rotation and restrained against
lateral rotation. Restraint arrangement FF, load on top flange






Choose f
y
= 300 MPa

1. Calculate the flange slenderness
ef
(Clause 5.2.2)

9 27 . 8
250
300
2 . 13 x 2
6 . 9 209
250
f
t
b
ep
y
ef
= < =

=

(Table 5.2)

Section is compact.

3 3
min x x ex
mm 10 2070 ] Z 5 . 1 , S [ Z = =

2. Determine the nominal section moment capacity M
s
(Clause 5.2.1)

kNm 621 10 / 10 x 2070 x 300 x Z f M
6 3
ex y s
= = =

3. Determine the effective length l
e
(Clause 5.6.3) FF restraints

k
t
= 1.0, k
l
= 1.0, k
r
= 1.0 (Tables 5.6.3(1), (2), (3))

l
e
= k
t
k
l
k
r
l = 1.0 1.0 1.0 5000 = 5000 mm








Geometric Data
From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural
Steel Products" 4th Edition

d = 528 mm
b
f
= 209 mm
t
f
= 13.2mm
t
w
= 9.6 mm
Z
x
= 1810 x 10
3
mm
3
S
x
= 2070 x 10
3
mm
3

I
y
= 20.1 x 10
6
mm
4

J = 526 x10
3
mm
4

S
x
= 1330 x 10
9
mm
3

I
w
= 1330 x 10
9
mm
6

E = 200 x 10
3
MPa
G = 80 x 10
3
MPa
Flange f
yf
= 300 MPa
Web f
yw
= 320 MPa

ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 5 -
4. Determine the reference buckling moment M
o
(Clause 5.6.1.1)

=
2
e
w
2
2
e
y
2
o
EI
GJ
EI
M
l l



6
2
9 2
3
2
6 2
10 /
5000
10 x 1330 x 200000 x
10 x 526 x 80000
5000
10 x 1 . 20 x 200000 x

=

= 483.2 kNm


5. Determine the slenderness reduction factor
s
(Clause 5.6.1.1)

=
oa
s
2
oa
s
s
M
M
3
M
M
6 . 0

=
2 . 483
621
3
2 . 483
621
6 . 0
2
(Equation 5.6.1.1(2))

= 0.523

From Clause 5.6.1.1(a)(i),
m
= 1.0


6. Determine the design member moment capacity (Clauses 5.1, 5.6.1.1) that the beam can
carry

s s m b
M M = = 0.9 x 1.0 x 0.523 x 621
= 292 kNm

7. Design Capacity Tables, Student Edition, Table 5.5, M
bx
= 292 kNm


ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 6 -
Example 3 - Design a Laterally Unrestrained Beam

A simply supported beam with a span of 10.0 metres has a uniformly distributed live load of
10 kN/m on the top flange. The beam is restrained against lateral displacement and twist at
both ends, and is free to rotate in plan. Design a suitable UB section of Grade 300PLUS steel.



1. Assume f
y
= 280 MPa, and that the section is compact.

Allow 1.25 kN/m for beam self weight

a. Calculate the design bending moment

8 . 18 10 25 . 1
8
1
2 . 1 M 2 . 1 M
2
G
*
DL
= = = kNm
*
LL
M = 1.5 * M
Q
= 1.5
8
1
10 10
2
= 187.5 kNm
3 . 206 5 . 187 8 . 18 M
*
= + = kNm

From Table 5.6.1 of AS 4100,
m
= 1.13 for uniform loading

Guess
s
= 0.2


b. Calculate the required member moment capacity M
b
(Clause 5.1, 5.6.1.1)

s s m b
*
M M M =

kNm 1014
2 . 0 x 13 . 1 x 9 . 0
3 . 206


M
M
s m
*
b
= =

c. Calculate the required effective section modulus Z
ex
(Clause 5.2.1)

3 3
6
y
b
ex
mm 10 x 3620
280
10 x 1014
f
M
Z = =

d. Determine the effective length l
e
(Clause 5.6.3)

k
t
= 1.0 (FF), k
l
= 1.4 (load on top flange), k
r
= 1.0 (PP)
l
e
= k
t
k
l
k
r
l = 1.0 1.4 1.0 10000 = 14000 mm





ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 7 -
2. Try using a 610 UB125 (S
x
= 3680 x 10
3
mm
3
). From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural
Steel Products" 4th Edition,

b
f
= 229 mm
t
f
= 19.6 mm
t
w
= 11.9 mm
S
x
= 3680 x 10
3
mm
3

I
y
= 39.3 x 10
6
mm
4

J = 1560 x 10
3
mm
4

I
w
= 3450 x 10
9
mm
6

f
yf
= 280 MPa
f
yw
= 300 MPa

Choose f
y
= 280 MPa


a. Calculate the flange slenderness
ef
(Clause 5.2.2)

9 86 . 5
250
280
6 . 19 x 2
9 . 11 229

250
f
t
b

ep
y
ef
= < =

=

Section is compact

Z
ex
= S
x
= 3680 x 10
3
mm
3



b. Determine the nominal section moment capacity M
s
(Clause 5.2.1)

( ) kNm 1030 10 / 10 x 3680 x 280 x Z f M
6 3
ex y s
= = =

Using the Design Capacity Tables, Student Edition 2009, Table 5.3,

M
sx
= 927 kNm,

M
sx
= 927 / 0.9 = 1030 kNm


c. Determine the reference buckling moment M
o
(Equation 5.6.1.1(3))

=
2
e
w
2
2
e
y
2
o
EI
GJ
EI
M
l l



6
2
9 2
3
2
6 2
10 /
14000
10 x 3450 x 200000 x
10 x 1560 x 80000
14000
10 x 3 . 39 x 200000 x

=

= 251.3 kNm










ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 8 -
d. Determine the slenderness reduction factor
s
(Equation 5.6.1.1(2))

=
oa
s
2
oa
s
s
M
M
3
M
M
6 . 0

=
3 . 251
1030
3
3 . 251
1030
6 . 0
2


= 0.210


e. Check the design member moment capacity (Clauses 5.1, 5.6.1.1)

1030 x 210 . 0 x 13 . 1 x 9 . 0 M M
s s m b
= =

= 221 kNm > M* = 206.3 kNm SATISFACTORY

Adopt a 610UB125 actual dead load = 125 kgs/m (1.23 kN/m)

Allowed 1.25 kN/m in design SATISFACTORY

Note: Design Capacity Tables, Student Edition 2009, Table 5.5,

M
bx
= 195 kNm for
b
= 1.0, l
e
= 14m

Hence, M
bx
= 220 kNm for
b
= 1.13, l
e
= 14m



Example 4 - Determine the Design Section Capacity for a Concentrically
Loaded Member in Compression

Determine the design section capacity of a concentrically loaded 250UC72.9 compression
member of Grade 300PLUS steel if the effective length about each axis is 4.0 metres.



l
ex
= l
ey
= 4000 mm





Geometric Data
From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural
Steel Products" 4th Edition

d = 254 mm
b
f
= 254 mm
t
f
= 14.2 mm
t
w
= 8.6 mm
A = 9320 mm
2

r
x
= 111 mm
r
y
= 64.5 mm

ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 9 -
1. Determine the form factor k
f
(Clause 6.2.2)

From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural Steel Products" 4th Edition,

f
yf
= 300 MPa
f
yw
= 320 MPa

Choose f
y
= 300 MPa

k
f
= 1.0


2. Determine the nominal section capacity N
s
(Clause 6.2.1)

N
s
= k
f
A
n
f
y
= 1.0 9320 300 / 10
3
= 2796 kN


3. Calculate the modified member slenderness
n
(Clause 6.3.3)

5 . 39
250
300
0 . 1
111
4000

250
f
k
r

y
f
x
ex
nx
=

=
l


9 . 67
250
300
0 . 1
5 . 64
4000

250
f
k
r

y
f
y
ey
nx
=

=
l



n
= 67.9 since y-axis buckling controls.


4. Calculate the compression member section constant
b
and member slenderness reduction
factor
c
, using linear interpolation.

For hot rolled UC sections,
b
= 0 (Table 6.3.3(1))

c
= 0.779 (0.779 0.748) x 761 . 0
) 65 70 (
) 65 9 . 67 (
=

(Table 6.3.3(3))


5. Determine the design section capacity in compression (Clause 6.3.3)

c
N =
s c
N = 0.9 0.761 2796 = 1915 kN

The design axial capacity can also be determined using the Design Capacity Tables, Student
Edition 2009.

From Table 6.4,
cy
N = 1920 kN










ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 10 -
Example 5 - Design a Universal Column Compression Member

A concentrically loaded compression member of Grade 300PLUS steel is restrained so that
its effective lengths are l
ex
= 10.0 m and l
ey
= 5.0 m. If the nominal dead and live axial loads
are 600 kN and 1200 kN respectively, design a suitable UC section.


1. Calculate the design axial force N* (AS1170.0) for the permanent and imposed action load
combination

N* = 1.2G + 1.5Q = 1.2 600 + 1.5 1200 = 2520 kN


2. Guess a trial section

Guess f
y
= 280MPa, k
f
= 1.0,
b
= 0,
n
= 80
From Table 6.3.3(3),
c
= 0.681

N*
c
N =
c c
N =
y n f c
f A k

2
3
y f c
*
n
mm 14684
280 x 0 . 1 x 681 . 0 x 9 . 0
10 x 2520

f k
N
A = =

3. Try using a 310 UC118




a. Determine the form factor k
f
(Section 6.2.2)

From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural Steel Products" 4th Edition,

f
y
= 280 MPa
k
f
= 1.0


b. Calculate the modified member slenderness
n
(Clause 6.3.3)

8 . 77
250
280
0 . 1
136
10000

250
f
k
r

y
f
x
ex
nx
=

=
l


3 . 68
250
280
0 . 1
5 . 77
5000

250
f
k
r

y
f
y
ey
ny
=

=
l



n
= 77.8 since x-axis buckling controls.
Geometric Data
From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural
Steel Products" 4th Edition

d = 315 mm
b
f
= 307 mm
t
f
= 18.7 mm
t
w
= 11.9 mm
A = 15000 mm
2

r
x
= 136 mm
r
y
= 77.5 mm

ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 11 -
c. Calculate the compression member section constant
b
and member
slenderness reduction factor
c


From Table 6.3.3(1),
b
= 0


From Table 6.3.3(3) using linear interpolation,

c
= 0.715 696 . 0 ) 75 8 . 77 ( x
) 75 80 (
681 . 0 715 . 0
=

d. Determine the design member compression capacity
c
N (Clause 6.3.3)
cx
N =
y n f c
f A k = 0.9 0.696 1.0 15000 280 / 10
3

= 2631 > N* = 2550 kN SATISFACTORY
Hence adopt a 310 UC118 section.

e. Using the Design Capacity Tables, Student Edition 2009, Table 6.3,
cx
N = 2630 kN

































ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 12 -
Example 6 - Determine the Design Capacity for an Eccentrically
Connected Single Angle Member in Tension
Determine the design capacity of a tension member consisting of a single 100x100x10EA
angle of Grade 300PLUS steel which is connected eccentrically through one leg by a single
line of 16 mm bolts (18 mm holes).


From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural Steel Products" 4th Edition,

f
y
= 320 MPa
f
u
= 440 MPa


1. Calculate the net area of the cross-section
n
(Clause 7.2)

A
g
= 1810 mm
2

A
n
= 1810 1 (16 + 2) 9.5 = 1639 mm
2

(NB: holes are 2mm larger than the bolt diameter)


2. Determine the nominal section capacity N
t
(Clause 7.2)

Member yield N
t
= A
g
f
y
= 1810 x 320 / 10
3
= 579 kN

Section fracture N
t
= 0.85k
t
A
n
f
u
= 0.85 x 0.85 x 1639 x 440 / 10
3


= 521 kN

N
t
= 521 kN, section fracture governs


3. Determine the maximum design axial tension force N* that the angle can carry (Clause 7.1)

N*
t
N = 0.9 521 = 469 kN








Geometric Data
From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural
Steel Products" 4th Edition

b
1
= 100 mm
t = 9.5 mm
A = 1810 mm
2

k
t
= 0.85 (Table 7.3.2, configuration (i))

ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 13 -
Example 7 - Determine the Design Moment Capacity for the Major Axis
for a Section also subject to Axial Compression

Determine the design major axis section moment capacity of a 310UC118 of Grade 300PLUS
steel which has a design axial compression force of N*= 180 kN.





From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural Steel Products" 4th Edition,

f
yf
= 280 MPa
f
yw
= 300 MPa

Choose f
y
= 280 MPa


1. Calculate the flange slenderness
ef
(Clause 5.2.2)

9 35 . 8
250
280
7 . 18 x 2
9 . 11 307

250
f
t
b

epf
y
ef
= < =

=

Section is compact.


2. Calculate the nominal section moment capacity M
sx
(Clause 5.2.1)

S
x
= 1960 10
3
mm
3


< 1.5Z
x
= 1.5 1760 10
3
= 2640 10
3
mm
3
(Clause 5.2.3)

Z
e
= S
x


M
sx
= f
y
x Z
e
= 280 1960 10
3
/ 10
6
= 549 kNm (Clause 5.2.1)

Using the Design Capacity Tables, Student Edition 2009, Table 5.4 and 8.2

M
sx
= 494 kNm

M
sx
= 494 / 0.9 = 549 kNm





Geometric Data
From OneSteel "Hot Rolled and Structural
Steel Products" 4th Edition

d = 315 mm
b
f
= 307 mm
t
f
= 18.7 mm
t
w
= 11.9 mm
A = 15000 mm
2

S
x
= 1960 x 10
3
mm
3

Z
x
= 1760 x 10
3
mm
3


ASI: STEEL STRUCTURES
SAMPLE WORKED PROBLEMS TO AS 4100
- 14 -
3. Determine the nominal section compression capacity N
s
(Clause 6.2.1)

ef
= 8.35 <
eyf
= 16 (Table 6.2.4)

ew
= 24.69 <
eyw
= 45 (Table 6.2.4)

k
f
= 1.0 (Clause 6.2.2)

N
s
= k
f
A
n
f
y
= 1.0 15000 280 / 10
3
= 4200 kN (Clause 6.2.1)

Using the Design Capacity Tables, Student Edition 2009, Table 8.2,

N
s
= 3780 kN

N
s
= 3780 / 0.9 = 4200 kN


4. Determine the design major axis section capacity reduced by axial force (Clause 8.3.2)

(a) Method 1

=
4200 x 9 . 0
180
1 x 549
N
N
1 M M
s
*
sx rx


= 523 kNm < M
sx
= 549 kNm


(b) Method 2 (for compact doubly symmetric I-sections): (Clause 8.3.2)

1. Determine the section moment capacity reduced by axial force M
rx

=
4200 x 9 . 0
180
1 x 549 x 18 . 1
N
N
1 M 18 . 1 M
s
*
sx rx


= 617 kNm > M
sx
= 549 kNm

M
rx
= 549 kNm (Clause 8.3.2)

Under Clause 8.3.2, either calculated values of M
rx
can be adopted, however adopt the larger
value

M
rx
= 549 kNm.


2. Determine the design major axis reduced section capacity
rx
M (Clause 8.3.2)

kNm 494 549 x 9 . 0 M
rx
= =


3. Using the Design Capacity Tables, Student Edition 2009, Table 8.2

M
rx (comp)
= 582 (1-n) = 582 x (1 N* / N
s
)
= 582 x (1 180 / 3780)
= 554
But must M
sx
= 494 kNm

M
rx (comp)
= 494 kNm