Design Example for Beams with Web Openings

R I C H A R D L. KUSSMAN AND P E T E R B. COOPER

branching out at right angles. For both architectural and

aesthetic reasons it is undesirable to run the H V A C system
below the floor members, so they must penetrate them. It
is also desirable to keep the H V A C system on a level plane,
thereby reducing installation costs by decreasing the
number of bends in the duct material. It is necessary to
provide a duct area of 144 sq. in. with l-in.-thick insulation
on all sides. Vertical positioning of the ducts used in this
example are shown in Fig. 2. T h e corner radius was determined from recommendations for members subjected to
fatigue loadings.^ While structures designed by plastic
methods are not subject to fatigue situations, these guidelines were used to provide a reasonable basis for determining the corner radii of web openings. It is also possible
that a slightly smaller opening could have been used to
accommodate the duct. T h e use of a smaller opening might,
however, cause problems in the installation of the duct
insulation and thereby increase costs. A liberal clearance
was therefore provided in this example.
T h e floor system is to be designed to carry a live load of
100 psf^ and a dead load of 80 psf (50 psf for the concrete
slab and 30 psf for other dead loads). Using A36 steel and
the AISC Specification"^ for plastic design, along with
current research results, the locations where openings can
be placed along the length of the floor beams and girders
will be explored with the opening reinforcement varying
as follows: (1) no opening reinforcement is provided, (2)

D U E T O the increasing cost of energy and the difficuhy of

obtaining raw materials, economy has a high priority in all
aspects of design. In the design of multistory steel buildings,
savings can be realized by passing ductwork for heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning systems through steel floor
beams, rather than under them. Not only does this practice
save in the overall height of the structure, along with all the
related benefits in material savings, but it also saves in the
cost of heating and air conditioning by enclosing less volume
to be heated or cooled. Eccentric openings are of special
interest because not all floor beams and girders are of the
same depth at any given level. It is desirable to keep the
ductwork on a relatively level plane to cut down on the cost
of fabricating bends. It is doubtful that it costs any more to
fabricate an eccentric opening in a steel beam than it does
to fabricate a concentric opening. T h u s , even more savings
can be realized by using the eccentric opening. T h e addition
of reinforcement is also sometimes desirable so that a
heavier section is not required because of the opening.
Design formulas have been developed for beams with
concentric and eccentric web openings, both unreinforced
and reinforced;^ the purpose of this paper is to illustrate the
application of these formulas in a typical design problem.
PROBLEM STATEMENT

A portion of the floor system supporting a concourse in a

multistory building is shown in Fig. 1. T h e floor system
consists of girders spanning from column to column, with
floor beams supported by the girders. T h e floor beams and
girders support a 4-in. concrete slab, which in turn provides
continuous lateral support to the top flanges of the floor
members. M o m e n t connections are provided between the
columns and girders; therefore, the girder ends are assumed
to be fixed. It is further assumed that the columns are W14
sections and that the girder span is taken from column face
to column face. T h e floor beams are attached to the girders
with shear connections; simple supports are therefore assumed. For architectural reasons the floor beams are limited to a 21-in. depth.
T h e heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ( H V A C )
ducts r u n parallel to the girders, with service ducts

ink
GIRDER-

BEAMS-

GIRDERzJ

1^
d
II

"cJ
rol
BEAMS

Ui

Richard L. Kussman is Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of

Civil Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kans.
Peter B. Cooper is Professor of Civil Engineering, Dept. of Civil
Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kans.

k-

35'-0"

Fig. 7. Plan view offloor system

48
ENGINEERING JOURNAL / AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

i^lNSULATION

INSULATION

t?

DUCT

DUCT

r?

W2IX82

(a) Floor beam elevation at opening

Figure 2
W27X 8 4

(b) Girder elevation at opening

enough reinforcement is supplied to resist the maximum

shear force in the beam, and (3) the minimum reinforcement required to develop the shear strength of the section
is furnished.

Calculation of Internal Beam ForcesThe internal

beam forces are described by the two expressions below,
based on Fig. 3. These forces are plotted in Fig. 4 along
with the interaction diagrams for the floor beams.
V
V,

FLOOR BEAMS
Selection of Beam Section

64.2 -

M
M.

Uniformly Distributed Load:

w = (1.7)(12)(0.10 + 0.08) = 3.67 kips/ft
Design Moment:
M = (3.67)(35)V8 = 562 kip-ft

3.67A:

206
_ 64.2^

Opening Locations for A^. = 0Calculate the interaction

diagram coordinates, using formulas presented in the
Appendix, with Ar = e = 0:

Required Plastic Section Modulus:

Z = (562)(12)/36 = 187in.3
Try W21 X 82 (Z = 192 in.^ > 187 in.^):

\ 1 6 / V 9.5 /

Design Shear:
V = (3.67)(35)/2 = 64.2 kips

10.4

1 +

Use W21 X 82

[/^

Plastic Shear Force:

Vp = (0.55)(36)(20.86)(0.499)
= 206 kips > 64.2 kips

20.86/
12 \ 2

7.12 [ 4

\20.86/ J

10.4
1 +
(4)(7.12)
/M_

e =0

1 - 0.288
) , -

Cross Section Properties:

Af = (8.962)(0.795) = 7.12in.2
A^ = (20.86)(0.499) = 10.4 in.2
Reference Values:
Mp= (192)(36)/12 = 576 kip-ft
Vp = 206 kips (see above)

\VpJ\

1i/2

104 n _ / 1 yl

Properties for Investigating Local Strength

at the Opening
Opening Parameters:
h = 6 in.; a = 9.5 in.;

1.84A:^

576

10.4
1 +
(4)(7.12)

LV2

= 0.911

= 0.522

20.86/

VlO.4/ ^

= 0.158

49
SECOND QUARTER / 1976

\l/

\L

3.67 k/ft
\U
si/
\1/

\b

\]/

\1/

\]/
77m,

Vm,

NO OPENINGS

ALLOWED

35'
17.5'

(a) Ar = 0
64.2 k

nz]

nu

-64.2 k

Tt

10.5"
10.2'

(b)Ar=

1.26 in.^

zz\
Fig. 3. Floor beam loading, shear, and moment

diagrams
10.5

'-1

16,6;

'y\

{c)Ar = 2.81 in.^

Fig. 5. Permissible opening locations for floor beams

LU

INTERNAL

0.9

0.8

- \

0.7

\\
\
\

BEAM FORCES

\
\\

0.6

T h e above coordinates are plotted to form the approximate interaction diagram shown in Fig. 4 for A^ = 0. As
shown schematically in Fig. 5 and graphically in Fig. 4,
there are no positions along the beam where the opening
can be placed for A^. = 0. This is because all the points on
the internal beam force curve lie outside the failure envelope
for Ar = 0.

\ \

Opening Locations for A^. Large Enough to Accommodate M a x i m u m Beam ShearThe following quadratic equation in Ar is obtained from the generalized
equation for {V/Vp)\ presented in the Appendix, with Ar

\^r Jmin '

Mp

AAr^ -{- BAr-^

C=0

where
0.4

= 2.81 in.2

^ A r

A =

^ A r = 1 . 2 > in.^

Ar = 0 2 ^

16a

AJ{\ + a)

0.3
1/2
0.2

( l + a M ^ LV

' \~~d)

0.1

d)

Vl -Va) ~ \V~J

Calculation of v4^:
1

0.1

0.2

i\

0.3
V

0.4

0.5

0.6

VmaJVp
A =

Fig. 4. Floor beam interaction

diagrams

50
ENGINEERING JOURNAL / AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

\Vp) J

= 0.312

(16)(0.163)
(10.4)2(1.163)

0.0207

(8)(0.163)

[-/

12 \ 2

^ " (1.163X10.4) L O " ^

,,._]i/2

Opening Locations for {Ar)niin

-(0.312)2J
{A)mm

= 0.0311

20.86/

1.163)

'

_ (9.5)(0.499) _
2
-7=
= 2.74 m.^

Use l-Bar 3 % X % a b o v e and b e l o w t h e o p e n i n g o n

o n e side only.

0721

{Ar = 2.81 in.2 > 2 7 4 in.2;

Ar = -

-B VB^

4AC

^y^^ = 5 0 < g.S)

Calculation of interaction diagram coordinates using formulas given in the Appendix with e = 0, Ar = 2.81 in.2:

2A
- 0 . 0 3 1 1 \/(0.0311)2 -

(4)(0.0207)(-0.072T)
1 +

(2)(0.0207)

2.81 /

12 \

7.12 \ 2 0 . 8 6 /

104 n
7.12 [ 4

= 1.26 in.2
1 +
Use l-Bar 3 X Vig above and below the opening on
one side only.
{Ar=

1.31 i n . 2 > 1.26 in. 2-

/ M
Calculation of interaction diagram coordinates using formulas given in the Appendix with A^ = 1.26 in.2, <? = 0:

1.163
r A _

1 +

(16)(0.163) / 1 . 2 6 \ 2 l 1/2

20.86/ 1.163

(1.163)2 \-^Q^)

= 0.210

/M\

1 +

1.26/ 12 \
77.I2V2O.86/

VMJO"
1 +

1(14 n

7.12 [ 4

_ /

\2"1

\20.86/ J

1 _ L 2 6 _ 0.210
7.12

VM^/i

(4)(7.12)

(4)(7.12)

2.74
7.12

= 0.451

10.4
(4)(7.12)

These coordinates are plotted on Fig. 4 to form the outside interaction diagram. With the reinforcing area set at
{^r)min, the Opening can be placed anywhere along the
beam as shown in Fig. 5.

= 0.449

GIRDERS

1 + (4)(7.12)

(i),=4a-i^)^-e)^<->^]
^p/\

10.4

10.4

L\2

10.4

= 0.986

/M\

\2"]

Note that in the above calculation for (M/Mp)\,

the
calculated value of {Ar)min was used in place of the
area of the bar chosen. This is because Ar is subtracted
from one in this equation, and logic tells us that more
reinforcement must increase the load carrying capacity
of a member, not decrease it. Therefore, the {Ar)min
value calculated as above should be used to prevent
overly conservative results.

(2)(7.12)

12 \ 2 _ J

L\

1 -

10.4

\7.12/

\20.86/

= 1.08

br/tr = 6.9 < 8.5)

_ (2)(0.163) /1.26N
/1.26\

_ /

Selection of G i r d e r Section
Load:
P = (3.67)(35) = 128 kips

1/2

20.86

Design Moment:
M = (128)(11.4)/2 = 730kip-ft

= 0.313

Required Plastic Section Modulus:

Z = (730)(12)/36 = 243in.3

These coordinates are plotted in Fig. 4 to describe the

center interaction diagram. It should be noted that the
m a x i m u m shear in the beam is just within the failure envelope of the diagram, as shown by the point on the internal
beam force curve corresponding to M/Mp equals zero. In
the regions of higher moment, part of the internal beam
force curve falls outside the envelope, indicating that the
opening should not be placed in the areas shown in Fig. 5
w i t h ^ ^ = 1.26 in.2

T r y W27 X 84 (Z = 244 in.^ > 243 in.^)

Design Shear:
V= 128 kips
Plastic Shear Force:
Vp = (0.55)(36)(0.463)(26.69) = 245 > 128 kips
Use W27 X 84

51
SECOND QUARTER / 1976

128.4 k

Properties for Investigating Local Strength

at the Opening
Opening Parameters:
/z = 6 in.; a = 9.5 in.;

11.4"

^ = 3 in.

128.4 k

12'

11.4'

Cross Section Properties:

Af = (9.963)(0.636) = 6.34 in.2
A^, = (0.463)(26.69) = 12.4 in.2
Reference Values:
Mp = (244)(36)/12 = 732 kip-ft
Vp = 245 kips (see above)

128.4 k

-128.4 k

Calculation of Internal Beam ForcesThe internal

beam forces form a discontinuous curve described by the
expressions below^, based on Fig. 6, w^ith the appropriate
limits. This curve is shown in Fig. 7.
128
= 0.522
245
M

V
M
M.

- 7 3 0 + 128x1
732

Limits: 0 < x < 11.4 ft

-770

Fig. 6. Girder loading, shear, and moment

= 0
] Limits: 11.4ft < x < 17.4ft
= 0.997

wrhere x is taken to be positive from the column face toward

midspan.
Opening Locations for A^. = 0Calculation of interaction diagram coordinates using formulas presented in the
Appendix with Ar = 0^ e = 3 in.:
12
26.69

26.69

3 /2_6.69\2

12
26.69

66 _ \ 2 _
0.889
26 .69/

12.4 [ / ,
(2)(6.34) ( 1

12 + 6\2
)

3 /26.69\2 /

0T =

13B

12.4

/_M

)r

=0.296

26.69/ 1.157 J

f/i

12-6\2

11/2

26.69/ 1.889 J

t +12.41-1
6.34L4

/ M\

11/2

LV
(2)(6.34)LV

VMJO

r=-

12.4
1 + (4)(6.34)

(6)2 + (2)(6)(3)]
(26.69)2
J

12.4
1 + (4)(6.34)
1 -0.552

157

= 0.867

= 0.301

52
ENGINEERING JOURNAL / AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

Fig. 7. Girder interaction

diagrams

kft

diagrams

the vertical leg of the interaction diagram for Ar 0. This

indicates that a relatively large area of reinforcement is
required to include these points in the failure envelope.

/2

t),=[(i-l^)^-0^H'
= 0.060

After some preliminary trials, try Ar = 1.88 in.^

1/2

Use 1-Bar 3 X % above and below the opening on one

side only.
{Ar = 1.88 in.2; br/tr = 4.8 < 8.5)

= 0.266

Calculation of interaction diagram coordinates using formulas presented in the Appendix with Ar = 1.88 in.2, e =
3 in.:

0.060 + 0.266 = 0.326

The above coordinates are plotted to form the approximate interaction diagram shown in Fig. 7 for Ar = 0.
There are no positions along the beam where the opening
can be placed for the case where Ar = 0, since all points on
the internal beam force curve lie outside the failure envelope, as shown in Fig. 5.

( 2 X 0 1 5 7 )/1.88\
/!.
12.4
X

V6.34/
(2)(6.34)
1.157
["/
12 + 6\2 1
(16)(0.157)(1.88)21i / 2
L\
2 6 . 6 9 / 1.157
(1.157)2(12.4)2 J

PT

= 0.135
Opening Locations for A^- Large Enough to Accommodate Maximum Beam ShearTo determine the
reinforcing area required to reach the maximum beam
shear, a trial and error process is used, since the equations
for eccentric web openings become quite unwieldy when
the Ar term is isolated.
A brief examination of Fig. 7 will show that the V/Vp
values for the shear spans are a fairly large distance from

(2)(0.889) /1.88\ , 12.4

1.889
V6.34/

&=^(-l+^^^^x
I"/
L\
= 0.186
/ M\
\Mp/o

GIRDER

FL.BM.

12-6\2
1
16(0.889) /1.88\2"| 1/2
2 6 . 6 9 / 1.889 (1.889)2 1,12.4/ J
1.88 //_12_X
12
6.34V26.69/
_ . 12.4
1+
(4)(6.34)

COL. FACE
TMOC

12.4 n
6.34 [ 4

NO OPENINGS ALLOWED

(6)2 + (2)(6)(3) - (3)2

(26.69)2

174;

^1

= 0.971

{a) Ar = 0

[ZD

12.4
1+
(4)(6.34)

M.4'
^

(0.463)(3)2
(3.463)(26.69>

nn

M \
\MJX
p/ i
'^

1.^

0.186
6.34
= 0.348
12.4
1+
(4)(6.34)

-^13.5"

1L

(f:),=[G-ii^)^-e)'<'H

1/2

= 0.147
d ]

nil

13^'

k-13.5"

/2

, = [(i-i^)^-(Tli)^-)^]'

4.9'

0.376

9.4'

. - 147 + 0.376 = 0.523

Fig. 8. Permissible opening locations for girders

53
SECOND QUARTER / 1976

points on the internal beam force curve. However, it

would be uneconomical to try to include additional positions along the beam, since little is gained for a significant increase in Ar.

{y/Vp)\
is greater than the m a x i m u m V/Vp ratio in the
girders (0.522); therefore, the trial Ar is o.k.
T h e above coordinates are plotted in Fig. 7 to describe
the interaction diagram for Ar = 1.88 in.^ It should be noted
that, while the maximum shear alone and shear along with
low moment are within the failure envelope, as the moment
increases some regions of the girder cannot accommodate
the opening, as shown in Fig. 8.

SUMMARY AND DESIGN DETAILS

T h e possible opening locations for the beams and girders are summarized in Figs. 5 and 8, respectively. T h e
positions where openings can be placed are obtained
graphically from Figs. 4 and 7, noting that where the internal beam forces fall inside the failure envelope, an
opening can be placed. On the interaction diagram for
the floor beams. Fig. 4, it can be seen that if Ar were reduced from {Ar)min^ the sloping portion of the diagram
could be brought closer to the internal beam forces.
Conversely, in Fig. 7, the interaction diagram for the
girders, a substantial increase in Ar over {Ar)min w^ould
provide a very minor expansion in the possible locations
of the opening. In general, when concentrated loads are
involved it would be difficult as well as uneconomical to
provide sufficient reinforcement to allow positioning the
opening at any desired location along the beam. Further
restrictions are placed on opening locations in the girders, due to limited experimental data on web crippling
in beams with web openings in the vicinity of concentrated loads and reactions. It is therefore recommended
that the edge of the opening be a distance of at least d/2
from the points where concentrated loads or reactions
are introduced unless bearing stiffeners are provided.2
T h e following suggestions for design details are provided to supplement the information in the example:

O p e n i n g locations for {Ar)inin

_ (9.5)(0.463) _ ,
2
{Ar)min =
"7=
= 2.54 m.^
Use 1-Bar 3^l2 X % a b o v e a n d b e l o w t h e o p e n i n g o n
o n e side only.
{Ar = 2.63 in.2 > 2.54 in.2; br/tr = 4.7 < 8.5)
Calculations of interaction diagram coordinates using
Appendix formulas with Ar = 2.63 in.^^ ^ = 3 in.:
2.63 /

12

1 +-6.34 \ 2 6 . 6 9 /
VMJO

12.4

1 + (4)(6.34)
12.4 r i

(6)2 + (2)(6)(3)

6.34 1 4

(26.69)2

1+

(0.463)(3)2

(3)2

(3.963)(26.69)2
12.4

(4)(6.34)

= 1.007
1 1 4-

1. Bars were used on one side of the web only.

a. This gives approximately the same results as
bars placed on both sides of the web.^
b. T h e reinforcement is cheaper to fabricate, since
welding is required on one side only.

2.54
6.34
12.4

= 0.403

(4)(6.34)

2. T h e reinforcing bars should be checked for:

a. Weld compatibility with web.
b. T h e hr/tr ratio.

Note that in the above calculation for ( M / M p ) i , the

calculated value of {Ar)min was used in place of the
reinforcing bar area. This is because Ar is subtracted
from 1 in the equation, and logic tells us that more reinforcement must increase the load carrying capacity
of a member, not decrease it. Therefore the {Ar)min
value calculated as above should be used to prevent
overly conservative results.

a-

12
26.69

3. T h e reinforcing bars should be extended beyond

the edge of the opening:
a. A sufficient length to develop the strength of the
bar in the welds.
b. A minimum of 3 in.
4. T h e welds should:
a. Be in accordance with the AISC Specification.
b. Have a weld stress of 1.7 times the allowable
weld stress or less.

= 0.550

These coordinates are plotted in Fig. 7 to form the interaction diagram for Ar = 2.63 in.2 With this area of
reinforcement, the center line of the opening can be u p
to 8.6 ft from the supports in the shear spans and anywhere in the center portion, as shown in Fig. 8.
If Ar were increased above {Ar)min, point 1 on the interaction diagram would move upward to include more

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
T h e material presented in this report was developed as
part of the research supported by the National Science
Foundation Grant GK-35762 and the Department of
Civil Engineering at Kansas State University. This support is gratefully acknowledged.

54
ENGINEERING JOURNAL / AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

REFERENCES

NOMENCLATURE

1. Wang, T. M., R. R. Snell, P. B. Cooper Strength of Beams

with Eccentric Reinforced Holes Journal of the Structural Division, ASCE, Vol. 101, No. ST9, Proc. Paper 11540, Sept.
1975.
2. Subcommittee on Beams with Web Openings of the Structural
Division Suggested Design Guides for Beams with Web Holes
Journal of the Structural Division, ASCE, Vol. 97, No. ST11,
Proc. Paper 8536, Nov. 1971.
3. Uniform Building Code 1973 Edition, International
Conference of Building Officials, Whittier, Calif., 1973.
4. Manual of Steel Construction 7th Edition, American Institute
of Steel Construction, New York, 1970.
5. Redwood, R. G. Tables for Plastic Design of Beams with Rectangular Holes Engineering Journal, AISC, Vol. 9, No. 1, Jan.
1972.

Area of one flange {bj X tj)

Ar

Area of reinforcement above opening,

also area of reinforcement below opening

\-^r)min

M i n i m u m area of reinforcement required to reach shear capacity of section

Ayj

Area of web (d X t^)

Moment at center line of opening

Mp

Plastic moment of section

\M/Mpl

Absolute value of moment to plastic moment ratio along beams and girders

{M/Mp)o,
{M/Mp),

Coordinates
of
points
on
proximate interaction diagram

Concentrated load

Shear force at center line of opening

I V/Vpl

Absolute value of shear force to plastic

shear force along beams and girders

(y/Vph

Coordinate of point on approximate interaction diagram

(Vs/Vph

Ratio of shear force in bottom tee section

(VB) to plastic shear force for point 1 on
approximate interaction diagram

(Vr/Vph

Ratio of shear force in top tee section

( VT) to plastic shear force for point 1 on
approximate interaction diagram

ap-

APPENDIX
APPROXIMATE INTERACTION DIAGRAM
EQUATIONS

Plastic shear force of section

T h e equations presented below are used to construct an

approximate interaction diagram similar to Fig. 9.^
Point 0 on the diagram has the coordinates [ 0 , ( M / M ^ ) o], Point 1 is described by [ ( F / F ^ ) i , ( M / M p ) i ] , and the
point on the V/Vp-axis is (V/Vp)\
from the origin.
These equations are for the general case of a reinforced
eccentric web opening. T o obtain equations for other,
less general cases, Ar, e, or both Ar and e, are taken
equal to zero as appropriate.
For e < w.
Ar /2h\
(Ih
1 + ^
\d)

Plastic section modulus

One-half opening length

1 + AAf

Width of reinforcement
W e b thickness plus width of reinforcement (br ~^ t^)

Beam depth

Eccentricity (distance between middepth of section and mid-depth of opening)

For u<e<u-\-q-\(
\M,

Ar/t-^j:

M\

X-

Ar I2h\
1 +
Af\d

, Ay, / I

cd^J

Aw

1 + 4Af

Flange thickness
For e > u + q + A^/t-^

W e b thickness
U

Distance from edge of opening to face of

reinforcement

Uniformly distributed load

Coordinate defining
beams and girders

/ i 2 + 2he-e'^
J2

One-half opening depth

Thickness of reinforcement

h^ + 2he\
d^
)

VMJO

Flange width
br
c

,4w/l__
Af\A

positions

\MJO
A /2h + 2e _ Ar\

Af\

along

,Aw/}__

AJ

Af U

h^ +

^2

2he\

Ayj

1 +

Coefficients used in approximate design

formulas with subscripts T and B to denote top and bottom tee sections, respectively

AAf

atyj
min

V3

55
SECOND QUARTER / 1976

For Ar > (Ar)

A.
1 /M_\
^
Af^
\Mp/i;)
_ A
1 +
4Af
Figure 9

\Vp)\

F o r Ar <

{Ar)min'

4Af
\VpJ\

\VpJ\

2h
d

r /

1 + a r V^//
2/? + 2g\2

LV

^
I"/
V\

\Vp)\

56

2^/
1
1+ar

1 + aB\Af/ )
2Aj
2A-2e\2
2h-2eV
11
d
/ 1+B
3 /af\2 /

ENGINEERING JOURNAL / AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

where the A^ value is {Ar)r)

2/i

2e\

2A
^

2\2
d)

16ar

/ ^ r y ] ' /2

(1 + a r ) H ^ J /

16ag
(^rVA
(H-aB)2U/ J