LESSON 14.

Design of Steel Beams

14.1 INTRODUCTION
The following points should be considered in the design of a
beam.
1.  Bending moment consideration: The section of the beam
must be able to resist the maximum bending moment to
which it is subjected.
2.  Shear force consideration: The section of the beam must
be able to resist the maximum shear force to which it is
subjected.
3.  Deflection consideration: The maximum deflection of a
loaded beam should be within a certain limit so that the
strength and efficiency of the beam should not be
affected. Limiting the deflection within a safe limit will
also prevent any possible damage  to finishing. As per
the I.S. code, generally the maximum deflection should
not exceed 1/325 of the span.
4.  Bearing stress consideration: The beam should have
enough bearing area at the supports to avoid excessive
bearing stress which may lead to crushing of the beam or
the support itself.
5. Buckling consideration: The compression flange should
be prevented from buckling. Similarly the web, the beam
should also be prevented from crippling. Usually these
failures do not take place under normal loading due to
proportioning of thickness of flange and web. But under
considerably heavy loads, such failures are possible and
 hence in such cases the member must be designed to
remain safe against such failures
14.2 SHEAR AND BEARING STRESSES
When the beams are subjected to loads, then, these are also
required to transmit large shear forces either at supports or at
concentrated loads. For simply supported beams, the shear
force is maximum at the supports. The values of shear force at
the concentrated loads also remain large. Due to shear force,
the shear stresses are setup along with the bending stresses at
all sections of the beams. The shear stress at any point of the
cross-section is given by

Where  is the shear stress, 

F = the shear force at cross-section,
Q = Static moment about the neutral axis of the portion of
cross-sectional area beyond the location at which the stress is
being determined.
I = Moment of inertia of the section about the neutral axis
t = Thickness of web (width of section at which the stress is
being determined)
The distribution of shear stresses for rectangular section of
beam and I-beam section are shown in Fig. 14.1. The
maximum shear stress occurs at the neutral axis of the section.
The maximum shear stress in a member having regard to the
distribution of stresses in conformity with the elastic behavior
of the member in flexure (bending) should not exceed the
value of maximum permissible shear stress, τ vm found as
follows.
τvm=0.45fy
Where fy is the yield stress of structural steel to be used. It is
to note that in the case of rolled beams and channels, the
design shear is to be found as the average shear. The average
shear stress for rolled beams or channels calculated by
dividing the shear force at the cross-section by the gross-
section of the web. The gross-cross-section of the web is
defined as the depth of the beam or channel multiplied by its
web thickness.

Average shear stress for rectangular beam is given by 

Average shear stress for rectangular beam is given
by 
For rolled steel beams and channels, it is assumed that shear
force is resisted by web only. The portion of shear resisted by
the flanges is neglected. The average shear stress τ va.cal, in a
member calculated on the gross cross-section of web (when
web buckling is not a factor) should not exceed in case of
unstiffened web of the beam,
τva= 0.4 fy
The allowable shear stress as per AISC, AASHTO and AREA
specifications are as follows:

When the beams are subjected to co-existent bending stresses

(tension or compression) and shear stress, then the equivalent
stress, σe.cal is obtained from the following formula

The equivalent stress  due to co-existent bending (tension or

compression) and shear stresses should not exceed the
maximum permissible equivalent stress σe found as under

When the bearing stress σp is combined with tensile or

compressive bending and shear stresses under the most
unfavourable conditions of loading, the equivalent stress
σe.cal obtained as below should not exceed

σbc.cal, σbt.cal, τvm.cal and σp.cal are the numerical values of the co-

existent bending (compression or tension), shear and bending
stresses. When bending occurs about both the axes of the
member, σbt.cal and σbc.cal should be taken as the sum of the two
calculated fibre stresses, σe is the maximum permissible
equivalent stress.
The bearing stress in any part of a beam when calculated on
the net area of contact should not exceed the value of
σp calculated as below
Where σp is the maximum permissible bearing stress and fy is
the yield stress.
14.3 EFFECTIVE SPAN AND DEFLECTION LIMITATION
The effective span of a beam shall be taken as the length
between the centres of the supports, except in cases where the
point of application of the reaction is taken as eccentric to the
support, then, it shall be permissible to take the effective span
as the length between the assumed points of application of
reaction.
The stiffness of a beam is a major consideration in the
selection of a beam section. The allowable deflections of
beams depend upon the purpose for which the beams are
designed. The maximum deflections for some standard cases
are given below. In these formulae W is the total load on the
beam in case of uniformly distributed load and each
concentrated load in the case of concentrated loads.

The large deflections of beams are undesirable for the

following reasons:
 1. When the loads are primarily due to human
occupants especially in the case of public meeting
places, large deflections result in noticeable
vibratory movement. This produces an
uncomfortable sensation to the occupants.
2. The large deflections may result in cracking of
ceiling plaster, floors or partition walls.
3. The large deflection indicate the lack of rigidity. It
may cause vibrations and over-stresses under
dynamic loads.
4. The large deflections may cause the distortions in
the connections. The distortions cause secondary
stresses.
5. The large deflections may cause poor drainage,
which will lead to ponding of water and therefore
increase the loads.
 14.3.1 Limiting vertical deflection
The deflection of a member is calculated without considering
the impact factor or dynamic effect of the loads causing the
deflection. The deflection of a member shall not be such as to
impair the strength or efficiency of the structure and lead to
damage to finishing. Generally, the maximum deflection for a
beam shall not exceed 1/325 of the span. This limit may be
exceeded in cases where greater deflection would not impair
the strength or efficiency of the structure or lead to damage to
finishing. The deflection of the beams may be decreased by
increasing the depth of beams, decreasing the span, providing
greater and restraint or by any other means.
 14.3.2 Limiting horizontal deflection
At the caps of columns in single storey buildings, the
horizontal deflection due to lateral force should not ordinarily
exceed 1/325 of the actual length ‘l’ of the column. This limit
may be exceeded in cases where the grater deflection would
not impair the strength and efficiency of the structure or lead
to damage to finishing. According to AISE specifications, the
deflections of beams and girders for live load and plastered
ceiling should not exceed 1/360 of the span.
 14.4 LATERALLY SUPPORTED BEAMS
The laterally supported beams are also called laterally
restrained beams. When lateral deflection of the compression
flange of a beam is prevented by providing effective lateral
support (restraint), the beam is said to be laterally supported.
The effective lateral restraint is the restraint which produces
sufficient resistance in a plane perpendicular to the plane of
bending to restrain the compression flange of a beam from
lateral buckling to either side at the point of application of the
restraint. The concrete slab encasing the top flange, so that the
bottom surface of the concrete slab is flush with the bottom of
the top flange, is shown in Fig. 14.2.A. It provides a
continuous lateral support to the top flange of the beam. When
other beams frame at frequent intervals into the beam in
questions as shown in Fig. 14.2.B, lateral support is provided
at each point of connection but main beam should still be
checked between the two supports.
In the laterally supported beams, the value of allowable
bending compressive stress remains unaltered and the
reduction in its value is not made. Bending comprehensive
stress is taken equal to the allowable bending tensile stress,
(σbc=σbt=0.66fy). The adequate lateral support is provided to
safeguard against the lateral-torsional bucking. In case of
doubt for adequate lateral support, the beams should be
designed as laterally unsupported. In case the concrete slab
holds the top flange (compression flange) of the beam from
one side only, then, the lateral support is not credited. The
concrete slab simply resting over the top flange of the beam
without shear connectors also does not provide an lateral
support. Sometimes, the plank or bar grating is attached to the
top flange of beam by means of bolts. When the bolts are
firmly fastened, then, they provide adequate lateral support
temporarily. Even then, bolts have temporary nature of
connections. It is possible that the bolts might be omitted or
removed. As such, the top flange should not be considered
laterally supported fully. The beams having lateral support
from other members may buckle between points of lateral
support. Therefore, the laterally unsupported length of beam is
kept short.
 14.5 DESIGN OF LATERALLY SUPPORTED BEAMS
The design of beams is generally governed by the maximum
allowable bending stress and the allowable deflection. Its
design is controlled by shear only when the spans are short
and loads are heavy. The members are selected such that the
sections are symmetrical about the plane of loading and the
unsymmetrical bending and torsion are eliminated. The design
of beams deals with proportioning of members, the
determination of effective section modulus, maximum
deflection and the shear stress. In general, the rolled steel
sections have webs of sufficient thickness such that the
criterion for design is seldom governed by shear. The
following are the usual steps in design of laterally supported
beams:
Step 1. For the design of beams, load to be carried by the
beam, and effective span of the beam are known. The value of
yield stress, fy for the structural steel to be used is also known.
For the rolled steel beams of equal flanges as given in ISI
Handbook no.1, the ratio of mean thickness of the
compression flange (T=tf) to the thickness of web used to be
less than 2.00. Also the ratio of the depth of web d 1 to the
thickness of web is also smaller than 85. The ends of
compression flange of a laterally supported beam remain
restrained against lateral bending (i.e., not free to rotate in
plan at the bearings).
In the beginning of design, the permissible bending stress in
tension, σbt or in compression, σbc may be assumed as 0.66 fy.
The bending compressive stress, σbc and the bending tensile
stress, σbt are equal for the laterally supported beam.
Step 2. The maximum bending moment M and the maximum
shear force F in the beam are calculated. The required section
modulus for the beam is determined as Z=(M/σbc)
Step 3. From the steel section tables, a rolled steel beam
section, a rolled steel beam section, which provides more than
the required section modulus is selected. The steel beam
section shall have (D/T) and (l/ry) ratios more than 8 and 40
respectively. As such the trial section of beam selected may
have modulus of section, Z more than that required. Some of
the beam sections of different categories have almost the same
value of the section modulus Z. It is necessary to note the
weight of beam per meter length and the section modulus, Z.
The beam section selected should be such that it has minimum
weight and adequate section modulus, Z.
Step 4. The rolled steel beam section is checked for the shear
stress. The average and maximum shear stresses should not
exceed the allowable average and maximum values of shear
stresses.
Step 5. The rolled steel beam is also checked for deflection.
The maximum deflection should not exceed the limiting
deflection.
ISI Handbook no.1 provides tables for allowable uniform
loads on beams and channels used as flexural members with
adequate lateral support for compression flange. The values of
allowable uniform loads corresponding to respective effective
spans are given for various beams and channel sections. For
given span and total uniformly distributed load found, rolled
beam or channel section may be selected from these tables.
The rolled steel I-sections and wide flange beam sections are
most efficient sections. These sections have excellent flexural
strength and relatively good lateral strength for their weights.
 Example 14.1 The effective length of compression flange of
simply supported beam MB 500,@0.869 kN/m is 8 m.
Determine the safe uniformly distributed load per meter
length which can be placed over the beam having an effective
span of 8 meters. Adopt maximum permissible stresses as per
IS 800-1984. The ends of beam are restrained against rotation
at the bearings.
Solution:
Step 1: Permissible bending stress
MB 500,@0.869 kN/m has been used as simply supported
beam. The effective span of beam is 8 m. The effective length
of compression flange is also 8 m.
From the steel section table, the section modulus of
beam          Z=1808.7 x 103 mm3
Mean thickness of compression
flange                                         tf =T= 17.2 mm
Thickness of
web                                                                          tw=10.2 mm
It is assumed that the value of yield stress, fy for the structural
steel of MB 500,@0.869 kN/m is 250 N/mm2(MPa).

      From IS: 800-1984, the maximum permissible bending

stress, for above ratios (by linear interpolation) σbc=65.121
N/mm2(MPa)
  Step 2: Load supported over beam

      MB 500,@0.869 kN/m can resist maximum bending

moment equal to moment of resistance. Therefore the
maximum bending moment M=160.189 m-kN
Step 3: Load supported over beam
The effective span of the beam is 8 meters. Let w be the
uniformly distributed load per meter length. The maximum
bending moment, M for the beam occurs at the centre..

 
The self-weight of the beam is 0.869 kN/m. Therefore, the
safe uniformly distributed load which can be placed over the
beam        (20.02-0.869)=19.15 kN.
 Example 14.2 Design a simply supported beam to carry a
uniformly distributed load of 44 kN/m. The effective span of
beam is 8 meters. The effective length of compression flange
of the beam is also 8 m. The ends of beam are not free to
rotate at the bearings.
Design:
Step 1: Load supported, bending moment and shear force
Uniformly distributed load                 = 44 kN/m
Assume self weight of beam               =   1.0 kN/m
Total uniformly distributed load      w= 45 kN/m
The maximum bending moment, M occurs at the centre

Step 2: Permissible bending stress

It is assumed that the value of yield stress, fy for the structural
steel is 250 N/mm2 (MPa). The ratios (T/tw) and (d1/tw) are less
than 2.0 and 85 respectively. The maximum permissible stress
in compression or tension may be assumed as σbc = σbt = (0.66
x 250) = 165 N/mm2

The steel beam section shall have (D/T) and (l/ry) ratios more
than 8 and 40 respectively. The trial section of beam selected
may have modulus of section, Z more than that needed (about
25 to 50 per cent more).
Step 3: Trial section modulus
1.50 x 2181.82 x 103 mm3=3272.73 x 103 mm3
From steel section tables, try WB 600,@1.337 kN/m
Section modulus,        Zxx=3540.0 x 103 mm3
Moment of inertia,      Ixx=106198.5 x 104 mm4
Thickness of web,       tw=11.2 mm
Thickness of flange,    T=tf=21.3 mm
Depth of section,        h=600 mm
Step 4: Check for section modulus

 
The effective length of compression flange of beam is 8 m.
From IS: 800-1984, the maximum permissible bending stress
σbc=118.68 N/mm2(MPa)
Section modulus required

Further trial may give more economical section.

Step 5: Check for shear force

Average shear stress,  

Permissible average shear stress     
0.4 x fy = (0.4 x 250) = 100 N/mm2 > Actual average shear
stress
Step 6: Check for deflection
Maximum deflection of the beam

Allowable deflection             

The maximum deflection is less than allowable deflection,
hence the beam is safe. Provide WB 600,@1.337 kN/m