User Note: For cross sections composed of only unstiffened slender elements, Q

= Qs (Qa = 1.0). For cross sections composed of only stiffened slender elements,
Q = Qa (Qs = 1.0). For cross sections composed of both stiffened and unstiffened
slender elements, Q = Qs Qa. For cross sections composed of multiple unstiffened
slender elements, it is conservative to use the smaller Qs from the more slender
element in determining the member strength for pure compression.

1. Slender Unstiffened Elements, Qs

The reduction factor, Qs, for slender unstiffened elements is defined as follows:
(a) For flanges, angles and plates projecting from rolled columns or other compres-
sion members:

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, June 22, 2010

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Sect. E7.] MEMBERS WITH SLENDER ELEMENTS 16.141

b E
(i) When 0.56
t Fy

Qs = 1.0 (E7-4)

E b E
(ii) When 0.56 < < 1.03
Fy t Fy

b Fy
Qs = 1.415 0.74 (E7-5)
t E

b E
(iii) When 1.03
t Fy
0.69 E
Qs = 2
(E7-6)
b
Fy
t

(b) For flanges, angles and plates projecting from built-up I-shaped columns or other
compression members:

b Ekc
(i) When 0.64
t Fy

Qs = 1.0 (E7-7)

Ekc b Ekc
(ii) When 0.64 < 1.17
Fy t Fy

b Fy
Qs = 1.415 0.65 (E7-8)
t Ekc

b Ekc
(iii) When > 1.17
t Fy

0.90 Ekc
Qs = 2
(E7-9)
b
Fy
t

where
b = width of unstiffened compression element, as defined in Section B4.1, in.
(mm)
4
kc = , and shall not be taken less than 0.35 nor greater than 0.76 for
h t w calculation purposes
t = thickness of element, in. (mm)

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, June 22, 2010

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
16.142 MEMBERS WITH SLENDER ELEMENTS [Sect. E7.

(c) For single angles

b E
(i) When 0.45
t Fy

Qs = 1.0 (E7-10)

E b E
(ii) When 0.45 < 0.91
Fy t Fy

b Fy
Qs = 1.34 0.76 (E7-11)
t E

b E
(iii) When > 0.91
t Fy

0.53E
Qs = 2
(E7-12)
b
Fy
t

where
b = full width of longest leg, in. (mm)
(d) For stems of tees

d E
(i) When 0.75
t Fy

Qs = 1.0 (E7-13)

E d E
(ii) When 0.75 < 1.03
Fy t Fy

d Fy
Qs = 1.908 1.22 (E7-14)
t E

d E
(iii) When > 1.03
t Fy

0.69 E
Qs = 2
(E7-15)
d
Fy
t

where
d = full nominal depth of tee, in. (mm)

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, June 22, 2010

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Sect. E7.] MEMBERS WITH SLENDER ELEMENTS 16.143

2. Slender Stiffened Elements, Qa

The reduction factor, Qa , for slender stiffened elements is defined as follows:

Ae
Qa = (E7-16)
Ag

where
Ag = gross cross-sectional area of member, in.2 (mm2)
Ae = summation of the effective areas of the cross section based on the reduced
effective width, be, in.2 (mm2)

The reduced effective width, be, is determined as follows:

b E
(a) For uniformly compressed slender elements, with 1.49 , except flanges of
t f
square and rectangular sections of uniform thickness:

E 0.34 E
be = 1.92 t 1 b (E7-17)
f (b / t ) f
where
f is taken as Fcr with Fcr calculated based on Q = 1.0

(b) For flanges of square and rectangular slender-element sections of uniform thick-
b E
ness with 1.40 :
t f

E 0.38 E
be = 1.92 t 1 b (E7-18)
f ( b / t ) f
where
f = Pn /Ae

User Note: In lieu of calculating f = Pn /Ae, which requires iteration, f may be

taken equal to Fy. This will result in a slightly conservative estimate of column
available strength.

(c) For axially loaded circular sections:

E D E
When 0.11 < < 0.45
Fy t Fy

0.038 E 2
Q = Qa = + (E7-19)
Fy ( D / t ) 3
where
D = outside diameter of round HSS, in. (mm)
t = thickness of wall, in. (mm)

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, June 22, 2010

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION