Example 1: Calculate the nominal section moment capacity of a steel beam bend

about the major principal axis (x-x) of its the cross-section shown below. The
section is heavily welded longitudinally. The yield stress of the steel is 500 MPa.

10 I
Step:-1 Elastic section modulus : Z=
c

175 c
x x I= = mm4

175

I
Z= = = mm3
55 55 c
10 5

MP
Plastic section modulus : S = Plastic moment capacity : M P = Sf y
fy
1

Plastic moment capacity :

10
F1

175 F2
l1
l2

175 F2

F1
10 55 55
5

F1 = A1f y = = kN

l1 = = mm

F2 = A2 f y = = kN l2 = = mm

MP = = kNm
2
MP = kNm Z= mm3

MP
Plastic section modulus : S = = mm2
fy

Zc = = mm3

Plate slenderness and their limits 10

Compression flange:
175
b fy
λe = =
t 250
175

Case 1/2/3/4, Table 5.2: λep = λey =

55 55
The section is compact/non-compact/slender 5
10
based on this plate element 3

Plate slenderness and their limits

10

Web plate:
175 c
b fy
λe = =
t 250
175
Case 1/2/3/4, Table 5.2: λep = λey =
The section is compact/non-compact/slender based on
this plate element 55 55
10 5
Effective section modulus:
Z= mm3
Ze =
Zc = mm3

= mm3

Nominal section moment capacity: M sx = f y Z e = = kNm

4
 Example 2: Calculate the nominal section moment capacity of a steel beam bend
about minor principal axis (y-y) of its the cross-section shown below. The section
is heavily welded longitudinally. The yield stress of the steel is 400 MPa.

12 y 1.5Z = 1.5Z yy = 1.5 × 470 × 103 = 705 × 103 mm3

Z c = minimum of S and 1.5Z = 705 × 103 mm3

400 12 Plate slenderness and their limits

Flange plate:

b fy (400 − 12) / 2 400

y λe = = = 20.45
12 t 250 12 250
400
Case 2, Table 5.2: λep = 8 λey = 22
Z yy = 470 × 103 mm 3
The section is non-compact based on this plate element
S yy = 724 × 103 mm 3
Note: Don’t consider the web plate (zero stress) 5

Z = 470 × 103 mm 3 Z c = 705× 103 mm3

λe = 20.45 λep = 8 λey = 22

Effective section modulus:

 λ − λs  
Z e = Z +  ey  (Z c − Z )

 λey − λep  

 22 − 20.45 
= 470 × 103 +  ( 3 
)
 705 × 10 − 470 × 10  = 496 × 10 mm
3 3 3

 22 − 8  

Nominal section moment capacity:

M s = f y Z e = 400 × 496 ×103 / 106 = 198.4 kNm