Architecture & Structural Engineering

Square And Rectangular HSS and Box Sections Flexural Design per AISC 360-16 with ideCAD

How does ideCAD calculate the flexural strength of square and rectangular HSS and box sections according to AISC 360-16?


  • The flexural strength of steel elements is calculated automatically according to AISC 360-16.

  • The nominal flexural strength limit states yielding, lateral-torsional buckling, flange local buckling, and web local buckling are controlled automatically according to AISC 360-16.

  • For design members for flexure, sections are automatically classified as compact, noncompact, or slender-element sections, according to AISC 360-16.


Symbols

b : Width of compression flange as defined in AISC 3610-16 Table B4.1b
Cb : The lateral-torsional buckling modification factor
E : Modulus of elasticity of steel = 29,000 ksi (200 000 MPa)
Fcr : Lateral-torsional buckling stress for the section as determined by analysis, ksi (MPa
Fy : Specified minimum yield stress of the type of steel being used, ksi
Its : Effective radius of inertia
J : Torsional constant
h : depth of web, as defined in AISC 3610-16 Table B4.1b
ho : Distance between the flange centroids, in. (mm)
Lb : Length between points that are either braced against lateral displacement of the compression flange or braced against twist of the cross-section, in. (mm)
Lp : The limiting laterally unbraced length for the limit state of yielding, in. (mm)
Lr : The limiting unbraced length for the limit state of inelastic lateral-torsional buckling, in. (mm),
Mn : The nominal flexural strength
Mp : Plastic bending moment
ry : Radius of gyration about the y-axis
S : elastic section modulus about the axis of bending, in.3 (mm3)
Sx : Elastic section modulus taken about the x-axis, in.3 (mm3)
Z = plastic section modulus about the axis of bending, in.3 (mm3)
Zx = Plastic section modulus about the x-axis, in.3 (mm3)


The nominal flexural strength, Mn, should be the lower value obtained according to the limit states of yielding (plastic moment), flange local buckling, web local buckling, and lateral-torsional buckling.

Yielding Limit State

Flange Local Buckling Limit State

  • The limit state of flange local buckling does not apply to compact sections.

  • The nominal flexural strength, Mn, is calculated below for sections with noncompact flanges.


  • The nominal flexural strength, Mn, for sections with slender flanges;

Se is the effective section modulus determined with the effective width, be, of the compression flange taken as given below.

  • For HSS

  • For Box sections


Web Local Buckling Limit State

  • The limit state of web local buckling does not apply to compact sections.

  • The nominal flexural strength, Mn, is calculated below for sections with noncompact webs.

  • The nominal flexural strength, Mn, is calculated below for sections with noncompact webs.

    • Compression flange yielding

    • Compression flange local buckling

Lateral Torsional Buckling Limit State

  • When Lb ≤ Lp, the limit state of lateral-torsional buckling does not apply

  • When Lp < Lb ≤ Lr

  • When Lb > Lr

Laterally unbraced length for the limit state of yielding, Lp, is calculated below.

Laterally unbraced length for the limit state of inelastic lateral torsional buckling, Lr, is calculated below.