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DESIGN FOR MINIMUM WEIGHT. STRUTS OF UNIFORM SECTION. I-SECTIONS

1. NOTATION

2d width of flanges of strut m in

2d 0 width of flanges of elastic strut of least weight m in

E Young’s modulus of strut material N/m2 lbf/in2

Et tangent modulus at stress f N/m2 lbf/in2

f average stress in strut at failure N/m2 lbf/in2

fn stress at which Et = ½E N/m2 lbf/in2

f0 average stress at failure in elastic strut of least weight N/m2 lbf/in2

h distance between centroids of flanges of strut m in

h0 distance between centroids of flanges of elastic strut of least weight m in

l actual length of strut m in

l' equivalent length of strut (see Data Sheet Struct. 01.01.01) m in

m material characteristic (see Item No. 76016)

P end load in strut at failure N lbf

td thickness of flanges of strut m in

t d0 thickness of flanges of elastic strut of least weight m in

th thickness of web of strut m in

t h0 thickness of web of elastic strut of least weight m in

W weight of strut N lbf

W min minimum weight of strut N lbf

Both SI and British units are quoted but any coherent system of units may be used.

Issued April 1966

With Amendment A
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2. INTRODUCTION

This Data Sheet gives the cross-sectional dimensions for minimum weight of struts of uniform I-section
and given length. Information is also presented on the weight penalty incurred by restricting any one of
the cross-sectional dimensions.
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Figure 1 gives values of d0/ l′ , h0/ l′ , td0/ l′ and th0/ l′ against P/ El′ . Figures 2, 3 and 4 give values of
d/d0 and h/h0 , td/td0 and th/th0 against f0/fn for various values of m. Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 give values of
W/Wmin and the three unspecified dimensional ratios against d/d0 , h/h0 , td/td0 and th/th0 respectively for
elastic struts with a dimensional restriction.

It has been assumed throughout that the value of l′ is the same for overall buckling with respect to either
principal axis of the section.

In deriving Figure 1, the effect of shear deflection on overall instability of the strut in the plane of the web
has been included. The proportions of the strut of least weight are such that interaction between the two
local modes of buckling is negligible. No allowance was made for eccentricity or overall curvature of the
strut. The effect of a practical degree of local irregularity is negligible.

In deriving Figures 2, 3 and 4 the appropriate modulus effective in each mode of plastic buckling has been
used (Derivation 1). These figures are strictly valid only in the region where there is no shear deflection
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of the strut. When P/ El′ exceeds 10–6 , the curves are approximately valid, the degree of approximation
increasing with f0/fn .

Figures 5 to 8 are strictly valid for elastic struts in which there is no shear deflection. In materials with low
to moderate proof strength, the shear deflection of an I-section strut is negligible within the elastic range.

Item No. 66008 gives information on the minimum weights of struts of uniform section in various materials.

3. DIMENSIONS OF STRUT OF LEAST WEIGHT

To determine the dimensions of a strut of least weight, the material is first assumed to be perfectly elastic.
The cross-sectional dimensions d0 , h0 , td0 and th0 are obtained from Figure 1 for the appropriate value of
2
P/ El′ . The stress f0 is then obtained from the relation

P
f 0 = -------------------------------------- .
4d 0 t d0 + h 0 t h0

If f0 is above the elastic limit, the values of fn and m appropriate to the strut material are used to obtain
d/d0 , h/h0 , td/td0 and th/th0 from Figures 2, 3 and 4. The actual dimensions d, h, td and th may then be
evaluated.

4. WEIGHT PENALTY FOR STRUTS WITH DIMENSIONAL RESTRICTION

In particular cases, one of the cross-sectional dimensions may be dictated by considerations other than
design for minimum weight. Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the least value of W/Wmin that can be achieved
when one dimension is initially specified. Each figure also gives the value of the remaining section
dimensions that must be used and indicates the modes of buckling that occur.

If d is specified, d/d0 is evaluated. Then W/Wmin , h/h0 , td/td0 and th/th0 are obtained from Figure 5.

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Similarly, Figure 6 is used if h is specified, Figure 7 if td is specified and Figure 8 if th is specified, noting
the scale changes that occur at values of unity on the abscissae.

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 apply only to elastic struts. In particular, the value of Wmin is that appropriate to an
elastic strut of least weight. If the dimensionally restricted strut is indeed elastic but the strut of least weight
inelastic, the quoted value of W/Wmin is misleading. In this case the unspecified cross-sectional dimensions
are obtained from the appropriate Figure 5, 6, 7 or 8. The average stress in the dimensionally restricted
strut can then be calculated and so can the stress in the strut of least weight. The realistic weight penalty
for the dimensionally restricted strut is then given by

W stress in strut of least weight

------------ = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- .
W min stress in dimensionally restricted strut

5. DERIVATION

1. GERARD, G. Handbook of structural stability. Part I: Buckling of flat plates. NACA

BECKER, H. TN 3781, 1955.
2. BECKER, H. Handbook of structural stability. Part II: Buckling of composite
elements. NACA TN 3782, 1955.
3. COX, H.L. The design of structures of least weight. Pergamon, Oxford, 1965.

6. EXAMPLES

6.1 Example 1

It is required to determine the cross-sectional dimensions of an I-section strut to carry an end load of 200 000
lbf over a distance of 30 in. One end of the strut is fixed and the other is free. The material properties are
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E = 11.1 × 10 lbf/in 2 ; m = 18 ; f n = 62 500 lbf/in 2 .

From Data Sheet 01.01.01, for one fixed and one free end

l′ = 2l = 60 in .

Hence,
P 200 000
---------- = ------------------------------------------- = 5.05 × 10 – 6 .
2 6 2
El′ 11.1 × 10 × 60

From Figure 1,

d0 h0
----- = 0.042 , ----- = 0.052,
l′ l′

3  t d0 3  t h0
10  ------- = 5.0 , 10  ------- = 1.52 .
 l′   l′ 

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Hence,

d 0 = 0.042 × 60 = 2.52 in ,
h 0 = 0.052 × 60 = 3.12 in ,

t d0 = 5.0 × 10 – 3 × 60 = 0.30 in ,

t h0 = 1.52 × 10 – 3 × 60 = 0.091 in ,
200 000
f 0 = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 60 500 lbf/in 2
4 × 2.52 × 0.30 + 3.12 × 0.091
and
f0 60 500
---- = ----------------- = 0.969 .
fn 62 500

From Figures 2, 3 and 4, interpolating for m = 18,

d h
----- = ----- = 1.053 ,
d0 h0
td th
------- = 1.021, ------- = 1.042 .
t d0 t h0

Hence,
d = 1.053 × 2.52 = 2.66 in ,
h = 1.053 × 3.12 = 3.29 in ,
t d = 1.021 × 0.30 = 0.306 in ,
t h = 1.042 × 0.091 = 0.095 in ,
200 000
f = ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 56 000 lbf/in 2 .
4 × 2.66 × 0.306 + 3.29 × 0.095

6.2 Example 2

It is required to determine the dimensions of the strut and the weight penalty associated with the restriction
if the condition that d shall not exceed 1.8 in is added to the specification of the preceding problem.

Since d is specified, Figure 5 is used.

d 1.8
----- = ---------- = 0.715 .
d0 2.52

Hence, from Figure 5,

W h
------------ = 1.825 , ----- = 0.93 ,
W min h0
td th
------- = 2.72 , ------- = 0.68 .
t d0 t h0

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Failure occurs in both overall modes with local buckling of the web.

The dimensions of the strut are therefore

d = 1.8 in ,
h = 0.93 × 3.12 = 2.90 in ,
t d = 2.72 × 0.30 = 0.816 in
and t h = 0.68 × 0.091 = 0.0619 in .

The average stress at failure is

200 000
f = ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 33 200 lbf/in 2 .
4 × 1.8 × 0.816 + 2.90 × 0.0619

Referred to an elastic strut of least weight, the weight penalty due to the restriction on d is 82.5 per cent.
Referred to the strut in Example 1,

W 56 000
------------ = ----------------- = 1.685 .
W min 33 200

The weight penalty is therefore 68.5 per cent of the least weight that could be achieved with the given
material.

5
 
7

th h
103(td0) 2

l' td

2d
100
9 t
8 103( d0)
7 l'
6

103(th0)
103(th0)
2
6

l'
l'

10-1
9
8
7

6
h0 5

l' 4
h0
3
l'
d0 2

l'
d0
l'

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10-2
9
8
7
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10-9 10-8 10-7 10-6 10-5

P / El2

FIGURE 1
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m ∞ 40 20 10 5
1.6

1.5

d / d0 1.4

1.3

h / h0 1.2

1.1

1.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

f0 / fn

FIGURE 2

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1.5

5
1.4
m

10
1.3

td / td0
20
1.2 40
∞

1.1

1.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

f0 / fn

FIGURE 3

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1.6 5

1.5
10

20
1.4
_
40 ∞

1.3
th / th0

1.2

1.1

1.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

f0 / fn

FIGURE 4

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3 1.4
BUCKLING MODES
W / Wmin
td / td0 overall normal overall normal
overall lateral local flange
W / Wmin local web local web td / td0
2 1.8 1.2
td / td0
h / h0 h / h0

h / h0
1 1.0

th / th0 th / th0 W / Wmin td / td0

0 1.4 0.8

h / h0 th / th0

1.2 0.6

th / th0

0.4
0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8
d / d0

FIGURE 5

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BUCKLING MODES
W / Wmin
overall normal overall lateral th / th0
W / Wmin local flange local flange
local web local web th / th0
2.0 1.8 3

d / d0 d / d0
d / d0

1.5 2

W / Wmin td / td0
td / td0 td / td0
d / d0
1.0 1.4 1

td / td0
th / th0

0.5 1.2 0
th / th0

0
0.6 0.8 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
d / d0

FIGURE 6

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BUCKLING MODES
W / Wmin
h / h0 W / Wmin overall lateral overall normal
local flange overall lateral
local web local web
5 1.8
h / h0

W / Wmin
th / th0
th / th0
3 1.6

d / d0 h / h0

d / d0
1 1.0
h / h0
d / d0

1.2 0.8

th / th0
d / d0
th / th0
0.6
0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
td / td0

FIGURE 7

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BUCKLING MODES
2.0 W / Wmin
overall normal overall normal W / Wmin
d / d0 local flange overall laterall
local web local flange

1.5 d / d0 1.8 d / d0 1.1

td / td0 W / Wmin d / d0

td / td0
1.0 1.0

h / h0 h / h0
h / h0
h / h0
0.5 1.4 0.9

td / td0

0 1.2 0.8

td / td0

0.7
0.6 0.8 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
th / th0

FIGURE 8

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