Ar m str o n g , Ban u |1

CE 4560.E01

1. A flexural member is fabricated from two flange plates ½ x 7 ½ and a web plate 3/8 x 17.
The yield stress of the steel is 50 ksi.
a. Compute the plastic section modulus Z and the plastic moment Mp with respect
to the major principal axis.
b. Compute the elastic section modulus S and the yield moment My with respect to
the major principal axis.

7½
Fy = 50 ksi ½

Z=?

Mp =? 17

S =? 3/8
My =?

½
7½
b.
bh3
Ix =
12

Ixx = Ix + Ad2 y and Where y=|y-𝑦𝑦�|

Section Area (in2 ) Distance y (in)
TOP FLANGE (7.5)(0.5) =3.75 0.5
0.5+17+ 2 =17.75
17
WEB (0.375)(17)=6.375 0.5+ 2 =9
BOTTOM FLANGE (7.5)(0.5) =3.75 0.5
=0.25
2

A1 y1 +A1 y1 +A1 y1 3.75∗17.75+6.375∗9+3.75∗0.25

𝑦𝑦� = ∑ Ai
= =9 in
3.75+6.375+3.75
7.5∗0.53 0.375∗173 7.5∗0.53
Ixx = 12
+ 3.75(17.75 − 9)2 + 12
+ 6.375(9 − 9)2 + 12
+ 3.75(9−0.25)2=727.91 in4
Ar m str o n g , Ban u |2
CE 4560.E01

Ixx 727.91in4
Sx = �
= =80.88 in3  Elastic Section Modulus
y 9 in
1′
Myx = Sx Fy = (80.88 in3 )(50 ksi)(12")=337.00 k-ft  Yield Moment

7½“

8.75 9 in
8.50

8.50 8.75 9 in

a.
8.50
Zx =∑ Ad =2*(3.75)(8.75) + 2* (0.375)(8.50) ( 2
)=92.72 in3  Plastic Section Modulus
1′
MPx = Zx Fy = (92.72 in3 )(50 ksi)(12")=386.33 k-ft  Plastic Moment
Ar m str o n g , Ban u |3
CE 4560.E01

2. An unsymmetrical flexural member consists of a ½ x 12 top flange, a ½ x 7 bottom flange,

and a 3/8 x 16 web.
a. Determine the distance y� from the top of the shape to the horizontal plastic
neutral axis.
b. If A572 Grade 50 steel is used, what is the plastic moment Mp for the horizontal
plastic neutral axis?
c. Compute the plastic section modulus Z with respect to the minor principal axis.

y� =? 12 in

Mpx =? ½

𝑍𝑍𝑦𝑦 =?

16 in 3/8

½
a. 7 in
Fy At = Fy Ab  same material

At = Ab

Atf = 0.5 *12 = 6 in2

Atw =(𝑦𝑦� − 0.5) (0.375)= 0.375𝑦𝑦� - 0.1875
At = 6 +0.375𝑦𝑦� -0.1875= 5.8125 +0.375𝒚𝒚
�

Abf = 0.5*7 = 3.5 in2

Abw =(0.5+16-𝑦𝑦�) (0.375)= 0.1875+6-0.375𝑦𝑦�
Ab =3.5 +0.1875 +6 -0.375𝑦𝑦� = 9.6875-0.375𝒚𝒚
�
Ar m str o n g , Ban u |4
CE 4560.E01

At = Ab
5.8125 +0.375𝑦𝑦�=9.6875-0.375𝑦𝑦�
0.75𝑦𝑦�=3.875
𝑦𝑦�=5.167 in

b.
12”

5.167 4.667 4.917

11.833 11.333 11.583

7”

4.667 11.333
Zx =∑ Ad = 12*0.5*4.917 + 0.375*4.667* 2
+ 7*0.5*11.583 + 0.375*11.333* 2

=98.21 in3  Plastic Section Modulus

1′
MPx = Zx Fy =(98.21 in3 )(50 ksi)(12")=409.2 k-ft  Plastic Moment
Ar m str o n g , Ban u |5
CE 4560.E01

c.

Section Area (in2 ) Distance x (in)

TOP FLANGE (12)(0.5) =6 6
WEB (0.375)(16)=6 0.1875
BOTTOM FLANGE (7)(0.5) =3.5 3.5

A1 y1 +A1 y1 +A1 y1 6∗6+6∗0.1875+3.5∗3.5

𝑥𝑥̅ = = =3.185 in
∑ Ai 6+6+3.5

∑ 𝐴𝐴 15.5 in2
Zy = x� = *3.185 in=24.68 in3  Plastic Section Modulus
2 2
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CE 4560.E01

3. Verify the value of Zx for W18 X 50 that is tabulated in the dimensions and properties
tables in Part 1 of the Manual.

7.5”

9/16”

18” 3/8”

Section Area (in2 ) Distance y (in)

TOP FLANGE (7.5)(0.5625) =4.21875 0.5625+16.875+
0.5625
=17.71875
2
WEB (0.375)(16.875)=6.328125 0.5625+
16.875
=9
2
BOTTOM FLANGE (7.5)(0.5625) =4.21875 0.5625
=0.28125
2
TOTAL AREA 14.765625

A1 y1 +A1 y1 +A1 y1 4.21875∗17.71875+6.328125∗9+4.21875∗0.28125

𝑦𝑦� = ∑ Ai
= =9 in
4.21875+6.328125+4.21875

A= 14.76 in2
A=14.7 in2  Manual 1-22
Ar m str o n g , Ban u |7
CE 4560.E01

7½“
9”
8.4375” 8.71875”

8.4375” 8.71875” 9”

8.4375
Zx =∑ Ad = 2* (7.5*0.5625) (8.71875) +2* (0.375*8.4375) ( 2
) =100.26 in3

Zx =101 in3  MANUAL 1-23