P1: GIG

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16 CLASSIFICATION OF SECTIONS FOR LOCAL BUCKLING [Sect. B4.

TABLE B4.1
Limiting Width-Thickness Ratios for
Compression Elements
Limiting Width-
Case

Width Thickness Ratios

Thick-
Description of ness λp λr
Element Ratio (compact) (noncompact) Example

1 Flexure in flanges of b/t 0.38 E/Fy 1.0 E/Fy b
rolled I-shaped
sections and t
channels

[a],[b]
2 Flexure in flanges of b/t 0.38 E/Fy 0.95 kc E/FL b
doubly and singly
symmetric I-shaped t
built-up sections

3 Uniform b/t NA 0.56 E/Fy b
compression in
flanges of rolled t
Unjustified Elements

I-shaped sections,
plates projecting
from rolled I-shaped
sections;
outstanding legs of
pairs of angles in
continuous contact
and flanges of
channels
4 Uniform b/t NA [a] b
0.64 kc E/Fy
compression in
t t
flanges of built-up
I-shaped sections
and plates or angle b
legs projecting from
built-up I-shaped
sections

5 Uniform b/t NA 0.45 E/Fy b
compression in legs
of single angles, t
legs of double
angles with
separators, and all
other unstiffened
elements

6 Flexure in legs of b/t 0.54 E/Fy 0.91 E/Fy b
single angles
t

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, March 9, 2005

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION, INC.
P1: GIG
GRBT055-B AISC-Sample (LRFD) June 17, 2005 16:3 Char Count= 0

Sect. B4.] CLASSIFICATION OF SECTIONS FOR LOCAL BUCKLING 17

TABLE B4.1 (cont.)

Limiting Width-Thickness Ratios for
Compression Elements
Limiting Width-
Case

Width Thickness Ratios

Thick-
Description of ness λp λr
Element Ratio (compact) (noncompact) Example

7 Flexure in flanges of b/t 0.38 E/Fy 1.0 E/Fy b
tees t

8 Uniform d/t NA 0.75 E/Fy
compression in d
stems of tees t

9 Flexure in webs of h/tw 3.76 E/Fy 5.70 E/Fy
doubly symmetric
I-shaped sections
and channels h tw

10 Uniform h/tw NA 1.49 E/Fy
compression in
webs of doubly
symmetric I-shaped h
Stiffened Elements

tw
sections

11 Flexure in webs of hc /tw hc E 5.70 E/Fy hp hc
singly-symmetric 2 pna
hp Fy 2
I-shaped sections 2 ≤ λr
Mp cg
0.54 − 0.09
My tw

t
12 Uniform b/t 1.12 E/Fy 1.40 E/Fy
compression in
flanges of b
rectangular box and
hollow structural
sections of uniform
thickness subject to
bending or
compression; flange
cover plates and
diaphragm plates
between lines of
fasteners or welds

13 Flexure in webs of h/t 2.42 E/Fy 5.70 E/Fy
rectangular HSS t

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, March 9, 2005

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION, INC.
P1: GIG
GRBT055-B AISC-Sample (LRFD) June 17, 2005 16:3 Char Count= 0

18 FABRICATION, ERECTION AND QUALITY CONTROL [Sect. B5.

TABLE B4.1 (cont.)

Limiting Width-Thickness Ratios for
Compression Elements
Limiting Width-
Case

Width Thickness Ratios

Thick-
Description of ness λp λr
Element Ratio (compact) (noncompact) Example

14 Uniform b/t NA 1.49 E/Fy b
compression in all
other stiffened
elements t

15 Circular hollow t
sections
In uniform D/t NA 0.11E/Fy D
compression
In flexure D/t 0.07E/Fy 0.31E/Fy
[a]
kc = √ 4
h/tw
, but shall not be taken less than 0.35 nor greater than 0.76 for calculation purposes. (See
Cases 2 and 4)
[b]
FL = 0.7Fy for minor-axis bending, major axis bending of slender-web built-up I-shaped members, and
major axis bending of compact and noncompact web built-up I-shaped members with Sxt /Sxc ≥ 0.7; FL =
Fy Sxt /Sxc ≥ 0.5Fy for major-axis bending of compact and noncompact web built-up I-shaped members with
Sxt /Sxc < 0.7. (See Case 2)

B5. FABRICATION, ERECTION AND QUALITY CONTROL

Shop drawings, fabrication, shop painting, erection, and quality control shall
meet the requirements stipulated in Chapter M, Fabrication, Erection, and Quality
Control.

B6. EVALUATION OF EXISTING STRUCTURES

Provisions for the evaluation of existing structures are presented in Appendix 5,
Evaluation of Existing Structures.

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, March 9, 2005

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION, INC.