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D5.D.13.5 Clauses 6.3.2.2 and 6.3.2.3 — Calculation of LTB Reduction factor, χLT as per Swedish NA

Clauses 6.3.2.2 and 6.3.2.3 (EN 1993-1-1:2005), both give equations to evaluate the LTB reduction factor χLT to be used in eqn. 6.55 of BFS EN 1993-1-1:2005.

Cl. 6.3.2.2 uses tables 6.3 and 6.4 to choose the buckling curve and the imperfection factors to be used for calculating χLT. Table 6.4 specifies the choice of buckling curves for “Rolled I Sections”, “Welded I Sections” and “Any other sections”. Cl 6.3.2.3 on the other hand uses tables 6.5 and 6.3 to choose the buckling curves and imperfection factors. Table 6.5 however only deals with “Rolled I Sections” and “Welded I Sections”.

Cl. 6.3.2.2 states "Unless otherwise specified, see 6.3.2.3, for bending members of constant cross section the value of χLT should be determined from…". Hence in the implementation of EC3 (and the Swedish Annex) in STAAD.Pro: by default the program will consider clause Cl. 6.3.2.3 to evaluate χLT. For any case that is not dealt with by Cl. 6.3.2.3, the program will consider Cl. 6.3.2.2 to evaluate χLT.

Note: The MTH design parameter can be used to control the choice of the clause used to calculate χLT.

In any case, the elastic critical moment, Mcr, (used to evaluate the non dimensional slenderness) will be evaluated as previously given. Since this implementation uses the NCCIs mentioned in the sections above, only end restraint conditions corresponding to the CMN parameter=1.0 (Refer to D5.D.13.3 Clause 6.3.2.2 –Elastic critical moment and imperfection factors for LTB checks  ) will be considered. For all other cases of the CMN parameter values, this implementation will use the method specified in Annex F of DD ENV 1993-1-1:1992.

Note: If a National Annex has not been specified (i.e., NA parameter in the design input = 0), the program will use Cl. 6.3.2.3 only in the case of Rolled or welded I & H Sections. For all other cases, the program will use Cl. 6.3.2.2 of BFS EN 1993-1-1:2005. Also, I sections with plates will be treated as built-up sections only if the section has been explicitly specified as a built-up section (i.e., SBLT parameter = 1.0 in design input).
Parent topic: D5.D.13 Swedish National Annex to EC3