Steel · Columns & beam-columns
Compression member: SHS / RHS calculator
SHS/RHS compression capacity computed from outside dimensions and thickness, with the local buckling form factor.
Standard: AS 4100 Cl 6 · AS/NZS 1163 C350L0 (αb = -0.5)
Inputs in the worked example
The live calculator starts with these values; change any of them and every result, check and diagram updates instantly.
| Input | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Width b | 150 | mm |
| Depth d | 150 | mm |
| Wall thickness | 6 | mm |
| Yield stress | 350 | MPa |
| Effective length (weak axis) | 4.5 | m |
| Design compression N* | 600 | kN |
Worked example — results
| Result | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Area (square corners) | 3,456 | mm² |
| I min | 11,964,672 | mm⁴ |
| r min | 58.84 | mm |
| λe short side | 27.21 | |
| λe long side | 27.21 | |
| kf (λey = 40, effective widths) | 1.00 | |
| φNs = 0.9 kf A fy | 1,089 | kN |
| λn = (le/r)√kf √(fy/250) | 90.49 | |
| αa | 18.26 | |
| λ = λn + αa·αb | 81.36 | |
| η | 0.221 | |
| ξ | 1.25 | |
| Slenderness reduction αc | 0.671 | |
| φNc | 730.6 | kN |
- ✓ N* ≤ φNc
Method, formulas and assumptions
- Area (square corners) = 150*150-(150-2*6)*(150-2*6) = 3456 mm²
- I min = MIN(150*150^3-(150-2*6)*(150-2*6)^3,150*150^3-(150-2*6)*(150-2*6)^3)/12 = 1.196e+7 mm⁴
- r min = SQRT(1.196e+7/3456) = 58.839 mm
- λe short side = (MIN(150,150)-2*6)/6*SQRT(350/250) = 27.214
- λe long side = (MAX(150,150)-2*6)/6*SQRT(350/250) = 27.214
- kf (λey = 40, effective widths) = (2*(MIN(150,150)-2*6)*MIN(1,40/27.214)+2*(MAX(150,150)-2*6)*MIN(1,40/27.214)+4*6)*6/3456 = 1
- φNs = 0.9 kf A fy = 0.9*MIN(1,1)*3456*350/1000 = 1088.6 kN
- λn = (le/r)√kf √(fy/250) = 4.5*1000/58.839*SQRT(MIN(1,1))*SQRT(350/250) = 90.493
- αa = 2100*(90.493-13.5)/(90.493^2-15.3*90.493+2050) = 18.26
- λ = λn + αa·αb = 90.493+18.26*-0.5 = 81.362
- η = MAX(0,0.00326*(81.362-13.5)) = 0.22123
- ξ = ((81.362/90)^2+1+0.22123)/(2*(81.362/90)^2) = 1.2471
- Slenderness reduction αc = MIN(1,1.2471*(1-SQRT(1-(90/(1.2471*81.362))^2))) = 0.67114
- φNc = 0.67114*1088.6 = 730.63 kN
- Section properties from dimensions with square corners (published values include corner radii).
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For preliminary design and education. Check every result against the current standard and your own engineering judgement before use.