D5.B.9.6 Clause 6.3.3(5) – Interaction factors kyy, kyz, kzy, and kzz
The Singaporean NA recommends the methods in either Annex A or Annex B of SS-EN 1993-1-1 to calculate these interaction factors. The current implementation of EC3 BS in STAAD.Pro uses the method in Annex B by default. The proposed implementation of the Singaporean NA will also use Annex B for Cl.6.3.3 checks.
However for non-doubly symmetric sections, the Singaporean NA gives the option of using Annex B with some modifications as given in the NA. (Cl. NA-3.2 of the Singaporean NA). The Singaporean NA requires additional checks to be done to check for the maximum allowable values of λ and X to be used in equations 6.61 and 6.62 of SS EN 1993-1-1:2005.
As per the Singaporean NA, for non-doubly symmetric sections, the slenderness about the weak axis (λy in STAAD.Pro) and the corresponding reduction factor χy should be taken as the values from the highest values of slenderness (λ) among the flexural buckling slenderness (λy), torsional slenderness (λT) and torsional-flexural slenderness (λTF) as given in Clauses 6.3.1.3 and 6.3.1.4 of SS EN 1993-1-1:2005. Hence for non-doubly symmetric sections the program calculates the critical non-dimensional slenderness as:
λy = the maximum of either λ from Cl 6.3.1.3 or λT from Cl 6.3.1.4
Where:
Ncr = min (NCrT, NcrTF).
The Singaporean NA or EC3 does not, however, specify a method to evaluate NCrT or NcrTF. Therefore, the program uses the method specified in the NCCI document "SN001a-EN-EU: Critical axial load for torsional and flexural torsional buckling modes" to calculate these. Refer to D5.B.9.7 Clause 6.3.1.4 - Slenderness for torsional and torsional-flexural buckling.
Clause NA 3.2 of the Singaporean NA also requires that "Where the section is not an I Section or a hollow section and is a class1 or class 2 section, it will be treated as a class 3 section for the purposes of this clause". Hence, for all Class 1 or Class 2 cross sections that are not I, H, SHS, RHS or CHS sections, the elastic properties will be used for the purposes of 6.3.3 checks.