Batten Plate Design Considerations

Batten plates are essential components used in the construction of built-up columns, which are often formed by connecting two or more rolled steel sections (like channels or angles) to act as a single, stronger compression member. These plates are placed at intervals along the length of the column to hold the individual components together, ensure they behave monolithically, and provide stability against buckling in the plane perpendicular to the batten plates.

The primary function of battens is to transfer shear forces and maintain the overall stiffness of the built-up section. Therefore, their design must account for various forces, including the transverse shear.

Transverse Shear for Batten Plate Design

For the proper and safe design of batten plates in a built-up compression member, it is crucial to consider the transverse shear force that these plates will need to resist. According to standard structural engineering design codes, such as IS 800:2007 (Indian Standard for General Construction in Steel), specific guidelines are provided for calculating this transverse shear.

The transverse shear to be considered for the design of batten plates is a percentage of the total axial force acting on the built-up column. This specific provision helps ensure that the batten system can adequately resist any lateral deflection or forces that might arise due to imperfections in fabrication, erection, or accidental loads.

The specified value for transverse shear in the design of batten plates is:

• 2.5% of the total axial force

This means if \(P\) is the total axial force in the compression member, the transverse shear \(V_t\) to be considered for batten plate design is calculated as:

\[V_t = 0.025 \times P\]

This transverse shear is then distributed among the batten plates and used to determine the necessary dimensions and connections of the plates to resist this shear safely. This consideration is vital for the overall stability and performance of the built-up column under axial compression.