According to clause 4.8.3.2 the cross-section capacity for non-slender section is: $$\frac{F_c}{A_g p_y}+\frac{M_x}{M_{cx}}+\frac{M_y}{M_{cy}}\leq 1 \qquad (1)$$
According to clause 4.8.3.3.1 simplified method of member buckling resistance, the following relationship should be satisfied: $$\frac{F_c}{P_c}+\frac{m_x M_x}{p_y Z_x}+\frac{m_y M_y}{p_y Z_y}\leq 1\quad (2)$$
Let's consider a beam-column with class 1 section (doubly-symmetric) under uniform moment (so that the equivalent moment factor $m_x = m_y =1$ according to Table 26) and axial compression, and ignore lateral-torsional buckling. In this case, equation (2) is always critical than equation (1), because $P_c \leq A_g p_y$ and $p_y Z_x \leq M_{cx}$, $p_y Z_y \leq M_{cy}$.
My questions are:
- What is the use of equation (1), or clause 4.8.3.2, if buckling resistance is always more critical? Is there any case that equation (1) is more critical?
- If the member is under biaxial bending but without axial force, i.e. $F_c=0, M_x>0, M_y>0$, is checking equation (2), or clause 4.8.3.3 still required?
I understand that the simplified method is at the cost of conservatism, but making one criterion obsolete seems too much to me.
Thank you for your time.
Edit 1:
- I am aware of that the equivalent moment factor can be taken as minimum as $m_x = m_y =0.4$ for double curvature member, which should make equation (2) less critical if the axial compression is not large. However, I would like to confine the discussion in the case of single curvature and uniform moment.
- I welcome any example that a non-doubly-symmetric class 1 section has $p_y Z_x \geq M_{cx}$, $p_y Z_y \geq M_{cy}$.