Solutions to Common P - and P - Problems

Aamer Haque
November 25, 2016

Abstract
P - and P - problems occur in the analysis and design of structures. This class of problems includes the effect of axial loads
on the bending moment. The bending moment and deflections are amplified for compressive axial loads. The steel and concrete
design manuals [1, 2, 5] discuss the importance of P - and P - effects to structural analysis and design.

1 Introduction
1.1 Importance to Structural Analysis and Design

Figure 1.1: P - and P - effects

Structural analysis is usually performed by assuming that deflections of structural members is small compared their dimensions. This
assumption is used to justify that applied loads act on the original undeformed geometry of the structure. For compression members,
this assumption is not valid. If the applied loads act on deformed members, the moments are magnified and hence the internal stresses
are increased. Furthermore, the final equilibrium deflections are larger than when computed by assuming loads acted on the original
geometry. These magnified moments and deflections have a destabilizing effect on the structure.
Consider the compression member in figure 1.1. The magenta and black lines in the figure respectively indicate the undeformed
and deformed shapes of the member. The first diagram shows a deformed member with no relative translation of the ends of the
member. The second diagram shows a relative translation of the endpoints but no deformation of member shape. The bottom
diagram shows a combined translation and deformation. The design guides [3, 4] provide two definitions related to figure 1.1:
P - = Effect of loads acting on the deflected shape of a member between joints or nodes.
P - = Effect of loads acting on the displaced location of joints or nodes in the structure.
The steel and concrete design manuals [1, 2, 5] require that both P - and P - effects be considered in structural analysis and design.
This is accomplished either by a magnified 1st order analysis or a direct 2nd order analysis which includes these effects. Detailed
requirements for these methods are found in the design manuals and will not be discussed here. We provide solutions to common
P - and P - problems which can be used to verify nonlinear structural analysis software. Some of these problems are discussed in
[8] but more detail of the solution procedure and analysis of results is provided in this paper.

1
1.2 Beam-Column Equations

Figure 1.2: Beam-column segment

A structural member which is designed for combined flexure and compression is called a beam-column. The simplest theory for
beam-columns is formulated using the usual assumptions for Euler-Bernoulli beams:
The longitudinal axis of the unloaded beam is straight.
Applied lateral loads act transverse to the longitudinal axis.
All deformations and strains are small.
Hookes law can be used to relate stresses to strains.
Plane cross sections, which are initially normal to the longitudinal axis, will remain plane and normal to the longitudinal axis
after deformation.
Consider a small segment of a beam-column shown in figure 1.2. We shall employ the usual beam sign conventions and assume that
applied loads and deformations are positive upwards. Equilibrium of vertical forces requires:

V + dV = V + w dx
dV
= w
dx
where V is the internal shear force and w is the applied transverse load which is assumed constant for a short segment dx of the
beam.
Moment equilibrium and the equation for shear produce the following:
w
M + dM = M + V dx + (dx)2 P du
2
dM du
+P = V
dx dx
d2 M d2 u
+P = w
dx2 dx2
The (dx)2 term is a second order quantity which can neglected when formulating the differential equation.
We also note the moment-curvature relation for beams: M = EI u . This equation is derived using Hookes law and a linear
approximation of curvature [6, 7]. If we let k 2 = P/EI, then we can write the equations of beam-columns in either 2nd order or 4th
order form:
V

u + k 2 u = dx (1.1)
EI
w
u + k 2 u = (1.2)
EI
These differential equations require appropriate boundary conditions in order to compute a unique solution. We prefer the formulation
of the 2nd order differential equation (1.1) to derive solutions of P - and P - problems. This is accomplished by directly considering
moment equilibrium.

2
2 Simply Supported Beam with Uniform Load
2.1 Moment Equation

Figure 2.1: Simply supported beam: loading and deflection diagrams

Figure 2.2: Simply supported beam: free body diagram

The simply-supposed beam with a uniform load is shown in figure 2.1. Since there is no lateral translation of the endpoints, only the
P - effect occurs in this problem. Using the free body diagram of figure 2.2, moment equilibrium at location x gives:
X
Mx = 0
1 1
M + P u + wx2 wLx = 0
2 2
1 1
M + Pu = wx2 + wLx
2 2
Dividing both sides by EI and using k 2 = P/EI produces:

w 2 wL
u + k 2 u = x + x (2.1)
2EI 2EI

3
2.2 Solution
2.2.1 Procedure
The general solution has the form:
u(x) = A cos(kx) + B sin(kx) + Cx2 + Dx + F (2.2)
where A, B, C, D, F are constants to be determined. Substituting (2.2) into equation (2.1) we get:

w 2 wL
u + k 2 u = x + x
2EI 2EI
w 2 wL
2C + k 2 Cx2 + Dx + F


= x + x
2EI 2EI
w 2 wL
k 2 Cx2 + k 2 Dx + 2C + k 2 F


= x + x
2EI 2EI
Equating coefficients of powers of x on both sides of the equation results in values for C, D, F :
w
k2 C =
2EI
w 1
C =
2EI k2
w EI
C =
2EI P
w
C =
2P

wL
k2 D =
2EI
wL 1
D =
2EI k2
wL EI
D =
2EI P
wL
D =
2P

2C + k 2 F = 0
w
+ k2 F = 0
P
w 1
F =
P k2
w EI
F =
P P
wEI
F =
P2
Using the boundary condition u(0) = 0 gives the value of A:

A+F = 0
A = F
wEI
A = 2
P
The boundary condition u(L) = 0 provides the value of B:

wEI wL2 wL2 wEI

2
cos(kL) + B sin(kL) + + = 0
P 2P 2P P2
wEI wEI
2 cos(kL) + B sin(kL) + = 0
P P2  
1 wEI
B = [cos(kL) 1]
sin(kL) P2

4
2.2.2 Deflection solution
 
wEI 1 wEI w 2 wL wEI
u(x) = cos(kx) + [cos(kL) 1] sin(kx) x + x+ (2.3)
P2 sin(kL) P2 2P 2P P2
It is convenient to rewrite the solution using the parameter and its powers:
r
kL P L2 P L2 P 2 L4
= = , 2 = , 4 = (2.4)
2 4EI 4EI 16(EI)2

Using the solution now becomes:

wL4 wL4 wL2 2 wL3 wL4

 
1
u(x) = cos(kx) + [cos(kL) 1] sin(kx) x + x+ (2.5)
16EI 4 sin(kL) 16EI 4 8EI 2 8EI 2 16EI 4

2.2.3 Mid-span deflection (maximum deflection)

The mid-span deflection u(L/2) = is computed as:
 2
wL4 wL4 wL2 wL3 wL4
       
kL 1 kL L L
= cos + [cos(kL) 1] sin + +
16EI 4 2 sin(kL) 16EI 4 2 8EI 2 2 8EI 2 2 16EI 4
wL4 wL4 wL4 4 4
 
1 wL wL
= cos + [cos(2) 1] sin + +
16EI 4 sin(2) 16EI 4 32EI 2 16EI 2 16EI 4
wL4 wL4 wL4 wL4
 
1
= cos + [cos(2) 1] sin + +
16EI 4 sin(2) 16EI 4 32EI 2 16EI 4
wL4
 
2
= 2 cos [cos(2) 1] sin 2 2
32EI 4 sin(2)
wL4
 
1  2 2
 2
= 2 cos cos sin 1 sin 2
32EI 4 sin cos
wL4 sin2
 
1
= 2 cos cos + + 2 2
32EI 4 cos cos
2
wL4
 
sin 1
= cos + + 2 2
32EI 4 cos cos
2
wL4
 2 
cos + sin + 1 2
= 2
32EI 4 cos
wL4
 
2
= 2 2
32EI 4 cos
wL4
2 sec 2 2

=
32EI 4
is written using a amplification factor u of the beam deflection 0 without a compressive load:

12(2 sec 2 2) 5wL4

= u 0 , u = , 0 = (2.6)
5 4 384EI

5
2.2.4 Mid-span moment (maximum moment)
The maximum moment occurs at the mid-span and is computed using moment equilibrium:
 2  
1 L 1 L
M = P w + wL
2 2 2 2
wL2 wL2
M = P +
8 4
wL2
M = P +
8
wP L4  2
wL2
M = 2 sec 2 +
32EI 4 8
wL2  wL 2
2 sec 2 2 +

M =
8 2 8
2
wL
M = {2 sec 2}
8 2
The moment can be written using the amplification factor M and nominal moment M0 :

2(sec 1) wL2
M = M M 0 , M = , M0 = (2.7)
2 8

2.3 Plots
In order to further analyze the solution, we write in terms of the ratio of compressive load to the critical buckling load which is
defined as:
2 EI
Pcr = (2.8)
(KL)2
The parameter K depends on the boundary conditions of the problem. For simple supports at both ends, K = 1 and we obtain the
Euler buckling load:
2 EI
Pcr = Pel = (2.9)
L2
is defined alternatively using: r
1   P
= (2.10)
K 2 Pcr
According to Timoshenko [8], the amplification factors can be approximated by:
1
u M (2.11)
1 PPel

When P/Pcr is close to 0, we have the further approximation:

P
u M 1 + (2.12)
Pel
Plots of the amplification factors appear on the next page. Approximation (2.11) is seen to be almost identical to the exact
amplification factors. The exact factor (red line) completely covers the approximation (2.11) (blue line) in figure 2.4.

6
 Moment Amplification
0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

P/Pcr 0.4

0.3

0.2

1/(1 + P/Pcr )
0.1 1 + P/Pcr
2(sec 1)/ 2
0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
M

Figure 2.3: Moment amplification factor M

Deflection Amplification
0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
P/Pcr

0.4

0.3

0.2

1/(1 + P/Pcr )
0.1 1 + P/Pcr
12(2 sec 2 2)/(5 4 )
0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
u

Figure 2.4: Deflection amplification factor u

7
3 Fixed Beam with Uniform Load
3.1 Moment Equation

Figure 3.1: Fixed beam: loading and deflection diagrams

Figure 3.2: Fixed beam: free body diagram

Figure 3.1 shows a uniformly loaded beam with fixed ends. The corresponding free body diagram in figure 3.2 replaces one fixed end
with a restraining moment Ma . The fixed end moment at the opposite end also has value Ma due to symmetry of the problem. We
again observe that only the P - effect is present. Equilibrium of moments at x provides:
X
Mx = 0
1 1
M + P u + wx2 wLx Ma = 0
2 2
1 1
M + Pu = wx2 + wLx + Ma
2 2
Rewriting the equation using the parameter k results in the equation:
w 2 wL Ma
u + k 2 u = x + x+ (3.1)
2EI 2EI EI

8
3.2 Solution
3.2.1 Procedure
The general solution is again:
u(x) = A cos(kx) + B sin(kx) + Cx2 + Dx + F (3.2)
Substituting (3.2) into equation (3.1) we have:
w 2 wL Ma
u + k 2 u = x + x+
2EI 2EI EI
w 2 wL Ma
2C + k 2 Cx2 + Dx + F


= x + x+
2EI 2EI EI
w 2 wL Ma
k 2 Cx2 + k 2 Dx + 2C + k 2 F


= x + x+
2EI 2EI EI
C and D are the same as for the simply supported beam:
w wL
C = , D=
2P 2P
F is computed as:
Ma
2C + k 2 F =
EI
w Ma
+ k2 F =
P EI 
1 w Ma
F = +
k2 P EI
 
EI w Ma
F = +
P P EI
wEI Ma
F = +
P2 P
The boundary condition u(0) = 0 determines A:
A+F = 0
A = F
 
wEI Ma
A = +
P2 P
B is computed using u (0) = 0:
kB + D = 0
D
B =
k
wL
B =
2kP

3.2.2 Fixed end moment (maximum moment)

The fixed end moment Ma remains to be determined. Its value is calculated using u(L) = 0:
wL2 wL2
 
wEI Ma wL wEI Ma
+ cos(kL) sin(kL) + + + = 0
P2 P 2kP 2P 2P P2 P
 
wEI Ma wL wEI Ma
+ cos(kL) sin(kL) + + = 0
P2 P 2kP P2 P
Ma wEI wL wEI
[1 cos(kL)] = cos(kL) + sin(kL)
P P2 2kP P2
Ma wEI wL
[1 cos(kL)] = 2 [1 cos(kL)] + sin(kL)
P P 2kP
wEI wL
Ma [1 cos(kL)] = [1 cos(kL)] + sin(kL)
P  2k 
wEI wL sin(kL)
Ma = +
P 2k 1 cos(kL)

9
The algebra proceeds using trigonometric identities:
 
wEI wL sin(kL)
Ma = +
P 2k 1 cos(kL)
 
wEI wL sin(2)
Ma = +
P 2k 1 cos(2)
 
wEI wL 2 sin cos
Ma = +
P 2k 1 cos2 + sin2
 
wEI wL 2 sin cos
Ma = +
P 2k sin2 + sin2
wEI wL 1
Ma = +
P 2k tan
2
 
wL 4EI 2 1
Ma =
4 P L2 kL tan
2
 
wL 1 1
Ma =
4 2 tan

Finally, we arrive at:

wL2
 
3
Ma = a Ma0 , a = 2 1 , Ma0 = (3.3)
tan 12

3.2.3 Deflection solution

 
wEI Ma wL w 2 wL wEI Ma
u(x) = 2
+ cos(kx) sin(kx) x + x+ 2
+ (3.4)
P P 2kP 2P 2P P P
Rewriting the solution in terms of , we have:

wL4 wL4 wL2 2 wL3 wL4

 
Ma Ma
u(x) = 4
+ cos(kx) 3
sin(kx) 2
x + 2
x + 4
+ (3.5)
16EI P 16EI 8EI 8EI 16EI P

3.2.4 Mid-span deflection (maximum deflection)

u(L/2) = is calculated as follows:
 2
wL4 wL4 wL2 wL3 wL4
       
Ma kL kL L L Ma
= 4
+ cos 3
sin 2
+ 2
+ 4
+
16EI P 2 16EI 2 8EI 2 8EI 2 16EI P
wL4 wL4 wL4 wL4 wL4
 
Ma Ma
= + cos sin + + +
16EI 4 P 16EI 3 32EI 2 16EI 2 16EI 4 P
wL4 wL4 wL4 wL4
 
Ma Ma
= + cos sin + + +
16EI 4 P 16EI 3 32EI 2 16EI 4 P
wL4 2
 
Ma
= 1 + sin + cos + [1 cos ]
16EI 4 2 P
wL4 2 wL2 L2
      
3
= 1 + sin + cos 1 [1 cos ]
16EI 4 2 12 4EI 2 2 tan
wL4 2 wL4
   
cos
= 1 + sin + cos 1 cos +
16EI 4 2 16EI 4 tan tan
4 2
 
wL cos
= sin +
16EI 4 tan tan 2
4 2
2 sin + 2 cos 2 cos 2 sin
2
 
wL
=
16EI 4 2 sin
4 2
 
wL 2(1 cos ) sin
=
32EI 4 sin
4
 
wL 2 2 2
=
32EI 4 sin tan

10
Using a amplification factor, becomes:

wL4
 
12 2 2 2
= u 0 , u = 4 , 0 = (3.6)
sin tan 384EI

where 0 is the usual beam deflection without the compressive load.

3.2.5 Mid-span moment

Moment equilibrium at the mid-span allows us to compute the maximum bending moment:
 2  
1 L 1 L
M = P w + wL + Ma
2 2 2 2
wL2 wL2 1
 
1
M = P +
8 4 2 tan
2 4
wL2 wL2 1
       
4EI wL 2 2 2 1
M = +
L2 32EI 4 sin tan 8 4 2 tan
2 2 2
   
wL 2 2 wL wL 1 1
M = 2 +
8 2 sin tan 8 4 2 tan
wL2
 

M = 1
4 2 sin
wL2 sin
 
M =
4 2 sin

In terms of an amplification factor:

6( sin ) wL2
M = M M 0 , M = , M0 = (3.7)
2 sin 24

3.3 Plots
For fixed beams, K = 1/2. The plots of the amplification factors are given below. Notice that the approximations (2.11) and (2.12)
are not accurate for estimating a and this is seen in figure 3.3.

Moment Amplification
0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
P/Pcr

0.4

0.3

0.2

1/(1 + P/Pcr )
0.1 1 + P/Pcr
3(1 / tan )/ 2
0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
a

Figure 3.3: Moment amplification factor a

11
 Moment Amplification
0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

P/Pcr 0.4

0.3

0.2

1/(1 + P/Pcr )
0.1 1 + P/Pcr
6( sin )/( 2 sin )
0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
M

Figure 3.4: Moment amplification factor M

Deflection Amplification
0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
P/Pcr

0.4

0.3

0.2

1/(1 + P/Pcr )
0.1 1 + P/Pcr
12(2 / sin 2 / tan 2 )/ 4
0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
u

Figure 3.5: Deflection amplification factor u

12
4 Cantilever Beam-Column with Point Loads at Tip
4.1 Moment Equation

Figure 4.1: Cantilever: loading and deflection diagrams

Figure 4.2: Cantilever: free body diagram

A cantilever beam-column, with lateral point load and vertical compressive load, is displayed in figure 4.1. Both the P - and P -
effects are present in this case. The moment equilibrium equation is:
X
Mx = 0
M P u Hx + P + HL = 0
M + Pu = Hx + P + HL

The 2nd order differential equation is:

H HL
u + k 2 u = x + k2 + (4.1)
EI EI

13
4.2 Solution
4.2.1 Procedure
The form of the general solution is:
u(x) = A cos(kx) + B sin(kx) + Cx + D (4.2)
This equation is substituted into the differential equation (4.1):

H HL
u + k 2 u = x + k2 +
EI EI
H HL
k 2 (Cx + D) = x + k2 +
EI EI
H HL
k 2 Cx + k 2 D = x + k2 +
EI EI
Setting coefficients of powers of x equal on both sides of the equations gives values for C and D:
H
k2 C =
EI
H 1
C =
EI k2
H EI
C =
EI P
H
C =
P

HL
k2 D = k2 +
EI
HL EI
D = +
EI P
HL
D = +
P
The boundary condition u(0) = 0 allows us to solve for A:

A+D = 0
A = D
 
HL
A = +
P

B is computed by using u (0) = 0:

kB + C = 0
C
B =
k
H
B =
kP

4.2.2 Deflection solution

    
HL H sin(kx)
u(x) = + [1 cos(kx)] + x (4.3)
P P k
The value of is computed in the next subsection.

14
4.2.3 Tip deflection (maximum deflection)
The maximum deflection occurs at the tip and thus we set = u(L). It will be convenient to introduce the following parameter into
the solution: r
P L2
= kL = (4.4)
EI
Computing = u(L) results in:
    
HL H sin(kL)
= + [1 cos(kL)] + L
P P k
    
HL H L sin
= + [1 cos ] + L
P P
    
HL HL sin
cos = [1 cos ] + 1
P P
  
HL sin
cos = cos
P
  
HL tan
= 1
P

Further algebraic manipulation yields:

HL3
  
tan
= 1
EI2
3
  
HL tan
=
EI2
3
  
HL tan
=
EI 3

An amplification factor is introduced:

3 (tan ) HL3
= u 0 , u = , 0 = (4.5)
3 3EI
where 0 is the usual cantilever beam tip deflection.

4.2.4 Base moment (maximum moment)

The maximum bending moment is located at the base x = 0. Using the moment equation directly, we have:

Ma = P + HL
  
HL tan
Ma = P 1 + HL
P
 
tan
Ma = HL

We thus write:
tan
Ma = a Ma0 , a = , Ma0 = HL (4.6)

4.3 Plots
The parameter is related to the ratio P/Pcr by the following equation:
r
P
= (4.7)
K Pcr
K = 2 for the cantilever beam-column.

15
 Moment Amplification
0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

P/Pcr 0.4

0.3

0.2

1/(1 + P/Pcr )
0.1 1 + P/Pcr
(tan )/
0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
a

Figure 4.3: Moment amplification factor a

Deflection Amplification
0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
P/Pcr

0.4

0.3

0.2

1/(1 + P/Pcr )
0.1 1 + P/Pcr
3(tan )/ 3
0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
u

Figure 4.4: Deflection amplification factor u

16
5 Fixed Beam-Column with Lateral Displacement
5.1 Moment Equation

Figure 5.1: Cantilever: loading and deflection diagrams

Figure 5.2: Cantilever: free body diagram

Figure 5.1 displays a laterally translating beam-column with fixed ends. This problem exhibits the P - and the P - effects. The
free body diagram in figure 5.2 is used to derive the moment equation:
X
Mx = 0
M P u Hx + Ma = 0
M + Pu = Hx + Ma

The corresponding 2nd order differential equation is:

H Ma
u + k 2 u = x+ (5.1)
EI EI

17
5.2 Solution
5.2.1 Procedure
The solution of (5.1) has the form:
u(x) = A cos(kx) + B sin(kx) + Cx + D (5.2)
We again substitute the general form (5.2) into equation (5.1) to get:

H Ma
u + k 2 u = x+
EI EI
H Ma
k 2 (Cx + D) = x+
EI EI
H Ma
k 2 Cx + k 2 D = x+
EI EI
As with the cantilever beam column we have:
H
C=
P
D is computed be equating the constant terms:
Ma
k2 D =
EI
Ma EI
D =
EI P
Ma
D =
P
A is computed by using the boundary condition u(0) = 0:

A+D = 0
A = D
Ma
A =
P
Then B is determined by using boundary condition u (0) = 0:

kB + C = 0
C
B =
k
H
B =
kP

18
5.2.2 Fixed end moment (maximum moment)
The end moment Ma is computed by using u (L) = 0:

Ak sin(kL) + Bk cos(kL) + C = 0
Ma k H H
sin(kL) + cos(kL) = 0
P P P
kMa sin(kL) = H [1 cos(kL)]
 
H 1 cos(kL)
Ma =
k sin(kL)
 
H 1 cos(2)
Ma =
k sin(2)
H 1 cos2 + sin2
 
Ma =
k 2 sin cos
2 sin2
 
H
Ma =
k 2 sin cos
H
Ma = tan
k  
HL tan
Ma =
2

tan HL
Ma = a Ma0 , a = , Ma0 = (5.3)
2

5.2.3 Deflection solution

    
Ma H sin(kx)
u(x) = [1 cos(kx)] + x (5.4)
P P k

5.2.4 Translation (maximum deflection)

In order to compute u(L) = we switch between and defined by equations (2.4) and (4.4).
     
HL tan H sin(kL)
= [1 cos(kL)] + L
2P P k
     
HL tan(/2) H L sin
= [1 cos ] + L
P P
     
HL 1 cos HL sin
= [1 cos ] + 1
P sin P
1 2 cos + cos2
     
HL HL sin
= + 1
P sin P
1 2 cos + cos2 sin
  
HL
= + 1
P sin
1 2 cos + cos2 + sin2
  
HL
= 1
P sin
  
HL 2 2 cos
= 1
P sin
  
HL 2(1 cos )
= 1
P sin
  
HL 2 tan(/2)
= 1
P
  
HL tan
= 1
P

19
Continuing with more algebra:

HL3
  
tan
= 1
4EI 2
HL3
   
tan
=
4EI 2
HL3
  
tan
=
4EI 3

We now let 0 be the nominal deflection and define an amplification factor:

3 (tan ) HL3
= u 0 , u = , 0 = (5.5)
3 12EI

5.2.5 Mid-span moment

We compute the moment at the mid-span from directly from the moment equation:

   
L
M = P H + Ma
2 2
    
HL tan HL HL tan
M = 1 +
2 2 2
M = 0

We thus obtain the expected value of zero moment at mid-span.

5.3 Plots
K = 1 for this problem.

Moment Amplification
0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
P/Pcr

0.4

0.3

0.2

1/(1 + P/Pcr )
0.1 1 + P/Pcr
(tan )/
0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
a

Figure 5.3: Moment amplification factor a

20
 Deflection Amplification
0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

P/Pcr 0.4

0.3

0.2

1/(1 + P/Pcr )
0.1 1 + P/Pcr
3(tan )/ 3
0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
u

Figure 5.4: Deflection amplification factor u

21
6 Summary
The main results of this paper are summarized in table 6.1.

Simply Supported Beam, K = 1

Quantity Amplification Factor Nominal Value

2(sec 1) wL2
M (L/2) = M M0 M = 2 M0 = 8

12(2 sec 2 2) 5wL 4

u(L/2) = u 0 u = 5 4 0 = 384EI

1
Fixed Beam, K = 2

Quantity Amplification Factor Nominal Value

h i 2

M (0) = M (L) = a Ma0 a = 32 1 tan Ma0 = wL
12

6(sin ) wL2
M (L/2) = M M0 M = 2 sin M0 = 24
h i 4
12 2 2 wL
u(L/2) = u 0 u = 4 sin tan 2 0 = 384EI

Cantilever Beam-Column, K = 2

Quantity Amplification Factor Nominal Value

tan
M (0) = a Ma0 a = Ma0 = HL
3(tan ) HL3
u(L) = u 0 u = 3 0 = 3EI

Translating Beam-Column, K = 1

Quantity Amplification Factor Nominal Value

tan HL
M (0) = M (L) = a Ma0 a = Ma0 = 2

3(tan ) HL3
u(L) = u 0 u = 3 0 = 12EI

1

q P
= K 2 Pcr , = 2

Table 6.1: Amplification factors, nominal moments, and nominal deflections

22
References
[1] ACI. Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-08) and Commentary. American Concrete Institute, 2008.
[2] AISC. AISC Steel Construction Manual. American Institute of Steel Construction, thirteenth edition, 2005.
[3] AISC. Specification for Structural Steel Buildings. American Institute of Steel Construction, 2005.
[4] AISC. Specification for Structural Steel Buildings. American Institute of Steel Construction, 2010.
[5] AISC. AISC Steel Construction Manual. American Institute of Steel Construction, fourteenth edition, 2011.
[6] R.C. Hibbeler. Mechanics of Materials. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, seventh edition, 2008.
[7] Steen Krenk. Mechanics and Analysis of Beams, Columns, and Cables. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, second edition, 2001.
[8] S.P. Timoshenko and J.M. Gere. Theory of Elastic Stability. McGraw-Hill, New York, second edition, 1963.

23