Stability design of Steel structures
1. The effective length method was first introduced in the 1961 AISC specification, and it
has served the profession for over 45 years.
2. The latest addition to the AISC is the direct analysis method which eliminates the need
for calculation of the column effective length Factor K in the design process a source of
potential error and confusion for practicing Engineers designing complex steel structures
it also develops a stability design approach that applies in the same logical and
consistent way to all types of structures including brace frames moment frames and
combined framing systems
3. In the Direct Analysis Method (DAM) as specified by AISC 360, member stiffness
properties contributing to the stability of the steel frame are reduced to account for
partial inelasticity. Specifically, the flexural stiffness (EI) is multiplied by 0.8 for all
members. The axial stiffness is also multiplied by 0.8 for all members contributing to the
frame's stability. it is suggested that all steel member properties contributing to the
elastic stiffness be multiplied by 0.8 with the exception of member flexural rigidities
which should be multiplied by 0.8 τb this includes connections, panel zones ,diaphragm
column bases and member Shear stiffnesses uniform application of this stiffness
reduction to all the structural components including leaning columns is most consistent
with the fundamental basis of the direct analysis method.
4. Determine the notional lateral loads which are intended to account for the overall
effects of out-of-plum geometry imperfections and apply them either as minimum
lateral loads in the gravity-only load combinations or as additive lateral loads for all load
combinations based on the following rule
Notional load at level i
Where yi is the gravity load at level I
Notional loads may be applied as a minimum lateral load solely in the gravity only load
combinations in cases where the second order effect as measured by the ratio of the
average second order to first order story drifts are less than or equal to 1.5 or
equivalently less than or equal 1.71 for the direct analysis method model based on the
reduced properties otherwise the notional loads must be applied as an additive lateral
load to all load combinations.
5. The notional loads should be applied in a direction that increases overall destabilizing
effect on the frame for the load combination being considered .
6. For gravity only load combination that cause net side sway due to non symmetry of
loads or geometry the notional loads should be applied in a direction that increases net
side sway for structure with multiples stories or levels in which side sway deformations
are in different direction at different levels in is necessary to include pair of load
combination separately considering notional laods associated with out of plumbness in
each direction
7. For load combinations in which notional laods are combined with lateral loads the
notional loads should be applied in a direction that adds to the effect of lateral load
8. The notional lateral load should be applied independently about each of two orthogonal
building axes here independently means notional loads are applied only in one direction
at a time
9. For general structural analysis, notional loads may be applied at each location where
gravity load is transferred to structural columns
10. Now perform a second order analysis for all the applicable load combinations any
second order analysis method that properly considers both P-Δ and P-δ effect is
permitted
11. P-Δ effects refers to the effect due to relative displacement between members ends
where as P-δ effect refers effect of local geometry change.
12. Design the various members and connections for the forces obtained from the analysis
13. Also check seismic and wind drift limits
