• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.1-16
• /
• 2001

This paper discusses the elastic stability of unbraced frames under non-proportional loading based on the concept of storey-based buckling. Unlike the case of proportional loading, in which the load pattern is predefined, load patterns for non-proportional loading are unknown, and there may be various load patterns that will correspond to different critical buckling loads of the frame. The problem of determining elastic critical loads of unbraced frames under non-proportional loading is expressed as the minimization and maximization problem with subject to stability constraints and is solved by a linear programming method. The minimum and maximum loads represent the lower and upper bounds of critical loads for unbraced frames and provide realistic estimation of stability capacities of the frame under extreme load cases. The proposed approach of evaluating the stability of unbraced frames under non-proportional loading has taken into account the variability of magnitudes and patterns of loads, therefore, it is recommended for the design practice.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.365-381
• /
• 1996

Stability equations that evaluate the elastic critical axial load of columns in any type of construction with sidesway uninhibited, partially inhibited, and totally inhibited are derived in a classical manner. These equations can be applied to the stability of frames (unbraced, partially braced, and totally braced) with rigid, semirigid, and simple connections. The complete column classification and the corresponding three stability equations overcome the limitations and paradoxes of the well known alignment charts for braced and unbraced columns and frames. Simple criteria are presented that define the concept of partially braced columns and frames, as well as the minimum lateral bracing required by columns and frames to achieve non-sway buckling mode. Various examples are presented in detail that demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the complete set of stability equations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.411-425
• /
• 1998

The effective length factor of a framed column may be determined by means of the alignment chart procedure. This method is based on many unrealistic assumptions, among which is that all columns have the same stiffness parameter, which is dependent on the length, axial load, and moment of inertia of the column. A new approximate method is developed for the determination of effective length factors for columns in unbraced frames. This method takes into account the effects of inelastic column behaviour, far end conditions of the restraining beams and columns, semi-rigid beam-to-column connections, and differentiated stiffness parameters of columns. This method may be implemented on a microcomputer. A numerical study was carried out to demonstrate the extent to which the involved parameters affect the K factor. The beam-to-column connection stiffness, the stiffness parameter of columns, and the far end conditions of restraining members have a significant effect on the K factor of the column under investigation. The developed method is recommended for design purposes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.679-705
• /
• 2005

This paper presents a practical method to evaluate the effective length factors for columns in multi-storey unbraced frames based on the concept of storey-based elastic buckling by means of decomposing a multi-storey frame into a series of single-storey partially-restrained (PR) frames. The lateral stiffness of the multi-storey unbraced frame is derived and expressed as the product of the lateral stiffness of each storey. Thus, the stability analysis for the multi-storey frame is conducted by investigating the lateral stability of each individual storey, which is facilitated through decomposing the multi-storey frame into a series of single-storey PR frames and applying the storey-based stability analysis proposed by the authors (Xu and Liu 2002) for each single-storey PR frame. Prior to introducing decomposition approaches, the end rotational stiffness of an axially load column is derived and rotational stiffness interaction between the upper and lower columns is investigated. Three decomposition approaches, characterized by means of distributing beam-to-column rotational-restraining stiffness between the upper and lower columns, are proposed. The procedure of calculating storey-based column effective length factors is presented. Numerical examples are then given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.287-299
• /
• 2001

Columns in multi-storey frames are presently categorised as either braced or unbraced, usually by means of the stability index criterion, for estimating their effective length ratios by design aids such as 'alignment charts'. This procedure, however, ignores the transition in buckling behaviour between the braced condition and the unbraced one. Hence, this results in either an overestimation or an underestimation of effective length estimates of columns in frames that are in fact 'partially braced'. It is shown in this paper that the transitional behaviour is gradual, and can be approximately modelled by means of a 'fuzzy logic' based technique. The proposed technique is simple and intuitively agreeable. It fills the existing gap between the braced and unbraced conditions in present codal provisions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.363-372
• /
• 2001

The objective of this study is to evaluate the $P-{\Delta}$ effect in the case of weak beam unbraced frames by experimental approach. To evaluate $P-{\Delta}$ effect, four specimens were tested under monotonic loading condition. The parameters of tests are the stiffness of column and the axial load ratio. The results show that the value of axial load affects frame stability because $P-{\Delta}$ effects promote the yielding of beam. The maximum lateral load increases in proportion to the increment of column stiffness and rotational stiffness of supports, The collapse mechanism of weak beam unbraced frames is stably formed in the condition of low axial load ratio. The $B_2$ factor of limit state design code does not properly consider the $P-{\Delta}$ effect in inelastic region.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.55-71
• /
• 2005

In several design codes and specifications, simplified formulae and diagrams are given for determining the buckling lengths of frame columns. It is shown that these formulae may yield rather erroneous results in certain cases. This is due to the fact that, the code formulae utilise only local stiffness distributions. In this paper, a simplified procedure for determining approximate values for the buckling loads of multi-storey frames is developed. The procedure utilises lateral load analysis of frames and yields errors in the order of 10%, which may be considered suitable for design purposes. The proposed procedure is applied to several numerical examples and it is shown that all the errors are in the acceptable range and on the safe side.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.1405-1421
• /
• 2015

Semi-rigid connections are the actual behavior of beam-to-column connections in steel frames. However, the behavior of semi-rigid connections is not taken into account for the simplicity in the conventional analysis and design of steel frames. A computer-based analysis and design has been studied for the three-dimensional steel frames with semi-rigid connections. The nonlinear analysis which includes the effects of the flexibility of connections is used for this study. It is designed according to the buckling and combined stress constraints under the present loading after the joint deformations and the member end forces of the space frame are determined by the stiffness matrix method. The semi-rigid connection type is limited to the top and bottom angles with a double web angle connection. The Frye-Morris polynomial model is used to describe the non-linear behavior of semi-rigid connections. Various design examples are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the method. The results of design and analysis of unbraced semi-rigid frames are compared to the results of unbraced rigid frames under the same design requirements.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.17 no.4 s.77
• /
• pp.469-479
• /
• 2005

The nonlinear behavior of a connection has an influence on the behavior (the $P-\Delta$ effect) and the stability of a steel unbraced frame when a semi-rigid connection is applied as a beam-to-column connection. Therefore, the effects of a connection's non-linear behavior on the behavior and stability of a steel unbraced frame were investigated using second-order inelastic analysis, after which the main influence factors and their behavioral tendencies were studied. The study results showed that the nonlinear behavior of a connection directly affects the stability of a steel unbraced frame, and that the main influence factors are the rotational stiffness of the connection and the location of a semi-rigid connection.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.327-335
• /
• 2011

This study has two objectives: (1) to evaluate the degradation characteristics of symmetric unbraced steel frames by using analytical approach, and (2) to suggest equation which can approximately estimate the effect of degradation during the schematic design stage. For the analytical approach, the refined plastic hinge method with an arc length algorithm was adopted. The subject of analysis was one story one-bay, multistory one-bay, and multistory three-bay unbraced steel frames. The main parameters of the analytical approach include the stiffness ratio of column to beam and the axial force ratio. The study led to the following conclusions. The normalized stiffness of degradations is affected by both stiffness ratio of column to beam and the axial load ratio; however, the major influence on degradations is the axial force ratio. The equation, which can approximately estimate the effect of degradation, was suggested together with the research results.