STEEL DESIGN CODE:

AXIALLY LOADED
MEMBERS
 DESIGN OF AXIALLY LOADED
COMPRESSION MEMBERS (NSCP 2001)
 DESIGN OF AXIALLY LOADED
COMPRESSION MEMBERS (NSCP 2015)
SLENDERNESS LIMITS AND EFFECTIVE
LENGTH FACTORS
EFFECTIVE LENGTH FACTORS
Method 1 – Table C-C2.2
 EFFECTIVE LENGTH FACTORS
Method 2 – Alignment Charts (Nomographs)
Situation 1:

A steel column, hinged at both ends, is 4 meters long. Consider weak axis bracing at mid
height for the column due to the presence of frame beam. Consider the bracing point as a
pin. Use K from NSCP/AISC Tables. The cross-section area of the column is 25,440 𝑚𝑚2 . The
following properties also apply:

𝑟𝑥 = 176𝑚𝑚, 𝑟𝑦 = 102𝑚𝑚, 𝐹𝑦 = 250𝑀𝑝𝑎, 𝐸 = 200𝐺𝑝𝑎

1. Determine the maximum slenderness ratio of the column.

2. Determine the allowable compressive strength of the column using NSCP 2001.
3. Determine the design compressive strength of the column using NSCP 2010.
Situation 1:

A steel column, hinged at both ends, is 4 meters long. Consider weak axis bracing at mid
height for the column due to the presence of frame beam. Consider the bracing point as
a pin. Use K from NSCP/AISC Tables. The cross-section area of the column is 25,440
𝑚𝑚2 . The following properties also apply:

𝑟𝑥 = 176𝑚𝑚,
𝑟𝑦 = 102𝑚𝑚,
𝐹𝑦 = 250𝑀𝑝𝑎,
𝐸 = 200𝐺𝑝𝑎

1. Determine the maximum slenderness ratio of the column.

2. Determine the allowable compressive strength of the column using NSCP 2001.
3. Determine the design compressive strength of the column using NSCP 2010.
Situation 1:

Solution:
A steel column, hinged at both ends, is 4
meters long. Consider weak axis bracing at
mid height for the column due to the
presence of frame beam. Consider the
bracing point as a pin. Use K from NSCP/AISC
Tables. The cross-section area of the column
is 25,440 𝑚𝑚2 . The following properties also
apply:

𝑟𝑥 = 176𝑚𝑚,
𝑟𝑦 = 102𝑚𝑚,
𝐹𝑦 = 250𝑀𝑝𝑎,
𝐸 = 200𝐺𝑝𝑎

1. Determine the maximum slenderness

ratio of the column.
Situation 1:

Solution:
A steel column, hinged at both ends, is 4
meters long. Consider weak axis bracing at
mid height for the column due to the
presence of frame beam. Consider the
bracing point as a pin. Use K from NSCP/AISC
Tables. The cross-section area of the column
is 25,440 𝑚𝑚2 . The following properties also
apply:

𝑟𝑥 = 176𝑚𝑚,
𝑟𝑦 = 102𝑚𝑚,
𝐹𝑦 = 250𝑀𝑝𝑎,
𝐸 = 200𝐺𝑝𝑎

2. Determine the allowable compressive

strength of the column using NSCP 2001.
Situation 1:

Solution:
A steel column, hinged at both ends, is 4
meters long. Consider weak axis bracing at
mid height for the column due to the
presence of frame beam. Consider the
bracing point as a pin. Use K from NSCP/AISC
Tables. The cross-section area of the column
is 25,440 𝑚𝑚2 . The following properties also
apply:

𝑟𝑥 = 176𝑚𝑚,
𝑟𝑦 = 102𝑚𝑚,
𝐹𝑦 = 250𝑀𝑝𝑎,
𝐸 = 200𝐺𝑝𝑎

3. Determine the design compressive

strength of the column using NSCP 2010.
 Assumptions of Alignment Charts

• Behavior is purely elastic.

• All members have a constant cross section.
• All joints are rigid.
• For columns in sideways-inhibited frames (i.e., braced frames), rotations
at opposite ends of the restraint beams or girders are equal in
magnitude and opposite in direction, producing single-curvature
bending.
• For columns in sideway-uninhibited frames, rotations at opposite ends
of the restraining beams or girders are equal in magnitude and direction,
producing double or revers curvature bending.
 Assumptions of Alignment Charts

𝑃
• The stiffness parameters, 𝐿 , of all columns are equal.
𝐸𝐼
• Joint restraint is distributed to the column above and below the joint in
proportion to EI/L for the two columns.
• All columns buckle simultaneously.
• No significant axial compression force exists in the beams or girders.
 Sideways Inhibited Vs.
Sideways Uninhibited

Inhibited – there is something present other than just columns

and girders to prevent sideway or the horizontal translation of the
joints. Meaning, there is definite system of lateral bracing, or have
shear walls.

Uninhibited – resistance to horizontal translation is supplied

only by the bending strength and stiffness of the girders and
beams of the frame in question, with its continuous joints.
Sideways Inhibited
 EFFECTIVE LENGTH FACTORS
Method 2 – Alignment Charts (Nomographs)
The ratio G in the chart (simplified)

Where:

σ = indicates a summation of all members rigidly connected to that joint and located in the
plane in which buckling of the column is being considered.
𝐸𝑐 =is the elastic modulus of the column.
𝐼𝑐 =is the moment of inertia of the column.
𝐿𝑐 =is the unsupported length of the column.
𝐸𝑔 = is the elastic modulus of the girder.
𝐼𝑔 = is the moment of inertia of girder.
𝐿𝑔 =is the unsupported length of the girder or other restraining member.
𝐼𝑐 = 𝐼𝑔 = are taken about axes perpendicular to the plane of buckling being considered.
The ratio G in the chart (simplified)

For a pinned column base:

G =10

For a fixed column base:

G = 1.0

Where a girder is pinned at the joint under consideration (i.e., connected to the column
with a simple shear connection at the near joint), that girder stiffness (i.e., EI/L of the
girder) will be taken as zero in calculating the G-factor at that joint.
The ratio G in the chart (simplified)

Calculate the stiffness of the girders and columns, and,

where necessary, modify the girder stiffness using the
adjustment factors in Table 5-3 based on the support
conditions at the far ends of the girders.

Where necessary, modify the column stiffness by the

inelasticity reduction factor, 𝜏𝑎 , from Table 5-2.
Table 5-2
Table 5-3 Girder stiffness modification
factors, 𝜏𝑔
Formula

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡

𝐺=
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡

𝜏𝑎 𝐸𝑐 𝐼𝑐 𝜏𝑎 𝐸𝑐 𝐼𝑐 𝜏𝑎 𝐸𝑐 𝐼𝑐
σ +
𝐿𝑐 𝐿𝑐 𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 𝐿𝑐 𝑡𝑜𝑝
𝐺= =
𝜏𝑔 𝐸𝑔 𝐼𝑔 𝜏𝑔 𝐸𝑔 𝐼𝑔 𝜏𝑔 𝐸𝑔 𝐼𝑔
σ +
𝐿𝑔 𝐿𝑔 𝐿𝑔
𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
 Situation 1

For the two-story moment frame shown in Figure 5-11, the preliminary
column and girder sizes have been determined as shown. Assume in-plane
bending about the strong axes for the columns and girders, and assume
columns supported by spread footings.

The factored axial loads on columns BF & FJ are 590kip and 140kip,
respectively and Fy = 50ksi.

1. Determine the effective length factor, K, for columns BF and FJ using the
alignment charts, assuming elastic behavior.
2. Determine the effective length factor, K, for columns BF and FJ using the
alignment charts, assuming inelastic behavior.
Situation 1
Situation 1

The moment of inertia for the given column and girder

sections are as follows.
 Situation 1

Solution:

Column BF:
Joint B: The bottom of column BF is supported by a spread footing that provides
little or no moment restraint to the column; therefore, it is assumed to be pinned.
Thus 𝐺𝐴 = 10(𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝐼𝑆𝐶𝑀)
Joint F:
𝜏𝑎 = 1.0 & 𝜏𝑔 = 1.0
𝜏𝑎 𝐸𝑐 𝐼𝑐
σ 𝐸 1.0 39.6 + (1.0)(19.6)
𝐿𝑐
𝐺𝐵 = = = 1.14(𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝐵𝐹)
𝜏𝑔 𝐸𝑔 𝐼𝑔 𝐸 1.0 25.5 + (1.0)(26.7)
σ
𝐿𝑔
 Situation 1

Solution:

Therefore,

K-value = 1.93
 Situation 1

Solution:

Column FJ:
𝜏𝑎 = 1.0 & 𝜏𝑔 = 1.0
Joint F:
𝜏𝑎 𝐸𝑐 𝐼𝑐
σ 𝐸 1.0 39.8 + (1.0)(19.6)
𝐿𝑐
𝐺𝐴 = = = 1.14(𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝐹𝐽)
𝜏𝑔 𝐸𝑔 𝐼𝑔 𝐸 1.0 25.5 + (1.0)(26.7)
σ
𝐿𝑔
Joint J:
𝜏𝑎 𝐸𝑐 𝐼𝑐
σ 𝐸 1.0 19.6
𝐿𝑐
𝐺𝐵 = = = 0.43(𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝐹𝐽)
𝜏𝑔 𝐸𝑔 𝐼𝑔 𝐸 1.0 25.5 + (1.0)(20.4)
σ
𝐿𝑔
 Situation 1

Solution:

Therefore,

K-value = 1.25
Situation 1
 Situation 1

Solution:

Column BF:
Joint B: The bottom of column BF is supported by a spread footing; therefore, it is
assumed to be pinned. Thus
𝐺𝐴 = 10 (𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝐼𝑆𝐶𝑀)
Joint F:
𝜏𝑎 = 0.804 & 𝜏𝑔 = 1.0
𝜏𝑎 𝐸𝑐 𝐼𝑐
σ 𝐸 0.804 39.8 + (1.0)(19.6)
𝐿𝑐
𝐺𝐵 = = = 0.99(𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝐵𝐹)
𝜏𝑔 𝐸𝑔 𝐼𝑔 𝐸 1.0 25.5 + (1.0)(26.7)
σ
𝐿𝑔
 Situation 1

Solution:

Therefore,

K-value = 1.90
 Situation 1

Solution:

Column FJ:
𝐺𝐵 = 0.99 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝐹 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛
𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝜏𝑎 𝐸𝑐 𝐼𝑐
σ 𝐸 (1.0)(19.6)
𝐿𝑐
𝐺𝐴 = = = 0.43(𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝐵𝐹)
𝜏𝑔 𝐸𝑔 𝐼𝑔 𝐸 1.0 25.5 + (1.0)(20.7)
σ
𝐿𝑔
 Situation 1

Solution:

Therefore,

K-value = 1.23