Establishing a New Simple Formula for Buckling Length Factor (K) of Rigid Frames Columns

The calculation of buckling length factor (K) for steel frames columns is a major and governing processes to determine the dimensions steel frame columns cross sections during design. The buckling length of steel frames columns has a direct effect on the cost (weight) of using cross section. A new formula is required to determine buckling length factor (K) by simplified way. In this research a new formula for buckling length factor (K) was established to determine by accurate method for a limited interval of columns ends rigidity (GA, GB). The new formula can be used ease to evaluate the buckling length factor without needing to complicated equations or difficult charts.

Authors:

• Ehab Hasan Ahmed Hasan Ali

Keywords:

• Buckling length
• New formula
• Curve fitting
• Simplification
• Steel column design.

References:

[1] Pierre Dumonteil, (1992) , "Simple Equations for Effective Length
Factor",Engineering journal, American Institute of steel Construction,
Third quarter (1992), pp. 111-115.
[2] Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, ASCE
STANDARD ASCE/ ISEI, July, (2005).
[3] AISC 325-05 Steel Construction Manual, Thirteenth Edition American
Instilled of Steel Construction / 01, Feb, (2006).
[4] Egyptian Code of Practice for Steel Construction (ECP), first edition,
(2008).
[5] El - Sayed Bahaa Machaly, (2001), "Behavior, Analysis and Design of
Structural Steel Elements", Professor of steel structures, faculty
Engineering, Cairo University, Egypt.
[6] Barakat, M., and Chen, W. F, "Practical Analysis of Scmi-Rigid
FramQS.", AISC Engineering Journal, Vol. 27, No. 2 (2nd Quarter 1990),
pp. 54-68.
[7] American Concrete Institute, Building Code Requirements for
Reinforced Concrete/Commentary, ACI 318R05, Paragraph RIO. 11.2.
[8] McGuire, W., "Computers and Steel Design", Modern Steel
Construction, Vol. 32, No. 7, pp .39^2, July 1992.
[9] Yura, J . A., "The Effective Length of Columns in Untraced Frames",
AISC Engineering Journal, Vol. 8, 2 pp, 37 ^ 2, THIRD
QUARTER/1992.
[10] National Standard of Canada CAN/CSA-S16, 1-M89, Limit States
Design of Steel Structures, 1989.