Design of Steel Structures 48-49
Semirigid and simple framings often incur inelastic deformation in the connections. The connections
used in these constructions must be proportioned to possess sufficient ductility to avoid overstress of
the fasteners or welds.
Regardless of the types of constructions used, due consideration must be given to account for member
and frame instability (P-d and P-D) effects either by the use of a second-order analysis or by other means,
such as moment magnification factors or notional loads [ASCE, 1997]. The end-restrained effect on a
member should also be accounted for by the use of the effective length factor K.
Frame Design
Frames can be designed as side sway inhibited (braced) or side sway uninhibited (unbraced). In side sway
inhibited frames, frame drift is controlled by the presence of a bracing system (e.g., shear walls, diagonal,
cross, or K braces, etc.). In side sway uninhibited frames, frame drift is limited by the flexural rigidity
of the connected members and diaphragm action of the floors. Most side sway uninhibited frames are
designed as type I or type FR frames using moment connections. Under normal circumstances, the
amount of interstory drift under service loads should not exceed h/500 to h/300, where h is the story
height. A higher value of interstory drift is allowed only if it does not create serviceability concerns.
Beams in side sway inhibited frames are often subject to high axial forces. As a result, they should be
designed as beam-columns using beam-column interaction equations. Furthermore, vertical bracing
systems should be provided for braced multistory frames to prevent vertical buckling of the frames under
gravity loads.
When designing members of a frame, a designer should consider a variety of loading combinations and
load patterns, and the members are designed for the most severe load cases. Preliminary sizing of members
can be achieved by the use of simple behavioral models such as the simple beam model, cantilever column
model, and portal and cantilever method of frame analysis (see, for example, Rossow [1996]).
Frame Bracing
The subject of frame bracing is discussed in a number of references (see, for example, SSRC [1993] and
Galambos [1998]). According to the LRFD specification [AISC, 1999] the required story or panel bracing
shear stiffness in side sway inhibited frames is
(48.85)
where f = 0.75, SP
u
is the sum of all factored gravity load acting on and above the story or panel
supported by the bracing
L = the story height or panel spacing
The required story or panel bracing force is
(48.86)
48.10 Plate Girders
Plate girders are built-up beams. They are used as flexural members to carry extremely large lateral loads.
A flexural member is considered as a plate girder if the width–thickness ratio of the web, h
c
/t
w
, exceeds
760/÷F
b
(F
b
is the allowable flexural stress) according to ASD or l
r
(see Table 48.8) according to LRFD.
Because of the large web slenderness, plate girders are often designed with transverse stiffeners to reinforce
the web and to allow for postbuckling (shear) strength (i.e., tension field action) to develop. Table 48.9
b
f
cr
u
P
L
=
Â
2
PP
br u
=
Â
0 004.