Design of Locally Slender Structural Steel Columns
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 4
Abstract
The primary objective of this paper is to evaluate and compare design methods for locally slender steel columns. Three design methods utilized for such columns in the United States are explored: (1) the Q-factor method; (2) the unified effective width method; and (3) the direct strength method. The design strength formulas for locally slender W-section columns for all methods are provided in a common notation. The expressions highlight the prominent role of elastic local (cross-section) slenderness. A nonlinear shell finite-element analysis parametric study on short, intermediate, and long columns is conducted to explore the divergence in the design methods as a function of local slenderness. Recommendations for advancing the design methods are offered. In particular, based on the parametric study, an effective width method alternative is provided.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of AISC, and the AISC Faculty Fellowship program in this research. Any views or opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors alone.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 4 • April 2014
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 20, 2012
Accepted: May 30, 2013
Published online: Jun 3, 2013
Published in print: Apr 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Apr 27, 2014
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