The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

Computer aided ultimate load design of unbraced multistory steel frames

El-Hafez, M. Bassam; Powell, Graham H.

UCB/EERC-73/03, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 1973-04, 187 pages (620.1/E41/1973)

A general procedure for the design and analysis of multistory unbraced steel frames, suitable for computer formulation and solution, is presented. Two computer programs are described, one which produces automated ultimate load designs, and a second which analyzes these preliminary designs to study their behavior and determine their collapse loads. The preliminary design may be designed for minimum beam cost using linear programming and may satisfy service deflection limitations. The inelastic analysis technique used takes into account the P delta effect and panel zone deformations, in addition to other important influences. The complete building, which may contain a number of parallel frames, may be designed and analyzed. Torsional behavior of the building is ignored. There are no limitations on the number of bays, stories or frames other than the capacity of the computer used in the design and analysis. A strong column-weak girder design concept is used, when plastic hinges can form only in the beams or panel zones. Column hinges are not permitted.

Available online: http://nisee.berkeley.edu/documents/EERC/EERC-73-03.pdf (12 MB)