AISC Specification – Chapter C – Design for Stabilit

n Section C1 – General Stability Requirements

n Stability shall be provided for the structure as a whole and for
each of its elements.
n The effects of the following on stability should be considered:
n Flexural, shear and axial member deformations, and all other
component and connection deformations that contribute to
structural displacements
n second-order effects (P-D and P-d)
n Geometric imperfections
n Stiffness reductions due to inelasticity, including partial yielding of
cross-section accentuated by residual stresses
n Uncertainty in stiffness and strength

n Consider LRFD factored load combination levels

 Section C1.1 – Direct Analysis Method

n Permitted for all structures à Very powerful

n Elastic analysis
n According to section C2.1
n Initial imperfections according to Section C2.2
n Adjustments to stiffness according to Section C2.3
n Calculated design demands also called required strengths

n Calculated design strengths also called available strength are

calculated according to section C3, which refers to Chapters E
(Columns), F (Beams), H (Beam-Columns) for equations

n Structural Design: Required Strengths < Available Strengths

 Section C2.1 – Analysis Requirements

n Consider the effects of all deformations that contributed to

displacements of the structure.
n Consider reductions in member stiffness according to C2.3
(discussed soon)
n Second order analysis that considers both P-D and P-d effects.
n Include all gravity and other applied loads influencing stability
n LRFD load combinations to be used.
 Section C2.2 – Initial System Imperfections

n Initial imperfections in the position of points of intersection of

members on the stability of the structure
n Either by direct modeling of these imperfections (C2.2a)
n Or, by application of notional loads (C2.2b)

Original Model with

Perfect Imperfections Model with
Notional loads
 C2.2 Initial System Imperfections

n C2.2a à Direct Modeling of Imperfections

n Magnitude of initial displacement shall be the maximum amount

considered in the design. Based on permissible construction
tolerances, as specified in the AISC Code of Standard Practice or
other governing requirements or actual imperfections if known

n The pattern will be such that it provides the greatest destabilizing

effect. Similar in configuration to the displacements due to loading
and anticipated buckling modes.
 C2.2 Initial System Imperfections
C2.2b – Use of Notional Loads to Represent Imperfections
n For structures with nominally vertical columns, walls, or frames
n Notional loads as lateral loads at all levels, added to all other
lateral loads and applied in all load combinations
Magnitude = Ni = 0.002 Yi
where, Ni = notional load applied at level i
Yi = gravity load applied at level i
n The coefficient of 0.002 is based on nominal initial story out-of-
plumbness ratio of 1/500. If a different maximum out-of-
plumbness can be justified, then it is permitted to adjust the
notional load coefficient proportionally
n 1/500 represent the max. tolerance in AISC Code of Standard
Practice for plumbness
 C2.3 – Adjustments to Stiffness

n A factor of 0.8 applied to all stiffness that contribute to the

stability of the structure.
n An additional factor, tb, applied to the flexural stiffness of all
members whose flexural stiffness (EI) contribute to the stability
of the structure.
n Depends on axial load ratio Pr/Pns
n Pr = required axial strength
n Pns = FyAg = section axial load capacity
n When Pr/Pns < 0.5, tb = 1.0
n When Pr/Pns > 0.5, then tb = 4 (Pr/ Pns) x [1-Pr/Pns]
n Thus, the reduced stiffness = 0.8 tb for flexural stiffness EI, and
0.8 for axial stiffness EA, and shear stiffness GA (if needed)
 C3 – Calculations of Available Strengths

n For the direct analysis method, as provided in Section C2, the

available strengths shall be calculated according to the AISC
Spec. equations for columns (Ch. E), beams (Ch. F), and beam-
columns (Ch. H)

n The effective length for flexural buckling of all members shall be

taken as the unbraced length, i.e., with K = 1.0
 AISC Spec. – Ch. H – Design for Combined Forces

n Section H1.1 – does not distinguish between in-plane stability

and out-of-plane stability. Combines them into one equation
n Pc à column strength calculated using Ch. E (column
equations) considering governing (lowest) value between in-
plane buckling and out-of-plane buckling.
n Mc à beam flexural strength calculated using Ch. F (beam
equations) considering governing (lowest) value between
flexural yielding and out-of-plane lateral torsional buckling

n Pr, Mr à required strengths calculated from analysis done by

direct analysis method
Section H1.1 – Combined in-plane and out-of-plane
Section H1.1 – Combined in-plane and out-of-plane
 Section H1.3 – Separate In-Plane and Out-of-Plane

Limited to:
n Doubly symmetric members
n Torsional buckling of columns does not govern
n Moment primarily about major axis only
n Moment about minor axis < 0.05 Mcy (capacity about minor axis)

n Two independent limit states evaluated separately

n In-plane stability
n Out-of-plane stability
 Section H1.3 – In-Plane Stability

For the limit state of in-plane stability, Equations H1-1a and H1-b
But,
Pc à column strength for in-plane flexural buckling only
(not considering out-of-plane buckling)
Mcx à flexural strength of in-plane flexural yielding only (Mp)
(not considering out-of-plane lateral torsional buckling)
 Section H1.3 – Out-of-Plane Stability

For the limit state of out-of-plane buckling and lateral-torsional

buckling
Envelope of in-plane
and out-of-plane