Design of Steel Structures – I

Compression Members
THE CONCEPT OF EFFECTIVE
LENGTHS
 INTRODUCTION
The boundary conditions (end Restrain
Condition) of a column maybe
Both the ends pin jointed
Both ends fixed.
One end fixed and the other end pinned.
One end fixed and the other end free.
 Effective lengths (Le )
1 ) Both Ends Pinned

Le = L
2) Both Ends Fixed

Le = L/2
3) One end Fixed Other end Pinned
4) One end Fixed Other end Free

Le = 2 L
 The effective length corresponds to the distance
between the points of inflection in the buckled mode.

 The effective column length can be defined as the

length of an equivalent pin-ended column having the
same load-carrying capacity as the member under
consideration.

 Using the column, pin ended at both ends, as the

basis of comparison the critical load in all the cases
can be obtained by employing the concept of
“effective length”, Le.
 The smaller the effective length of a particular column, the
smaller its danger of lateral buckling and the greater its load
carrying capacity.

 Note that no column ends are perfectly fixed or perfectly

hinged. Interpolate between the theoretical values given to
obtain a sensible approximation to actual restraint conditions.
 Effective Length in Different Planes

 The restraint against buckling may

be different for buckling about the
two column axes.

 Depending on the restraint

condition checks should be carried
out about both the axes.

 The axis which gives the higher

value of Le governs the strength of
the column.
Effective lengths of Columns in Building Frames

 For compression members in rigid-jointed frames the

effective length is directly related to the restraint
provided by all the surrounding members.

 In a frame the interaction of all the members occurs

because of the frame buckling as a whole rather than
column buckling.

 For design purposes, the behavior of a limited region

of the frame is considered.
 The limited frame comprises the column under
consideration and each immediately adjacent member
treated as if it were fixed at the far end.

 The effective length of the critical column is then

obtained from effective length factor K based on two
coefficients β1, and β2,

 The values β1, and β2 of depends upon the stiffnesses

of the surrounding members ku, kTL etc.

 Two different cases are considered

 Columns in non-sway frames (Braced Frames)
 Columns in sway frames. (Moment Resisting Frames)
Non Sway and Sway Frames
 Non Sway Frames
Effective Length Factor K

Kc = C (I/L)

Kb = (I/L)

C= Connection factor
Table 35 IS 800
 Non Sway Frames
Values of β1 and β2

β1

β2
 Sway Frame
Effective Length factor K
Kc = C (I/L)

Kb = (I/L)

C= Connection factor
Table 35 IS 800
 Sway Frames
Values of β1 and β2

β1

β2
 References

• S K Duggal Limit state design of Steel

Structures
• INSDAG – Teaching Materials
• IIT Madras Steel design lecture