Unbraced Length of Members w/ Intermediate Nodes

Say I have columns with intermediate nodes that are not stability bracing points (for example - nodes where cold formed girts are connected). When using SELECT command - how to instruct program to account for the actual height of columns and to ignore intermediate nodes?

I am using AISC LRFD so the design of physical members is not supported in this case.

thanks

Parents
  • Definitions of LZ, UNT and UNB

    In those equations of the code where a KL/r term is involved as part of a calculation for capacity in flexural buckling about the local Z axis (where the axis "Z" is as defined in STAAD), STAAD uses the value which you have specified for LZ. In the AISC 13th edition code for example, for a wide flange, the strong axis (the axis that is perpendicular to the web) is termed as x-x. So, for any equation containing the expression (Kx * Lx / rx), the means for specifying values for the terms Kx and Lx is through the STAAD parameters KZ and LZ. In Chapter E of the code, there are many instances of this expression.

    UNT and UNB are used to specify the distance between points where the compression flange of a beam is braced against lateral displacement, or, the cross section of the beam is braced against twist. In the AISC 13th edition code, this term is denoted using the term Lb. in equation (F2-2), F(4-2), etc. in Chapter F.

    UNT is for specifying the value of Lb when the top flange is in compression. The term "Top" signifies the flange on the positive side of the local Y axis. UNB is for specifying the value of Lb when the bottom flange is in compression.

    ---------------------------------------------------

    You wrote :

    Every time we talking about ‘general column flexural buckling’ we should define KZ and LZ for the column strong axis and then KY and LZ for the column weak axis.

    Answer:

    Agreed, except for a minor error in that sentence. For column weak axis, the parameter is LY, not LZ assuming that you are talking about an I-shaped section.

    ---------------------------------------------------------

    You wrote :

    That is why UNT and UNB should not be simply equated to Lu (unbraced length) - these lengths could be smaller than LY or LZ if the laterally-unsupported column has a point at the mid-height where the flanges are restrained by full web-stiffeners and by light interconnecting trusses hence preventing the flange distortion or column-section torsion.

    Answer:

    Agreed.

    ------------------------------------------------------------

    I do not know enough about real world methods of bracing to confirm whether the web stiffener system that you are introducing is sufficient to act as a bracing point as defined by the code in its definition of Lb. But if you are sure that it is, then, I don't see a reason not to set UNT and UNB to 8.0 m.



  • Thank you Kris - the information you've provided is very helpful.

    1. Yes, all this business with local axes and proper notations may look a bit confusing  - yet, I believe, STAAD User should just remember that for I-beam the length for general buckling for the Strong Axis is always LZ; whereas this parameter for the Weak Axis is always LY. This must be consistent for any member under bending + axial compression (either a beam or a column) Am I right?

    I could not find the 13th edition of the US AISC Steel Standard right away (I'm from Canada and working only on Canadian projects) but I managed to get ANSI/AISC 360-05 "Specification for Structural Steel Building" that apparently has very similar content and the same chapter & reference structure.

    F2-2 is a formula similar to its Canadian counterpart and when I looked at notations, it reads that Lb is "Length between points that are either braced against lateral displacement of compression flange or braced against twist of the cross-section."

    2. Thank you for correction - indeed LY (but not LZ) should be the parameter for Weak Axis; it was just a typo.

    3. You wrote: “I do not know enough about real world methods of bracing to confirm whether the web stiffener system that you are introducing is sufficient to act as a bracing point as defined by the code in its definition of Lb”.

    This sounds like "Catch-22"; I effectively prevented lateral displacement of compression flange as well as prevented twist of the cross-section at the given point, and yet, there is no certainty that this point "is sufficient to act as a bracing point" because....? ….because it is not laterally braced in the Strong Axis? But if the node were braced laterally in both directions, I wouldn't need to specify any parameters (STAAD defaults would be sufficient)

    My structure is not something extraordinary; I can assure you that this is a very typical situation for the design of a tall industrial building (or an open yard) with a bridge crane.

    There must be a reason why UNT & UNB have been introduced by the STAAD developers in addition to LZ, isn’t it?

    Best Regards,

    Len Bogdanov

Reply
  • Thank you Kris - the information you've provided is very helpful.

    1. Yes, all this business with local axes and proper notations may look a bit confusing  - yet, I believe, STAAD User should just remember that for I-beam the length for general buckling for the Strong Axis is always LZ; whereas this parameter for the Weak Axis is always LY. This must be consistent for any member under bending + axial compression (either a beam or a column) Am I right?

    I could not find the 13th edition of the US AISC Steel Standard right away (I'm from Canada and working only on Canadian projects) but I managed to get ANSI/AISC 360-05 "Specification for Structural Steel Building" that apparently has very similar content and the same chapter & reference structure.

    F2-2 is a formula similar to its Canadian counterpart and when I looked at notations, it reads that Lb is "Length between points that are either braced against lateral displacement of compression flange or braced against twist of the cross-section."

    2. Thank you for correction - indeed LY (but not LZ) should be the parameter for Weak Axis; it was just a typo.

    3. You wrote: “I do not know enough about real world methods of bracing to confirm whether the web stiffener system that you are introducing is sufficient to act as a bracing point as defined by the code in its definition of Lb”.

    This sounds like "Catch-22"; I effectively prevented lateral displacement of compression flange as well as prevented twist of the cross-section at the given point, and yet, there is no certainty that this point "is sufficient to act as a bracing point" because....? ….because it is not laterally braced in the Strong Axis? But if the node were braced laterally in both directions, I wouldn't need to specify any parameters (STAAD defaults would be sufficient)

    My structure is not something extraordinary; I can assure you that this is a very typical situation for the design of a tall industrial building (or an open yard) with a bridge crane.

    There must be a reason why UNT & UNB have been introduced by the STAAD developers in addition to LZ, isn’t it?

    Best Regards,

    Len Bogdanov

Children