LIMIT STATES DESIGN OF BEAM-COLUMNS - THE CANADIAN APPROACH AND SOME COMPARISONS

The rationale for determining the effect of factored loads and member resistances in the beam-column interaction equations of the Canadian s tandard 'Limit states design of steel structures' is presented. These rules are then compared with the design rules used in American, Austra lian and European codes and the differences and similarities are discu ssed. In the development of the Canadian standard every attempt was ma de to embody the actual behaviour of the members in the formulations a nd to maintain simplicity. Second-order effects are required to be inc luded in the design of frames, although amplified first-order moments may be used under certain restrictions. Column resistances are based o n the actual lengths. Notional horizontal loads are applied to the gra vity loaded structure to deal with the problem of sidesway stability. The beam-columns are checked against a set of interaction equations re lated to cross-sectional strength, in-plane behaviour and lateral-tors ional buckling.