K-FACTOR EQUATION TO ALIGNMENT CHARTS FOR COLUMN DESIGN

The aim of this work is to provide a practical alternative K-factor eq uation for the design of framed columns in building frames. TO this en d, charts used in the present U.S. national codes for determining the effective length factors and the ACI simplified K-factor equations are evaluated and compared. An alternative K-factor equation based on the partial fraction model to the alignment charts is then derived and de veloped. The proposed K-factor equation is found simple to use, can be programmed on small calculators, and agrees well with results obtaine d from the alignment charts. It is concluded that the proposed equatio n is suitable for adoption in practice.