ANALYSIS PLANE STEEL FRAME WITH SEMI-RIGID CONNECTIONS AND RIGID-ZONES WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND ORDER EFFECT

摘要

The most recent European and American Codes allow the actual response of joints to be incorporated in frame design. AISC -LRFD specification (1994) designed two types of construction according to the level of connection rigidity. There are Type FR ( Fully Restrained ) and Type PR (Partially Restrained) constructions. Type FR frames can be designed based on the specification in which the second order effects are considered to estimate column end moments and frame drift. However, even though semi-rigid frames (Type PR ) must be designed considering flexible connections as well as second order effects, the specification has not described the design procedure for this type of structure in detail. The main objective of this technical note is to present a practical and accurate method for analysis of plane steel frames with semi-rigid connections and considering the second order effects.