Problems
Note: All given loads are service loads.
1. A column in the upper story of a building is subjected to a compressive load from the following
sources: dead load = 30.8 kips, occupancy live load = 1.7 kips, roof live load = 18.7 kips, and
snow load = 19.7 kips.
a. If load and resistance factor design is used, determine the factored load (required
strength) to be used in the design of the column. Which AISC load combination
controls?
b. What is the required design strength of the column?
c. What is the required nominal strength of the column for a resistance factor Փ of
0.90?
d. If allowable strength design is used, determine the required load capacity (required
strength) to be used in the design of the column. Which AISC load combination
controls?
e. What is the required nominal strength of the column for a safety factor Ω of 1.67?
2. A column is subjected to the following loads: dead load = 26 kips, occupancy live load = 15 kips,
roof live load = 5 kips, snow load = 8 kips, rain load = 5 kips, and wind load = 8 kips. All loads are
compression except for the wind load, which can be either tension or compression.
a. If load and resistance factor design is used, determine the factored load (required strength)
to be used in the design of the column. Which AISC load combination controls?
b. What is the required design strength of the column?
c. What is the required nominal strength of the column for a resistance factor Փ of 0.90?
d. If allowable strength design is used, determine the required load capacity (required
strength) to be used in the design of the column. Which AISC load combination controls?
e. What is the required nominal strength of the column for a safety factor Ω of 1.67?
3. The loads on a roof beam consist of a dead load of 0.2 kips/ft, a roof live load of 0.13 kips/ft, and
a snow load of 0.14 kips/ft.
a. If load and resistance factor design is used, determine the factored load (required strength)
to be used in the design of this beam. Which AISC load combination controls?
b. If allowable strength design is used, determine the required load capacity (required
strength) to be used in the design of the column. Which AISC load combination controls?
4. Beams will be designed for the roof and floor systems of an office building. The loads for these
systems are as follows:
Roof: dead load = 30 psf, roof live load = 20 psf, snow load = 21 psf, and a rain load
consisting of 4 inches of water. Floor: dead load = 62 psf and occupancy live load = 80 psf.
a. For each of these systems, determine the required factored load capacity for LRFD. Which
load combination controls?
b. For each of these systems, determine the required ASD load capacity. Which load
combination controls?
5. Structural steel buildings frequently are designed with diagonal bracing systems to resist lateral
loads (horizontal forces resulting from wind or earthquake loadings). A certain bracing system is
subjected to the following loads: dead load = 13.3 kips, occupancy live load = 6.9 kips, roof live
load = 1.3 kips, snow load = 1.3 kips, wind load = 150.6 kips, and earthquake load = 161.1 kips.
a. Determine the required factored load capacity for LRFD. Which load combination controls?
b. Determine the required ASD load capacity. Which load combination controls?
