AISC ASD PARAMETERS KX, KY, KZ, LX, LY,
LZ, MAIN, TMAIN
The sequence of performing code check as per AISC 9th edition in STAAD is as follows:
1. Check for the slenderness criterion.
2. Check for deflection (if provided)
3. Check for combined axial and bending.
The member is designed and checked for rest of the provisions only if it passes the slenderness criterion.
STAAD includes Ky, Kz, Ly, Lz ,MAIN and TMAIN parameters under design. These parameters govern the
slenderness calculation and allowable axial compressive stress of a member in design.
Ky and Kz are the effective length factor along Y and Z axes respectively. LY is the length to calculate
slenderness ratio for buckling about local Y axis and LZ is the length to calculate slenderness ratio for
buckling about local Z axis. MAIN serves two purposes in the program. This parameter helps the user to
advise the program to bypass the slenderness check and also when defined with a value greater than
unity helps to define slenderness limit for Compression. In a similar way, TMAIN when defined with a value
greater than unity defines slenderness but not in compression, but tension.
For example, MAIN 300 ALL will tell the program that the member has a allowable slenderness value of
300 in tension. That is, in short this replaces the default value of 200 with 300.
Slenderness Calculation
In STAAD, the slenderness check is done along both major and minor axes (Z and Y axes). The program
reports slenderness ratio as KyLy/ry and KzLz/rz for all sections in the TRACK 2 design output.
In steel design as per AISC ASD, clause B7 (see the picture below) of the code specifies that the
slenderness value of the member should not exceed 300 for tension members and it should exceeds 200
for compression member.
The slenderness of a member is calculated as K multiplied by L divided by r, where ‘k' is the effective
length factor, L is the default length of the member (unless otherwise specified) and ‘r' is the radius of
gyration and it is calculated as sqrt (I/A).
Design Parameter KX, KY and KZ
The effective length factor is defined as per the end conditions of a member. In the program there are two
provisions of defining these factors. One method is that we can ask the program to calculate the KY and
KZ by clicking the CALCULATE tab in the GUI. By this the program calculates the K factor on the basis of
the chart provided in section C-C2 of the code as shown below. However, this is not very reliable and
users are urged to check their values.
Other method is to specify the effective length factor by the user against the Ky and Kz parameter and
these values can be obtained from Table C-C2.1 of the code as shown below.
LX, LY and LZ
LY is the length to calculate slenderness ratio for buckling about local Y axis and LZ is the length to
calculate slenderness ratio for buckling about local Z axis. The default values that the program considers
for LY and LZ are the respective member lengths. Let us illustrate the problem with the following example.
See the attached STAAD file. A beam joins the column at mid height. That is, the beam restrains the
column from buckling about the Z axis. The beam will split the column to two members. So for the purpose
of calculating slenderness along Z axis we have to provide LZ as 5.0 meters for both top and bottom
members of the column whereas, when the slenderness about the Y axis need to be considered, then LY
has to be provided as 10 meters.
Consider the following STAAD input file
=======================
STAAD SPACE
START JOB INFORMATION
ENGINEER DATE 27-May-08
END JOB INFORMATION
INPUT WIDTH 79
UNIT METER KN
JOINT COORDINATES
1 0 0 0; 3 1.5 0 0; 4 0 10 0; 5 1.5 10 0; 6 0 5 0; 7 1.5 5 0;
MEMBER INCIDENCES
2 1 6; 3 3 7; 4 6 4; 5 7 5; 6 6 7;
DEFINE MATERIAL START
ISOTROPIC MATERIAL1
E 2.05e+008
POISSON 0.25
DENSITY 77
ALPHA 1.2e-005
DAMP 2.8026e-044
ISOTROPIC STEEL
E 2.05e+008
POISSON 0.3
DENSITY 77
ALPHA 1.2e-005
DAMP 0.03
ISOTROPIC CONCRETE
E 2.17185e+007
POISSON 0.17
DENSITY 23.5616
ALPHA 1e-005
DAMP 0.05
END DEFINE MATERIAL
MEMBER PROPERTY AMERICAN
2 TO 5 TABLE ST W10X68
6 TABLE ST W8X18
CONSTANTS
MATERIAL STEEL ALL
SUPPORTS
1 3 FIXED
MEMBER OFFSET
6 START 0.05 0 0
LOAD 1 ULTIMATE
SELFWEIGHT Y -1 LIST 2 TO 6
PERFORM ANALYSIS
PARAMETER 1
CODE AISC
LY 10 MEMB 2 TO 5
LZ 5 MEMB 2 4
TRACK 2 MEMB 2 4
unit kip inch
CHECK CODE MEMB 2 4
print memb prop
print material prop
FINISH
=======================
Let us consider the member number 2. In this case the program calculates the slenderness as follows. We
have assumed the value of K as 1.0. LZ as 5.0 meters', "r" the radius of gyration is equal to sqrt of I
divided by A
K = 1.0
LZ = 5.0 = 500 cm
Rz = sqrt (Iz/A)
= sqrt (16399.52/129)
= 11.27 (The same is reported in the detailed output result, when you provide a TRACK 2 parameter)
KL/rz = 1.0 x 500/ 11.27
= 44.35
This value is denoted as KL/R-Z and in the output file. In a similar manner, the value of KL/R-Y can also be
found.
Notes on slenderness calculation:-
1.) STAAD by default checks slenderness for all members being CODE CHECKed or SELECTed,
regardless of whether or not they have an axial force.
2.) Members with zero axial force are usually checked against the slenderness limits for tension.
3.) For singly symmetric shapes such as Tees and Double Angles, the KL/r value for the Y axis is
calculated by STAAD using the rules for FLEXURAL TORSIONAL BUCKLING as explained in page 3-53
of the AISC ASD manual. It is not calculated as Ky multiplied by Ly divided by ry. This is because for these
type of members FLEXURAL TORSIONAL BUCKLING is the primary mode of failure and not FLEXURAL
BUCKLING.
In case you don't want the member to be checked as per the above criterion, you may set KX and LX to
very small values, so that, flexural torsional buckling will not govern, and flexural buckling will. In that
situation, KyLy/Ry will match your hand calculation.
You can add the following commands to simulate that condition.
KX 0.1 MEMB 1506
LX 0.1 MEMB 1506
Apart from calculating slenderness, the aforementioned parameters are also used, in arriving at the
allowable stress in compression according to the clauses mentioned in CHAPTER E of the code.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If we consider the same member 2 of the above model, and see how the program arrives at the value of
FA, the allowable axial load carrying capacity.
Cc = sqrt (2 ∏2 E/Fy)
= sqrt (2 x 3.14 x 3.14 x 29000/36)
= 127.6
The value of KL/R which is greater of KL/Rz and KL/Ry is considered for further calculations.
Therefore, KL/R = 152.1
KL/Ry > Cc
Fa = (12 x 3.14 x3.14 x 29732.7)/(23 x 152.1 x 152.1)
= 6.62
8 comments 0 members are here
Anonymous over 9 years ago
thks for this , it's very clear.
However for some reasons, in my model when KL/R is above Cc, the unity check is not calcultated. Do you
know why ?
er.farooqueazam over 9 years ago
thanks
it was very useful to me..thanks
Anonymous over 9 years ago
Hi all,
'One method is that we can ask the program to calculate the KY and KZ by clicking the CALCULATE tab in
the GUI. By this the program calculates the K factor on the basis of the chart provided in section C-C2 of the
code as shown below.'
Could someone tell me how can I automatically calculate KY and KZ in Staad?
Thanks,
GJ
Offline waqar fazi over 3 years ago in reply to Anonymous
DEAR SIR,
FROM WHERE I CAN GET THIS TABLE C C 2.1?
Offline Ram Sheshan over 3 years ago
Sir thanks for the explanation can you put some examples for rafters also..?
Offline Chuan Nguyen Cong over 2 years ago
It's very helpful, many thanks.
Offline Taylor Steele 6 months ago
For angle shapes, do LY and LZ apply about the principle local axes or the rotated local axes? I assume the
local principle axes but I've found no documentation to confirm. Would beta change how LY and LZ are
applied?
Anonymous over 11 years ago
This post is very nicely written with examples and references.
There is one quesition in my mind. Why you have not performed P-delta analysis of the structure in the
example? Whether it has to do anything with applying K value?
Please clarify.
Thanks
VD
