This book summarizes the recent progress in practical analysis for semi-rigid frame design in North America. This encompasses codes, databases, modeling, classification, analysis/design, and design tables and aids. Practical design methods include LRFD procedures, approximate procedures, computer-based procedures and the optimization process. The book can be used as a supplementary steel design textbook for graduate students, as a training book for a short course in steel design for practicing engineers, and as a reference book for consulting firms designing building structures.

Semi-rigid steel frames are revolutionizing structural design. This book is a practical professional reference, covering analytical methods for the evaluation of connection flexibility and its influence on the stability of the entire framework. The methods range from a simplified member-by-member design approach to a more sophisticated computer-based advanced analysis and design approach.

The development of the limit state approach to design in recent years has focused particular attention on two basic requirements: accurate information regarding the behavior of structures throughout the entire range of loading up to the ultimate strength, and simple practical procedures to enable engineers to assess this behavior. This book satisfies these requirements by providing practical analysis methods for the design of steel frames. The book contains a wide range of second-order analyses: from elastic to inelastic, rigid to semi-rigid connections, and simple plastic hinge method to sophisticated plastic-zone method. Computer programs for each analysis are provided in the form of a floppy disk for easy implementation. Sample problems are described and user's manuals are well documented for each program developed in the book.

Stability Design of Steel Frames provides a summary of the behavior, analysis and design of structural steel members and frames with flexibly-jointed connections. The book presents the theory and design of structural stability and includes extensions of computer-based analyses for individual members in space with imperfections. It also shows how connection flexibility influences the behavior and design of steel frames and how designers must consider this in a limit-state analysis and design procedure. The clearly written text and extensive bibliography make this a practical book for advanced students, researchers and professionals in civil and structural engineering, as well as a useful supplement to traditional books on the theory and design of structural stability.

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation from the year 2014 in the subject Engineering - Civil Engineering, grade: 9, , course: Advanced Steel Structures, language: English, abstract: This dissertation presents three various advanced analysis approaches which can capture accurately and efficiently the ultimate strength and behavior of steel framed structures with nonlinear beam-to-column connections subjected to static and dynamic loadings. Three major sources of nonlinearity are considered in the analyses as follows: (1) material nonlinearity; (2) geometric nonlinearity; and (3) connection nonlinearity. Three types of nonlinear beam-column element formulation considering both geometric and material nonlinearities are coded into two nonlinear structural analysis programs: (1) Nonlinear Structural Analysis Program (NSAP) – 2-D plastic-zone finite element; (2) Practical Advanced Analysis Program (PAAP) – 3-D refined plastic-hinge element and 3-D plastic-fiber element. Three types of steel frames analyzed by the proposed program are: (1) rigid frames – beam-to-column connections are fully rigid; (2) linear semi-rigid frames – beam-to-column connections have constant stiffness; and (3) nonlinear semi-rigid frames – beam-to-column connections have continuously variable stiffness. Three types of analysis can be performed are: (1) nonlinear inelastic static analysis; (2) nonlinear elastic and inelastic time-history analysis; and (3) free vibration analysis. Three main resources of damping are taken into account in the proposed programs are: (1) hysteretic damping due to inelastic material; (2) structural viscous damping employing Rayleigh damping; (3) hysteretic damping due to nonlinear beam-to-column connections. Two computer programs are developed: (1) Nonlinear Structural Analysis Program (NSAP) – written in the C++ programming language; (2) Practical Advanced Analysis Program (PAAP) – written in the FORTRAN 77 programming language. They are verified for accuracy and computational efficiency by comparing predicted results with those generated by the commercial finite element analysis packages of ABAQUS and SAP2000, and other results available in the literature. Through several numerical examples, the proposed program (PAAP) proves to be a reliable and efficient tool for daily practice design in lieu of using costly and time-consuming commercial software.

LRFD Steel Design Using Advanced Analysis uses practical advanced analysis to produce almost identical member sizes to those of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) method. The main advantage of the advanced analysis method is that tedious and sometimes confusing separate member capacity checks encompassed by the AISC-LRFD specification equations are not necessary. Advanced analysis can sufficiently capture the limit state strength and stability of a structural system and its individual member directly. While the use of elastic analysis is still the norm in engineering practice, a new generation of codes is expected to adopt the advanced analysis methodology in the near future, leading to significant savings in design effort. In recent years, the continued rapid development in computer hardware and software, coupled with an increased understanding of structural behavior, has made it feasible to adopt the advanced analysis techniques for design office use. Drs. Chen and Kim, both experienced and respected engineers, contribute their expertise to this text, which is intended for both the graduate student and the practicing engineer. Previous knowledge of the subject is not necessary, but familiarity with methods of elastic analysis and conventional LRFD design is expected. The advanced analysis in the book is presented in a practical and simple manner, with attention directed to both analysis and design, emphasizing the direct use of the methods in engineering practice. This is a great introduction to an exciting new trend in structural engineering!