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Stability of wide-flange columns in steel moment-resisting frames: evaluation of the Canadian seismic design requirements

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Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate the seismic stability of wide-flange columns of steel moment-resisting frames (MRFs) with emphasis on the 2019 Canadian steel design standard, answer the question of how adequate the seismic provisions are, and propose improvements to the current provisions. The seismic design provisions for Ductile (Type D) steel MRFs with the focus on the stability requirements are reviewed first. The provisions are then applied to a five-story steel MRF with wide-flange beams and columns. Three column design scenarios are studied, (1) MRF with square columns, (2) MRF with deep columns, and (3) MRF with deep columns designed excluding the special stability design provisions specified for columns. The seismic response of the frames is evaluated using the dynamic analysis method to obtain anticipated seismic demands under the design level hazard. Dynamic analysis results are then used to examine the stability response of interior and exterior first-story columns part of the MRFs. The results suggest that the current limiting web width-to-thickness ratio h/tw = 37 for first-story columns specified in CSA S16 is adequate at an axial load of approximately 0.15AFy, and the in-plane and out-of-plane stability checks are necessary for the columns above the first story to achieve stable response under major seismic events. Furthermore, columns with a global slenderness ratio Lb/ry = 70, exceeding the prescribed value of 50, can be utilized as the first-story columns in MRFs. An increased axial load limit of 0.35AFy can be adopted for exterior first-story columns.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada and the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC) is acknowledged. The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Steel Centre at the University of Alberta for their support. The authors would like to extend great thanks to Professors Dimitrios Lignos and Ahmed Elkady for sharing the test data.

Funding

This study was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.

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  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

    Abrar Islam & Ali Imanpour

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  1. Abrar Islam
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  2. Ali Imanpour
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Correspondence to Ali Imanpour.

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Islam, A., Imanpour, A. Stability of wide-flange columns in steel moment-resisting frames: evaluation of the Canadian seismic design requirements. Bull Earthquake Eng 20, 1591–1617 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-021-01313-8

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