Abstract
The effective length concept has been widely accepted in the design of framed structures. An excessive accuracy is not to be expected from its origin apart from structural analysis, but there still remain certain cases where its estimation is far conservative beyond reality. The practice for a rectangular frame is set up differently depending upon whether braced or unbraced. Literally, the effective length has been designated as an axial strength of individual members. In this study, an inadequacy is found in those conventional practices, and an alternative manner is suggested to deal with the structural buckling of a rectangular frame.
