1996 Volume 3 Issue 10 Pages 21-28
The allowable stress criteria is more frequently governing the design than the ultimate limit state criteria in most of steel frames. In this paper, steel frames with rectangular hollow section columns and wide flange beams are designed based on the following rules. Beams are proportioned so that maximum stresses just reach allowable stresses. Columns are proportioned to fulfill the story drift limitation and to keep maximum stresses within allowable stresses. The ultimate strength of these frames is then discussed. The results obtained from this study are summarized as follows: (1) Members in upper stories are relatively stronger than those in lower stories. (2) Frames tend to be of weak beam type structures. (3) When a sway mechanism fomns in a story, the collapse load corresponds to a DS -value of 0.32 or greater,
