Reliability of the Member Stability Criteria in the 2005 AISC Specification

The notional reliability of steel beams, columns and beam-columns designed according to the 2005 AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings is determined by using first_order or second-order reliability methods (FORM or SORM). The reliability index beta is evaluated for contemporary material properties and new evaluations of experimental strength data. It is concluded that the notional reliability of the new specification is essentially identical to the level inherent in the first Load and Resistance Factor (LRFD) Specification of 1986.