Toward Practical Advanced Analysis for Steel Frame Design

Extensive research on the topic of steel frame design with advanced analysis methods has been conducted over the past 10 to 15 years in recognition of the fact of rapid advancement in computing power in recent years. Despite significant research and development efforts, usage of advanced analysis for direct frame design has, nevertheless, been slow in coming to the profession. This is clearly and primarily caused by a lack of understanding and appreciation of the applications of second-order inelastic analysis methods on the part of the designers. Practical implementation of the advanced analysis methods for structural steel design is now a real possibility. This paper describes one of the practical advanced analysis methods that have been calibrated against the current American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) load and resistance factor design specification, which requires only simple modifications of an existing in-house elastic program that is widely available in current engineering practice.