APPENDIX E

(Section 7.2.2)
E.1 Method for Determining Effective Length of Columns in Frames
E.1.1 In the absence of a more exact analysis, the effective length of columns in framed
structures may be obtained by multiplying the actual length of the column between the
centres of laterally supporting members (beams) with the effective length factor K, calculated
by using the equations given below, provided the connection between beam and column is
rigid type.
a) Non-sway Frames (Braced Frame) (Section 4.1.2 a)
A frame is designated as non-sway frame if the relative displacement between the two
adjacent floors is restrained by bracings or shear walls. The effective length factor, K, of
column in non-sway frames is given by

K=
[1 + 0.145( β 1 + β 2 ) − 0.265β 1 β 2 ]
[ 2 − 0.364( β 1 + β 2 ) − 0.247 β 1 β 2 ]
b) Sway frames (Moment Resisting Frames) (Section 4.1.2 b)
The effective length factor, K, of column in sway frames is given by
1 − 0.2( β 1 + β 2 ) − 0.12 β 1 β 2 
0.5

K= 
 1 − 0.8( β 1 + β 2 ) + 0.6 β 1 β 2 
where

β 1, β are given, β =
∑K c

∑K + ∑K
2
c b

Kc, Kb = effective flexural stiffness of the columns and beams meeting at the joint at the
ends of the columns and rigidly connected at the joints, and those are calculated
by
K=C(I/L)
I = moment of inertia of the member about an axis perpendicular to the plan of the
frame
L = length of the member equal to centre to centre distance of the intersecting
member
C = connection factor as shown in Table E.1
TABLE E.1
Connection Factor C
Far end condition
Braced frame Unbraced frame
Pinned 1.5(1-n) 1.5(1-n)
Rigidly connected to column 1.0(1-n) 1.0(1-0.2n)
Fixed 2.0(1-0.4n) 0.67(1-0.4n)
Note: P
n=
where Pe
Pe = elastic buckling load
P = applied load
181
E.2 Method for determining Effective Length for Stepped Columns (Section 7.2.2)
E.2.1 Single Stepped Columns – Effective length in the plane of steeping (bending about
axis z-z) for bottom and top parts for single stepped column shall be taken as given in Table
E.2
Note: The provisions of E.2.1 are applicable to intermediate columns as well with stepping on either side,
provided appropriate values of I1and I2 are taken
TABLE E.2 EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF SINGLED STEPPED COLUMNS
(Appendix E.1.1)
Column
Sl. Degree of End Effective Length
Sketch Parameters for
No. Restraint Coefficients
all Cases
k12 + k 11 (α − 1)
2 2

k1 =
α
Effectively held in k1 P2
position and k2 = ≤3
a) C1
restrained against
rotation at both ends where P1
I2 L2
k12 and k11 are to be taken
as per Table E.3.

I1
k12 + k11 (α − 1) L3
2 2
k1 =
Effectively held in α P1 + P2
position at both ends α=
k1 P2
b) and restrained k2 = ≤3
C1 L2 I1
against rotation at C1 =
bottom end only where L1 I 2α
k12 and k11 are to be taken
i2 I L
as per Table E.4 = 2 × 1
c) Effectively held in i1 L2 I1
position and k1 to be taken as per Effective length
restrained against Table E.5 of bottom part of
rotation at bottom k column in plane
k2 = 1 ≤ 3 of stepping =
end, and top end C1
held against rotation k1L1
but not held in Effective length
position of bottom part of
d) Effectively held in column in plane
position and k1 to be taken as per of stepping =
restrained against Table E.6 k2L2
rotation at bottom k
k2 = 1 ≤ 3
end, and top end C1
neither held against
rotation nor held in

182
position

183
 TABLE E. 3 COEFFICIENTS OF EFFECTIVE LENGTHS k12 AND k11 FOR COLUMNS WITH BOTH ENDS
EFFECTIVELY HELD IN POSITION AND RESTRAINED AGAINST ROTATION
(Table E.2)
COEFFICIENTS k12 AND k11 FOR L2/L1 EQUAL TO
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0
P2

P1
I2 L2

I1 L1

P1+P2

I2/I1
Coefficient k12 (P1 = 0)
0.05 0.74 0.94 1.38 1.60 1.87 2.07 2.23 2.39 2.52 2.67 3.03 3.44 3.85 4.34 4.77
0.1 0.67 0.76 1.00 1.20 1.42 1.61 1.78 1.92 2.04 2.20 2.40 2.60 2.86 3.18 3.41
0.2 0.64 0.70 0.79 0.93 1.07 1.23 1.41 1.50 1.60 1.72 1.92 2.11 2.28 2.45 2.64
0.3 0.62 0.68 0.74 0.85 0.95 1.06 1.18 1.28 1.39 1.48 1.67 1.82 1.96 2.12 2.20
0.4 0.60 0.66 0.71 0.77 0.82 0.93 0.99 1.08 1.17 1.23 1.39 1.53 1.66 1.79 1.92
0.5 0.59 0.65 0.70 0.77 0.82 0.93 0.99 1.08 1.17 1.23 1.39 1.53 1.66 1.79 1.92
1.0 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00 1.10 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50
Coefficient k11 (P2 = 0)
0.05 0.65 0.67 0.71 0.85 1.01 1.17 1.31 1.41 1.50 1.57 1.67 1.74 1.78 1.82 1.86
0.1 0.64 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.78 0.92 1.05 1.15 1.25 1.33 1.45 1.55 1.62 1.68 1.71
0.2 0.62 0.64 0.65 0.65 0.66 0.73 0.83 0.92 1.01 1.09 1.23 1.33 1.41 1.48 1.54
0.3 0.60 0.63 0.64 0.65 0.66 0.67 0.73 0.81 0.89 0.94 1.09 1.20 1.28 1.35 1.41
0.4 0.58 0.63 0.63 0.64 0.64 0.66 0.68 0.75 0.82 0.88 1.01 1.10 1.19 1.26 1.32
0.5 0.57 0.61 0.63 0.64 0.64 0.65 0.68 0.72 0.77 0.83 0.94 1.04 1.12 1.19 1.25
1.0 0.55 0.58 0.60 0.61 0.62 0.63 0.65 0.67 0.70 0.73 0.80 0.88 0.93 1.01 1.05

184
 Note: Intermediate value may be obtained by interpolation

TABLE E.4 COEFFICIENTS OF EFFECTIVE LENGTHS k12 AND k11 FOR COLUMNS WITH BOTH ENDS
EFFECTIVELY HELD IN POSITION AND RESTRAINED AGAINST ROTATION AT BOTTOM END ONLY
(Table E.2)

COEFFICIENTS k12 AND k11 FOR L2/L1 EQUAL TO

I2/I1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 P2
Coefficient k12 (P1 = 0)
0.05 0.97 1.66 2.10 2.43 2.72 2.92 3.08 3.24 3.48 3.73 4.22 4.85 5.36 6.00 6.58
0.1 0.83 1.21 1.57 1.95 2.14 2.33 2.46 2.60 2.76 2.91 3.28 3.61 4.03 4.43 4.85 P1 L2
I2
0.3 0.78 0.90 1.09 1.27 1.44 1.60 1.74 1.86 1.98 2.11 2.35 2.51 2.76 2.99 3.25
0.5 0.78 0.86 0.99 1.10 1.22 1.35 1.47 1.57 1.67 1.76 1.96 2.15 2.34 2.50 2.76
1.0 0.78 0.85 0.92 0.99 1.06 1.13 1.20 1.27 1.34 1.41 1.54 1.68 1.82 1.97 2.10 I1 L3
Coefficient k11 (P2 = 0)
0.05 0.67 0.67 0.82 1.16 1.35 1.48 1.58 1.65 1.69 1.74 1.81 1.84 1.86 1.88 1.90
0.1 0.67 0.67 0.73 0.93 1.11 1.25 1.36 1.45 1.52 1.57 1.66 1.72 1.77 1.80 1.82
P1 +P2
0.3 0.67 0.67 0.67 0.71 0.80 0.90 0.99 1.08 1.15 1.22 1.33 1.41 1.48 1.54 1.59
0.5 0.67 0.67 0.67 0.69 0.73 0.81 0.87 0.94 1.01 1.07 1.17 1.26 1.33 1.39 1.44
1.0 0.67 0.67 0.67 0.68 0.71 0.74 0.78 0.82 0.87 0.91 0.99 1.07 1.13 1.19 1.24 P2
Note: Intermediate value may be obtained by interpolation

P1 L2
I2

185 I1 L3
 TABLE E.5 COEFFICIENTS OF EFFECTIVE LENGTHS k1 FOR COLUMNS EFFECTIVELY HELD IN POSITION AND
RESTRAINED AGAINST ROTATION AT BOTTOM END AND TOP END HELD AGAINST ROTATION BUT NOT HELD IN
POSITION
(Table E.2)
P2
COEFFICIENTS k1 FOR i2 / i1 EQUAL TO
C1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0
0 2.0 1.86 1.76 1.67 1.60 1.55 1.50 1.46 1.43 1.40 1.37 1.32 1.18 1.10 1.05
0.5 2.0 1.90 1.80 1.74 1.69 1.65 1.61 1.58 1.55 1.53 --- --- --- ---- ---- P1 L2
I2
1.0 2.0 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
1.5 2.0 2.25 2.38 2.48 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
2.0 2.0 2.66 2.91 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I1 L3
2.5 2.5 3.17 3.50 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
3.0 3.0 3.70 4.12 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ---- ----
P2
NOTE – Intermediate values may be obtained by interpolation.
P 1 + P2

TABLE E .6 COEFFICIENTS OF EFFECTIVE LENGTHS k1 FOR COLUMNS WITH TOP ENDS FREE AND BOTTOM
P1 L
END EFFECTIVELY HELD IN POSITION AND RESTRAINED AGAINST ROTATION I 2 2

(Table E.2)
C1 COEFFICIENTS k1 FOR i2/i1 EQUAL TO
0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.5 5.0 10 20
I1 L3
0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

186
P 1 + P2
 0.5 2.0 2.14 2.24 2.36 2.47 2.57 2.67 2.76 2.85 2.94 3.02 --- --- --- ----
1.0 2.0 2.73 3.13 3.44 3.74 4.00 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
1.5 3.0 3.77 4.35 4.86 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
2.0 4.0 4.90 5.67 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
2.5 5.0 6.08 7.00 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
3.0 6.0 7.25 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ---- ----
NOTE – Intermediate values may be obtained by interpolation.

187
E.3 EFFECTIVE LENGTH FOR DOUBLE STEPPED COLUMNS
E.3.1 Effective lengths in the plane of steppings (bending about axis z-z) for bottom, middle
and top parts for a double stepped column shall be taken as follows:
P3 P 3

I3 I3
L3 P2 L3 P L3 I3
L2+L3 I’’av
I2
L2 P1 P L1 + L2 L1 + L2
I’av I’av
L1 I1 L1 I1

y
(a) (b) (c) (d)
z z

y
Coefficient k1 for effective length of bottom part of double stepped column shall be taken from
the formula:
2
(
t1k1 + t2 k2 + k3 × (1 + n2 ) ×
2 2
) 2 I1
I 'av
k1 =
1 + t1 + t2

where
k1, k2, and k2 are taken from Table E.6,
P P L
t1 = 1 , t1 = 2 , n2 = 2
P3 P3 L1
I’av = Average Value of moment of inertia for the lower and middle parts
I1L1 + I 2 L2
=
L1 + L2
I’av = Average Value of moment of inertia for the middle and top parts
I 2 L2 + I 3 L3
=
L2 + L3
Value of coefficient k2 for middle part of column is given by formula
k
k2 = 1
C2
and coefficient k3 for the top part of the column is given by
k1
k3 = ≤3
C3

188
where

L2 I1 ( P2 + P3 ) L I1 P3
C2 = , C3 = 3
L1 I 2 ( P1 + P2 + P3 ) L1 I 3 ( P1 + P2 + P3 )
NOTE- The provisions of E.3.1 are applicable to intermediate columns as well with steppings on either side,
provided appropriate values of I1, I2 and I3 are taken.
TABLE E.7 VALUES OF k1, k2 AND k3
(Section E.3.1)
DEGREE OF COLUMN
SL. END PARAMETERS
SKETCH k1 k2 k3
NO. RESTRAINT FOR ALL
CASES
a) Effectively held in k1 = k11 k2 = k11 k3 = k12
position and where k11 is where k11 where k12 is
restrained against taken from is taken taken from
rotation at both Table E.3 from Table E.3
ends Table E.3

b) Effectively held in k1 = k11 k2 = k11 k3 = k12 P3

position at both where k11 is where k11 where k12 is
ends and taken from is taken taken from
I3 P2 L3
restrained against Table E.4 from Table E.4
rotation at bottom Table E.4
end only
I2
P1 L2
c) Effectively held in k1 = k1 k2 = k1 k3 = k1
position and where k1 is where k1 is where k1 is
I1 L1
restrained against taken from taken from taken from
rotation at bottom Table E.5 Table E.5 Table E.5
end, and top end with C1=0 with C1=0 with
held against L3 I av
C1 =
rotation but not L1 + L2 I3
held in position

d) Effectively held in k3 = k1
position and where k1 is
restrained against taken from
rotation at bottom Table E.6
end, and top end k1 = 2 k2 = 2 with
neither held L3 I av
C1 =
against rotation L1 + L2 I 31
nor against
translation.

189
190