ACI / SBC method of moment magnification for slender columns

1/ Basis of the method

The moment magnification factor is used at the design stage, if it is ignored in the structural
analysis phase, for slender columns for which the slenderness ratio is greater than a certain
minimum limit and less or equal to a maximum limit equal to 100.0. Above this value, the
method cannot be used and second order effects should be included in the structural analysis
step. The slenderness ratio is defined as the ratio of the effective length to the radius of gyration.
kLu
Slenderness ratio =
r
Ig
Lu is the unsupported height of the column while r is its radius of gyration defined as: r
Ag

The effective length factor k depends on the fixity conditions of the column as well as the type of
frame (braced or sway). At each column end, the degree of fixity is related to the ratio of the

EI


L columns
sum of stiffnesses of the columns and beams connected to it as follows:
EI


L
beams

I is the moment of inertia of the cracked section and is defined with respect to the gross moment
of inertia Ig as follows: Beams: I b 0.35 I gb Columns: I c 0.70 I gc
0.40 EI g
The long term column stiffness EI is computed as: EI
1 d

E is the concrete modulus of elasticity given by: E 4700 f c'

d is the ratio of sustained to ultimate axial force. For lateral (sway ) loads, d = 0.

The magnification factor depends on the ultimate axial force as well as the critical buckling load

EI 2
which is defined as: Pc
kLu 2

2/ Moment magnification for slender braced columns

For braced columns, the effective length factor k is computed as:

0.7 0.05( A B )

k Min 0.85 0.05 min with k 0.5
1.0

A and B are values of at top and bottom ends of the column while min is the smaller of
the two. At each end, is computed as the ratio of the sum of stiffnesses of the columns and

EI


L columns
beams connected to it as follows:
EI


L
beams

I is the moment of inertia of the cracked section and is defined with respect to the gross moment
of inertia Ig as follows: Beams: I b 0.35 I gb Columns: I c 0.70 I gc
M1 and M2 are the smaller and larger factored moments at the column ends. They have the same
sign if the column is bent in single curvature.
The slenderness effects will be considered if the slenderness ratio is greater than or equal to the

kLu M1
limit: Min 34.0 12 , 40.0
r M2
The moment magnification factor cannot however be used if the slenderness ratio exceeds the
upper value of 100.0.
Ig
Lu is the unsupported height of the column while r is its radius of gyration defined as: r
Ag

0.40 EI g
The long term column stiffness EI is computed as: EI
1 d

E is concrete Youngs modulus and d is the ratio of sustained to ultimate axial force.
EI 2
The critical buckling load is defined as: Pc
kLu 2
M
The moment coefficient cm is given by: c m Max 0.6 0.4 1 , 0.4
M2


cm
The moment magnification factor is given by: Min , 1.0

Pu
1.0
0.75 Pc

The minimum moment to be considered is: M min Pu 15 0.03h with h in mm.

The magnified moment is then given by: M c Max M 2 , M min

3/ Moment magnification for slender un-braced (sway) columns

For un-braced columns, the effective length factor k is computed as follows:
0.05(20 m )
If both ends are restrained and m 2 : k with k 1.0
1 m

If both ends are restrained and m 2 : k 0.9 1 m with k 1.0

If the upper end is hinged: k 2 0.3 B

If the lower end is hinged: k 2 0.3 A

If both ends are hinged: k 30

A and B are values of at top and bottom ends of the column while m is the average of
the two. At each end is computed as the ratio of the sum of stiffnesses of the columns and

EI


L columns
beams connected to it as follows:
EI


L
beams

I is the moment of inertia of the cracked section and is defined with respect to the gross moment
of inertia Ig as follows: Beams: I b 0.35 I gb Columns: I c 0.70 I gc
M1b and M2b are the smaller and larger factored braced moments at the column ends. They have
the same sign if the column is bent in single curvature.
M1s and M2s are the smaller and larger factored sway moments at the column ends. They have the
same sign if the column is bent in single curvature.
The slenderness effects must be considered if the slenderness ratio is greater or equal to 22.0:
kLu
22.0
r
The moment magnification factor cannot however be used if the slenderness ratio exceeds the
upper value of 100.0.
The column stiffness EI is computed as: EI 0.40 EI g

EI 2
The critical buckling load is defined as: Pc
kLu 2

1
The sway moment magnification factor is computed as: s Max , 1. 0
Pu
1.0
0.75 Pc

P u

where is the following floor to column ratio: P c

Pu
Pc
lu 35.0

If r Pu then the magnified moments are:
f c' Ag

M 1c M 1b s M 1s M 2 c M 2b s M 2 s

lu 35.0

If r Pu then the braced moment magnification factor is computed as for
f c' Ag

braced columns but with d 0 and the magnified moments are:

M 1c ( M 1b s M 1s ) M 2 c ( M 2b s M 2 s )