Ultimate strength of columns laterally braced by girt–diaphragm systems

Abstract

This paper deals with the stabilizing effect of girts and cladding on columns in light industrial buildings. The construction aspects of such systems are briefly reviewed and a description of their behavior is presented. Solutions available to determine column strength in column–girt–diaphragm systems are reviewed. The use of a finite-element-based software is proposed as the only practical way to analyze this type of structural system. Results of a large parametric study using a finite element model are presented and a method to evaluate the ultimate strength of actual columns is introduced. Finally, a simple hand design method is derived. Key words: diaphragm, design, finite element, girt, column, stability, statistics.