ABSTRACT
Strength and stability are two key aspects of multi-storied Reinforced Concrete (RC) building design. While strength aspect has been given a due importance and is well understood, stability aspect in design is most underrated. Specially, structural design offices accepts codal based values of Effective Length Factor, k, to ensure stability of designed multi-storied RC buildings. Proper estimation of factor ‘k’, thus become important and an integral part of structural design of RC buildings. The present study aim towards realistic determination of effective length factor, k, for multi storied RC building. Implication of effective length factor, k, on structural design of a RC building is studied through geometric parameters like Stiffness Ratio, Inter-storey Drift and Maximum displacement and through design parameters like Axial Force and Bending Moment. It has been observed that, most of the commercial soft wares uses the value for effective length, k, as a unity i.e., 1 and warrants P-Δ effect making building frame as a non-sway frame. However, k-value varies largely and depends on joint stiffness ratio between column-beam.
