ABSTRACT
Physically, the K-factor is a factor that when multiplied by actual length of the end-restrained column (Figure 18.1a) gives the length of an equivalent pin-ended column (Figure 18.1b), whose buckling load is the same as that of the end-restrained column. It follows that the eective length KL of an endrestrained column is the length between adjacent inection points of its pure exural buckling shape.
