STANDARDS FRAME

and PRIMARY FRAME DESIGN DESIGN

PRACTICES PARAMETERS

UNBRACED LENGTHS FOR BENDING, Lb

The 9th edition of the AISC Specification defines unbraced lengths for bending as:
“ l = distance between cross sections braced against twist or lateral displacement of the
compression flange, in.”

Compression at the inside flange Compression at the outside flange

In the case where the applied moment In the case where the applied moment
produces compression at the inside flange produces compression at the outside
(negative moment) the following locations flange (positive moment) the following
are considered as brace points against locations are considered as brace points
compression flange lateral displacement against compression flange lateral
or twist: displacement or twist:

Exterior Columns - base, flange braces Exterior Columns - base, girts and top of
and top of column. column.

Rafter - face of the exterior column and Rafter - face of the exterior column and
flange braces. purlins.

Lb =
Lb3 Lb3 + Lb4 Lb4
Lb
Lb
Lb
Lb2 Lb
Colum
( - ) M Flange
Inside pression

Flang
in Co

n Fa c

Inflec
omen

e Bra
m
Lb = Lb1 + Lb2

tion
t

ce

Point

( - ) Moment
Inside Flange
in Compression ( + ) Moment
Outside Flange CL
Lb1 Ridge
in Compression
Top of
Column
Lb

Flange Brace

Lb

Base

VP DESIGN MANUAL Section: 2.2

BUILDINGS, 03/01/96 Rev. 1 Page 1 of 5
INC.