Analytical model for the preliminary design of a single-storey multi-bay steel frame under horizontal and vertical loads

Many complicated analytical methods have been proposed to predict the effects of the geometric nonlinearity of a single-story multi-bay steel frame and the material nonlinearity of its steel members. However, some structural engineers have difficulty in understanding the complicated methods and applying them in designing steel structures. Therefore, this study has been performed to provide a simplified analytical model that is only applicable in the preliminary design stage. Using the simplified analytical model, structural engineers can easily predict the storey drift, maximum allowable loads, and bracing stiffness of a single-storey multi-bay steel frame. The application feasibility of the simplified model is verified by performing a two-dimensional finite element analysis.