Stability Analysis and Design: Effective Length or Direct Analysis (View Only)

This two-part webinar series will review the stability requirements in the AISC Specification and provide an in-depth look at two methods of addressing those requirements: the Effective Length Method and the Direct Analysis Method.

Part 1 of this 2-session lecture on Stability Analysis and Design will review the five factors that must be considered to properly carry out a stability analysis and design. The session will review required strength and available strength. It will then discuss 2nd order analysis and demonstrate methods to calculate 2nd order effects by hand. This will include presenting the development of the B1-B2 method discussed in the AISC Specification, Appendix 8 – Approximate Analysis.

Part 2 of this 2-session lecture continues to explore the requirements of the AISC Specification for the design for stability. The session will discuss the Effective Length Method with an emphasis on the difficulties in meeting the assumptions upon which it is based using several example structures. The session will then address the Direct Analysis Method and discuss how it incorporates the same factors as the effective length method, but without any of the disadvantages and with the ability to design with a K-factor equal to 1.

Source: AISC Live Webinar Series (7/17/2025, 7/22/25)

Speaker(s): Louis F. Geschwindner, PE, PhD

This content is free to view. If you would like to receive continuing education credit for this program, you can purchase the credit version here.