§1630.1.

3 Example 17
P ∆ Effects

 2

∆  $%(4''(
In highrise building design, important secondary moments and additional story drifts
can be developed in the lateral force-resisting system by P∆ effects. P∆ effects are
the result of the axial load P in a column being “moved” laterally by horizontal
displacements, thereby causing additional “secondary” column and girder moments.
The purpose of this example is to illustrate the procedure that must be used to check
the overall stability of the frame system for such effects.

A 15-story building has a steel special moment-resisting frame (SMRF). The

following information is given:

Zone 4
R = 8.5

At the first story,

ΣD = W = 8,643 kips
ΣL = 3,850 kips
V1 = V = 0.042W = 363.0 kips
h1 = 20 ft
Story drift = ∆ S1 = 0.003h1 = 0.72 in. h1 = 20'

Determine the following:

 P∆ criteria for the building.

 Check the first story for P∆ requirements.

Calculations and Discussion Code Reference

 P∆ criteria for the building. §1630.1.3

P∆ effects must be considered whenever the ratio of secondary moments to primary
moments exceed 10 percent. As discussed in Section C105.1.3 of the 1999 SEAOC
Blue Book Commentary, this ratio is defined as a stability coefficient θ :

Px ∆ sx
θx =
V x hx

 SEAOC Seismic Design Manual

Example 17
P ∆ Effects §1630.1.3

where

θ x = stability coefficient for story x

Px = total vertical load (unfactored) on all columns in story x

∆ sx = story drift due to the design base shear

V x = design shear in story x

h x = height of story x

P∆ effects must be considered when θ > 0.10

An alternative approach is to check story drift.

In Seismic Zones 3 and 4, P∆ effects need not be considered for SMRF buildings
whenever the story drifts satisfy the following criterion:

∆ s 0.02 0.02
≤ = = .00235 §1630.1.3
h R 8.5

Therefore, when the story drift in a given story of an SMRF is less than or equal to
.00235, P∆ effects need not be considered for that story.

 Check P∆ requirements for the first story.

The first story drift ratio is

∆ S 1 0.003h1
= = 0.003
h1 h1

Check drift criteria

.003 > .00235

Section 1630.1.3 requires that the total vertical load P1 at the first story be considered
as the total dead (ΣD ) plus floor live (ΣL ) and snow (S ) load above the first story.
These loads are unfactored for determination of P∆ effects.

P1 = ΣD + ΣL + S

using S = 0 for the building site

P1 = 8,643 + 3,850 = 12,493 kips

SEAOC Seismic Design Manual 

§1630.1.3 Example 17
P ∆ Effects

P1 ∆ S 1 (12,493)(0.003h1 )
θ1 = = = 0.103 > 0.100
V1 h1 (363.0)h1

∴P∆ effects must be considered

Commentary
The 1999 SEAOC Blue Book Commentary, in Section C105.1.3, provides an
acceptable P∆ analysis: for any story x where P∆ effects must be considered, the
θ
story shear V x must be multiplied by a factor (1 + a d ) , where a d = , and the
1− θ
structure is to be re-analyzed for the seismic force effects corresponding to the
augmented story shears. Also, some computer programs include the option to include
P∆ effects. The user should verify that the particular method is consistent with the
requirements of this §1630.1.3.

 SEAOC Seismic Design Manual