Chapter 2

MATRIX METHODS OF ANALYSIS OF

MULTI-STOREYED SWAY FRAMES

T.M.ROBERTS

Department of Civil and Structural Engineering,

University College, Cardiff, UK
SUMMARY
The ultimate limit state design of plane multi-storeyed sway frames involves
consideration of nonlinear effects induced by changes of geometry and the influence of
member axial forces. In recent years, nonlinear matrix methods of analysis have been
developed and it is now possible to analyse the complete loading history of such frames
up to collapse. This chapter deals with the elastic linear, nonlinear and instability
analysis of frames using matrix methods. Rigorous formulations of the problem are
presented first so that the approximations frequently incorporated in such analyses can
be identified. Approximate methods for determining elastic critical loads and the
magnitude of the nonlinear effects are then presented.
NOTATION

A
a
c
E

H
I
m
n
P0
Pi

Cross-section area
Length of an element or a member of a frame
Stability function
Youngs modulus
Shear force
Horizontal force
Second moment of area about centroid
Moment
Scalar
Base load
External force