Sway of semi-rigid steel frames, part 2: Irregular frames

This paper presents an extension of a simplified method originally proposed for semi-rigid regular steel frames to cover typical geometric irregularities observed in steel construction. Sway behaviour of building frames with stepped configurations has been investigated using a numerical technique. Relationships were established between the maximum lateral sway for a stepped frame and its corresponding regular frame so as to exploit the proposed design charts for regular frames. The design method has been explained using numerical examples and the predicted sway values have been compared with those obtained numerically; overall, excellent agreement was achieved.