Comparative analysis between the Eurocode-3 and NBE-EA-95 (Spanish metallic Code) in the calculation of frames buckling length

Abstract

The Spanish Code MV-103 (nowadays NBE-EA-95) and the Eurocode-3 (next to be published) use aproximate methods to obtain the buckling length for collumns in building structures, which are composed by beams and collumns. Both aproximate formulas for sway and non-sway frames give likely different values. In sway frames, the difference increases. In this paper, we will compare both expressions analysing the nature of the problem and representing the exact formulation versus each one of the aproximations. Finally, we will see an example.