Stability and Ductility of Steel Structures

The objective of this paper is to provide a review of the Direct Strength Method for coldformed steel design. The Direct Strength Method was formally adopted in North American design specifications in 2004 as an alternative to the traditional Effective Width Method. The appendix of this paper provides an excerpt from the North American Specification which provides the Direct Strength Method equations for the design of columns and beams. A brief comparison of the Direct Strength Method with the Effective Width Method is provided. The advantage of methods that integrate computational stability analysis into the design process, such as the Direct Strength Method, is highlighted. The development of the Direct Strength Method for beams and columns, including the reliability of the method is provided. Current and ongoing research to extend the Direct Strength Method is reviewed and references provided.