P-Delta Effects

P-delta effects represent the additional overturning moments

produced by the gravity loads acting through the deflections
produced by lateral loads.

Eng. Abdellatef Radwan 1

 P-Delta Effects (continued)

To obtain the story drift for determining P-delta effects, the design
story drift D is to be multiplied by [1.0/ (1- q)].

Eng. Abdellatef Radwan 2

 P-Delta Effects (continued)

Where q is greater than qmax , the structure is potentially unstable

and shall be redesigned
The following load case shall be used:
1.20 D + 1.20 Mech. + 0.50 LL

Eng. Abdellatef Radwan 3

 P-Delta Effects (Example)

A 15-story building has a steel special moment-resisting

frame (SMRF). The following information is given:
• Seismic Design Category D
• R = 8.5, Cd = 5.5, Ie =1.0
At the first story (h1 = 6.0 m ),
• ΣD = W = 38461 KN, ΣL = 17133 KN
• V1 = V = 0.042W = 1615.36 KN
• Ratio of shear demand to shear capacity
(b) Is permitted to be conservatively taken as 1.0.
In this example take = 0.80

Eng. Abdellatef Radwan 4

 P-Delta Effects (Example)
Continued

Deflection at level X=1 due to seismic base shear V (without

p-delta effect) d1e = 0.003 h1 = 0.018 m
Determine the following:
1. Initial design story drift D in the 1st story
2. P-delta criteria for the building
3. Check the 1st story for P-delta requirements
4. Final design story drift and story shear in the first story
5. Check for story drift compliance in the 1st story

Eng. Abdellatef Radwan 5

 P-Delta Effects (Example)
Continued

1. Initial design story drift D in the first story

At story X=1, the preliminary design story drift is

D = (dx – dx-1) = (d1 – d0) = (d1 – 0) = d1
d1 = Cd die / I = 5.5 (0.018)/1.0 = 0.1 m
Now: D = 0.1
2. P-delta criteria for the building
If stability coefficient q < 1.0, ignore P-delta effect

Eng. Abdellatef Radwan 6

 P-Delta Effects (Example)
Continued

3. Check P-delta requirements for the first story

ASCE7-10 sec 12.8.7, requires that the total vertical load P1 at the 1st
story be considered the total ∑D + ∑L above 1st story.
These loads are un-factored for determination of P-delta effect.
P1 = ∑D + ∑L = 38461+17133 = 55594 KN
For story X=1,

= (55594 * 0.1*1.0) / (1615.36*6*5.5)=0.104 > 0.10

P-delta effects must be considered

Check for q ≤ qmax using the given b = 0.80
qmax = 0.5/(b Cd) = 0.5/(0.8*5.5)=0.1136 < 0.25…. ok

Eng. Abdellatef Radwan 7

 P-Delta Effects (Example)
Continued

4. Final design story drift and story shear in first story

When q > 0.10, the initial design story drift and design story shear
must be augmented by the incremental factor ad related to P-delta
effects.
ad =[1/(1-q)]= 1/(1-.104) = 1.116
• The final design story drift in the 1st story is
D1 = ad D = (1.116)*0.10*1000 = 112 mm
• The final design story shear is
V1 = ad V1 = 1.116*1615.36 = 1802.74 KN

Eng. Abdellatef Radwan 8

 P-Delta Effects (Example)
Continued

5. Check for story drift compliance in the first story

Allowable story drift Dallow = 0.02 h1
Dallow = 0.02 (6.0*1000) = 120 mm
D1 = ad D = 112 mm < Dallow = 120 mm …. Ok

Eng. Abdellatef Radwan 9