Live Load Reduction Clarification/Question

[jrw501]

Hello,

I have a quick question regarding live load reductions for columns. The question is similar to the one found here:

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=142628

but I'm not sure I understand what JAE says and I just want to make sure I'm applying this correctly. For a typical multistory building we will have some number of columns, each supporting a higher tributary area than the column above and therefore having a higher reduction (to a maximum of 60% reduced -- 0.4Lo). With some arbitrary numbers, say we have 3 columns and have 0.6Lo, 0.5Lo, 0.4Lo is what we end up with based on TA, if we are designing the base column, do we use 0.4Lo on each floor above as well or the distribution above (0.6, 0.5, 0.4).

Thanks in advance.

 

[msquared48]

0.4 on each floor above.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[jrw501]

Thanks, that's what my impression was, but I just wanted to ensure I wasn't lowballing the capacity requirements.

 

[JAE]

I would agree with Mike.