maximum slenderness for aluminum columns

[wdw1234]

Hello
I do not have copy of the Aluminum Design Manual (as per IBC reference) but have design manuals from Alcan "Strength of Aluminum" and the Canadian Design Code CAN3-S157-M83(R2000) but cannot locate a US design code maximum slenderness value for aluminum columns. The Canadian code states a limit of 120. I recognize the diminishing Fc for slenderness ranges B to C, with Eulers following beyond C but cannot locate a code reference to a maximum.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Warren Willows
Vancouver BC
Canada

 

[PXC]

There may not be a code maximum. The current Australian Steel design code has no upper limit whereas the old steel code had a limit of 180.

In practice, I dont like the look of skinny columns, and I dont like designing columns to their limit. One reason for this is that in the material handling industry, clients have a habit of changing the design criteria/loads mid-design.

I also recall designing a column to the limit as a young engineer and everyone who saw it got worried!

Its good to be able to sleep at night without worrying about a column being too skinny.

 

[flamby]

For an interesting discussion see
thread723-60590