Does a W14x311 steel beam for a 5 story building sound right?

Question

Im trying to design a 5 story steel frame building for a project at school and I am using SAP 2000 v.11 to help me with the steel design. And SAP seems to prefer a W14x311 for all my beams, columns, braces and secondary beams. I need help!

Answer 1

Unless you are designing for extraordinarily long clear spans in a moment frame building along a seismic fault line, I'd say you have some serious errors in the structural model. (even then, it still doesn't sound right.) Check your set design defaults, load units (make sure there in kips per foot and not kips per inch), flange bracing settings, etc.

Answer 2

Sounds like something is very wrong, 311 pounds per foot for a secondary beam sounds kind of big, and it makes little sence for every thing to be the same size, perhaps the data base of available shapes is damaged? (I'm not familiar with the software you are using so I'm guessing there)

Also, the 9th edition of ASD says that that shape would be "generally contemplated for for application as columns or compression components"

if a horizontal member is that heavy you really should consider a deeper section.