• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.295-308
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• 2012

This paper experimentally investigated the buckling capacity of built-up steel columns mainly, Cruciform Columns (CC) and Side-to-Side (SS) columns fabricated from two Universal Beam (UB) sections. A series of nine experimental tests comprised of three UB sections, three CC sections and three SS sections with different lengths were tested to failure to measure the ultimate axial capacity of each column section. The lengths used for each category of columns were 1.8, 2.0, and 2.2 m with slenderness ratios ranging from 39-105. The measured buckling loads of the tested specimens were compared with the predicted ultimate axial capacity using Eurocode 3, AISC LRFD, and BS 5959-1. It was observed that the failure modes of the specimens included flexural buckling, local buckling and flexural-torsional buckling. The results showed that the ultimate axial capacity of the tested cruciform and side-by-side columns were higher than the code predicted design values by up to 20%, with AISC LRFD design values being the least conservative and the Eurocode 3 design values being the most conservative. This study has concluded that cruciform column and side-to-side welded flange columns using universal beam sections are efficient built-up sections that have larger ultimate axial load capacity, larger stiffness with saving in the weight of steel used compared to its equivalent universal beam counterpart.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.261-275
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• 2003

Truss members built-up with double angles back-to-back have monosymmetric cross-section and twisting always accompanies flexion upon the onset of buckling about the axis of symmetry. Approximate formulae for calculating the buckling capacity are presented in this paper for routine design purpose. For a member susceptible only to flexural buckling, its optimal cross-section should consist of slender plate elements so as to get larger radius of gyration. But, occurrence of twisting changes the situation owing to the weakness of thin plates in resisting torsion. Criteria for limiting the leg slenderness are discussed herein. Truss web members in compression are usually considered as hinged at both ends for out-of-plane buckling. In case one (or both) end of member is not supported laterally by bracing member, its adjoining members have to provide an elastic support of adequate stiffness in order not to underdesign the member. The stiffness provided by either compression or tension chords in different cases is analyzed, and the effect of initial crookedness of compression chord is taken into account. Formulae are presented to compute the required stiffness of chord member and to determine the effective length factor for inadequately constrained compressive diagonals.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.171-188
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• 2020

The past research on cold-formed steel (CFS) flexural members have proved that rectangular hollow flanged sections perform better than conventional I-sections due to their higher torsional rigidity over the later ones. However, CFS members are vulnerable to local buckling, substantially due to their thin-walled features. The use of packing, such as firmly connected timber planks, to the flanges of conventional CFS lipped I-sections can drastically improve their flexural performance as well as structural efficiency. Whilst several CFS composites have been developed so far, only limited packing materials have been tried. This paper presents a series of tests carried out on different rectangular hollow compression flanged sections with innovative packing materials. Four-point flexural tests were carried out to assess the flexural capacity, failure modes and deformed shapes of the CFS composite beam specimens. The geometric imperfections were measured and reported. The North American Specifications and Indian Standard for cold-formed steel structures were used to compare the design strengths of the experimental specimen. The test results indicate clearly that CFS rectangular 'compression' flanged composite beams perform significantly better than the conventional rectangular hollow flanged CFS sections.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.305-325
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• 1998

A method that determines the minimum stiffness of baracing to achieve non-sway buckling conditions at a given story level of a multi-column elastic frame is proposed. Condensed equations that evaluate the required minimum stiffness of the lateral and torsional bracing are derived using the classical stability functions. The proposed method is applicable to elastic framed structures with rigid, semirigid, and simple connections. It is shown that the minimum stiffness of the bracing required by a multi-column system depends on: 1) the plan layout of the columns; 2) the variation in height and cross sectional properties among the columns; 3) the applied axial load pattern on the columns; 4) the lack of symmetry in the loading pattern, column layout, column sizes and heights that cause torsion-sway and its effects on the flexural bucking capacity; and 5) the flexural and torsional end restrains of the columns. The proposed method is limited to elastic framed structures with columns of doubly symmetrical cross section with their principal axes parallel to the global axes. However, it can be applied to inelastic structures when the nonlinear behavior is concentrated at the end connections. The effects of axial deformations in beams and columns are neglected. Three examples are presented in detail to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.389-402
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• 2008

In December 2005, one(A) of the two pre-engineered warehouse buildings in the port of K City of Korea was completely destroyed and the other(B) was seriously damaged to be demolished. Over-loaded snow and unexpected blast of wind were the causes of the accident and destructive behavior was brittle fracture caused by web local buckling and lateral torsional buckling at the flange below rafter. However, the architectural design technology of today based on material non-linear method does not consider the tolerances to solve the problem of such brittle fracture. So, geometric non-linear evaluation which includes initial deformation, width-thickness ratio, web stiffener and unbraced length is required. This study evaluates the structural safety of 4 models in terms of width-thickness ratio and unbraced length using ANSYS 9.0 with parameters such as width-thickness ratio of web, existence/non-existence of stiffener and unbraced length. The purpose of this study is to analyze destructive mechanism of the above-mentioned two warehouse buildings and to provide ways to promote the safety of pre-engineered buildings.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.383-394
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• 2013

Cold-formed profiles have been largely used in the building industry because they can be easily produced and because they allow for a wide range of sections and thus can be utilized to meet different project requirements. Attainment of maximum performance by structural elements with low use of material is a challenge for engineering projects. This paper presents a numerical study aimed at minimizing the weight of lipped and unlipped cold-formed channel columns, following the AISI 2007 specification. Flexural, torsional and torsional-flexural buckling of columns was considered as constraints. The simulated annealing method was used for optimization. Several numerical simulations are presented and discussed to validate the proposal, in addition to an experimental example that qualifies its implementation. The ratios between lips, web width, and flange width are analyzed. Finally, it may be concluded that the optimization process yields excellent results in terms of cross-sectional area reduction.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.401-415
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• 2006

Based on a non-linear model taking into account flexural-torsional couplings, analytical solutions are derived for lateral buckling of simply supported I beams under some representative load cases. A closed form is established for lateral buckling moments. It accounts for bending distribution, load height application and pre-buckling deflections. Coefficients $C_1$ and $C_2$ affected to these parameters are then derived. Regard to well known linear stability solutions, these coefficients are not constant but depend on another coefficient $k_1$ that represents the pre-buckling deflection effects. In numerical simulations, shell elements are used in mesh process. The buckling loads are achieved from solutions of eigenvalue problem and by bifurcations observed on non linear equilibrium paths. It is proved that both the buckling loads derived from linear stability and eigenvalue problem lead to poor results, especially for I sections with large flanges for which the behaviour is predominated by pre-buckling deflection and the coefficient $k_1$ is large. The proposed solutions are in good agreement with numerical bifurcations observed on non linear equilibrium paths.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.161-172
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• 1998

Reinforced concrete beams possess variable flexural and torsional stiffnesses due to formation of cracks in the tension area along the beam. In order to check the stability of the beam, it is thus more appropriate to divide the beam into a finite number of segments for which mean stiffnesses and also bending moments are calculated. The stability analysis is further simplified, by using these mean values for each segment. In this paper, an algorithm for calculating the critical lateral buckling slenderness ratio for a definite load level, in a reinforced concrete beam without lateral support at the flanges, is presented. By using this ratio, the lateral buckling safety level of a slender beam may be checked or estimated.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.71-89
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• 2012

The paper investigates beam lateral buckling stability according to linear and non-linear models. Closed form solutions for single-symmetric cross sections are first derived according to a non-linear model considering flexural-torsional coupling and pre-buckling deformation effects. The closed form solutions are compared to a beam finite element developed in large torsion. Effects of pre-buckling deflection and gradient moment on beam stability are not well known in the literature. The strength of singly symmetric I-beams under gradient moments is particularly investigated. Beams with T and I cross-sections are considered in the study. It is concluded that pre-buckling deflections effects are important for I-section with large flanges and analytical solutions are possible. For beams with T-sections, lateral buckling resistance depends not only on pre-buckling deflection but also on cross section shape, load distribution and buckling modes. Effects of pre-buckling deflections are important only when the largest flange is under compressive stresses and positive gradient moments. For negative gradient moments, all available solutions fail and overestimate the beam strength. Numerical solutions are more powerful. Other load cases are investigated as the stability of continuous beams. Under arbitrary loads, all available solutions fail, and recourse to finite element simulation is more efficient.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.53-60
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• 2008

The cross-sections of continuous multi-span beams sometimes suddenly increase, or become stepped, at the interior supports of continuous beams to resist high negative moments. The three-dimensional finite-element program ABAQUS (2007) was used to analytically investigate the inelastic lateral-torsional buckling behavior of stepped beams subjected to linear moment gradient and resulted in the development of design equations. The ratios of the flange thickness, flange width, and stepped length of beam are considered for the analytical parameters. Two groups of 27 cases and 36 cases, respectively, were analyzed for doubly and singly stepped beams in the inelastic buckling range. The combined effects of residual stresses and geometrical imperfection on inelastic lateral-torsional buckling of beams are considered. First, the distributions of residual stress of the cross-section is same as shown in Pi and Trahair (1995), and the initial geometric imperfection of the beam is set by central displacement equal to 0.1% of the unbraced length of beam. The new proposed equations definitely improve current design methods for the inelastic lateral-torsional buckling problem and increase efficiency in building and bridge design.