A unified energy formulation for the stability analysis of open and closed thin-walled members in the framework of the generalized beam theory

Abstract

Generalized beam theory—GBT—is among the most adequate tools for the analysis of thin-walled prismatic elements. It enables the analysis of the distortion of the element cross-section and local buckling of individual walls in a unified manner that incorporates the results from classical bending theory. The basis of this theory was developed in the 1960s by Schardt for first and second order elastic behaviour of thin-walled members. Open and closed thin-walled members present the distinctive difference of the unknown shear flow that characterizes the latter. More specifically, shear strains must follow an elasticity law, as opposed to the simplifying assumptions for open cross-sections. It is the purpose of the present paper to present a unified energy formulation for the non-linear analysis of both open and closed sections in the framework of GBT, able to deal with all modal interaction phenomena between local plate behaviour, distortional behaviour and the more classical global (flexural, torsional and flexural–torsional) response. Finally, an application to the stability analysis of a compressed thin-walled column is presented and discussed.