Buckling and initial post-buckling behavior of thin-walled I columns

Abstract

The behavior of axially compressed thin-walled I columns after torsional buckling is discussed. At first the state of strain in a column subjected to a large angle of twist is outlined. The considerations are based on the following assumptions: (1) cross section is non-deformable in its own plane, (2) shear deformation is negligible, and (3) strains are small and elastic. The initial post-buckling equilibrium paths are determined by utilizing a perturbation approach. The finite-element and analytical procedure is presented. It has been shown that the point of bifurcation for simply supported, or clamped I column with constant cross section is symmetric and stable. Two examples of I columns of variable cross section are also considered. It is worthwhile noticing that in these examples the critical loads are beyond the limits described by the critical force for column with the minimum and the maximum cross section. The points of bifurcation in these cases are also symmetric and stable. This property of the bifurcation point is very important with regard to the sensitivity to the initial geometrical imperfections. In the case of the unstable point of bifurcation a drastic decrease of the value of the critical loads is possible, which does not hold for stable point.