New method of inelastic buckling analysis for steel frames

Abstract

In general, the concept of bifurcation stability cannot be used to evaluate the critical load of typical steel frames that have geometric imperfections and primary bending moment due to transverse loads. These cases require a plastic zone or plastic hinge analysis based on the concept of limit-load stability instead. However, such analyses require large computation times and complicated theories that are unsuitable for practical designs. The present paper proposes a new method of inelastic buckling analysis in order to determine the critical load of steel frames. This inelastic analysis is based on the concept of modified bifurcation stability using a tangent modulus approach and the column strength curve. Criteria for an iterative eigenvalue analysis are proposed in order to consider the primary bending moment as well as the axial force by using the interaction equation for beam–column members. The validity and applicability of the proposed inelastic buckling analysis were evaluated alongside elastic buckling analysis and refined plastic hinge analysis. Simple columns with geometric imperfections and a four-story plane frame were analyzed as benchmark problems. The results show that the proposed inelastic buckling analysis suitably evaluates the critical load and failure modes of steel frames, and can be a good alternative for the evaluation of critical load in the design of steel frames.