On the local and global buckling behaviour of angle, T-section and cruciform thin-walled members

• Published in: Thin-walled structures 2010-10, Vol.48 (10), p.786-797
• Main Authors: Dinis, Pedro B., Camotim, Dinar, Silvestre, Nuno
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angle members; Beam-columns; Beams (structural); Buckling; Buckling analysis; Cross sections; Cruciform members; Deformation resistance; Economics; Exact sciences and technology; Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...); Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Generalised Beam Theory (GBT); Local buckling; Physics; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Structural steels; T-section members; Thin walled; Thin-walled members; Torsion; Torsional or flexural–torsional buckling
• ISSN: 0263-8231; 1879-3223
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tws.2010.04.012

This paper reports the results of an investigation aimed at providing fresh insight on the mechanics underlying the local and global buckling behaviour of angle, T-section and cruciform thin-walled steel members (columns, beams and beam-columns). Due to the lack of primary warping resistance, members displaying these cross-section shapes possess a minute torsional stiffness and, therefore, are highly susceptible to buckling phenomena involving torsion – moreover, it is often hard to distinguish between torsion and local deformations. Almost all the numerical results presented are obtained by means of Generalised Beam Theory (GBT) analyses and, taking advantage of its unique modal features, it is possible to shed some new light on how to characterise and/or distinguish the local and global buckling modes of the above thin-walled members. Finally, some comments are made concerning the development of a rational and efficient (safe and economic) approach for their design.