Inelastic Buckling Tests on Beam‐Columns

Abstract

A finite element method for predicting the inelastic lateral buckling loads of continuous steel beam‐columns is described. A series of tests on three‐span continuous beam‐columns reported elsewhere is studied using the finite element method. The study firstly considers the effects of load shedding and plasticity in the test frame of which the beam‐columns form a part, followed by an analysis of the inelastic lateral buckling of the beam‐columns documented in the experimental study. It is demonstrated that there is extremely good correlation between theory and experiment, suggesting that the finite element method can be used with confidence to study the inelastic lateral buckling of continuous beam‐columns when the effects of elastic restraints and load shedding are present.