Behavior and Design of Thin‐Walled Columns

Abstract

Features of the phenomenon of interactive buckling of thin‐walled columns are briefly reviewed. The theoretical results are compared with the recent test results from University of Sydney and earlier results from Cornell University. The agreement is very good indeed. The role of imperfections in producing scatter in the prediction of the ultimate capacity of the columns is illustrated. Design procedures, one developed at Cornell University in the seventies and the other recommended by the new American Iron and Steel Institute Code, are examined in the light of the new results. In order to account for the interaction of plate elements, it is suggested that exact local critical stress be used in the effective width formula. To obtain a reliable and safe estimate of the column strength, it is proposed that the collapse load given by the design methods be multiplied by an appropriate factor. This factor must be a function of the key parameters governing the problem. A statistically derived expression for this factor is also suggested.