A model for the analysis of elasto-plastic buckling of compressed columns

Abstract

Modern structures often use new technology materials as special high-strength steels. This is one of the reasons why cross-sections of structural members are smaller and structures are lighter than those built fifty years ago. Besides, there are new calculation methods that try to optimize material use and save money. Engineers today are faced with new challenges in terms of the design and construction process. Structures are often very slender and can be prone to loss of structural stability. The most common example of such a slender element is column. They are often subject to compression loading so stability can be a significant factor in element design. To build safe structures with optimized material use, it’s very important to have a clear picture of element behavior in the pre-buckling and post-buckling phases. The nonlinear analysis could be very complex even for simple structures and because of that, different software is to be used for such tasks. In this paper, a simplified analytical model for the analysis of elasto-plastic buckling of compressed columns is illustrated.