Seond-order analysis and design of steel structures allowing for member and frame imperfections

J. X. Gu andS. L. Chan

Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

Received 29 November 2002; Revised 23 March 2004; Accepted 3 June 2004

ABSTRACT:

Conventional linear analysis is deficient in handling the design of slender frames since the effective length and other non-linear effects are difficult to assess accurately. Some proposed non-linear analyses cannot be directly employed for practical design since they are unable to re-produce the buckling curves of the basic structural element, a simple column under axial force, by a single element per member. This paper describes an advanced element, using the same physical significance as the advanced and second-order analysis proposed by a number of researchers and the BS5950(2000) and AS4100 (1995), for practical design of slender steel frames. The proposed element captures the physical behaviour of a structural member that the buckling strength of the member can be predicted using a single element per member and without assuming any effective length.

Keywords:

advanced analysis; structural design; beam column; tangent stiffness matrix; geometric non-linearity; steel frame