The Local Collapse of Elastic Thin Walled Columns

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A theoretical and experimental investigation of the local collapse of elastic thin walled columns is described. For computational economy, the well-known finite strip stiffness method is employed in the theoretical investigation. Modifications to account for nonlinearity while retaining compatibility at the corners of columns, are discussed. It is shown that elastic limit states can only be predicted if an extra nonlinear term is included in the strain-displacement relations, this being the transverse in-plane term in the expression for axial strain. The analysis of thin walled square section columns is then described with attention given to the requirements for obtaining solutions of adequate accuracy. The problem of satisfactorily defining in-plane equilibrium is discussed in detail. The theory is found to predict that the ratio of the maximum mean stress to the critical stress in the columns is linearly related to the breadth to thickness ratio of the walls. A series of tests on silicone rubber columns is described. It is shown that there is satisfactory agreement between theoretical and actual column behavior.

This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit: