Buckling behaviour of thin-walled columns

This paper describes the interactive buckling behaviour of thin-walled columns by means of a simple engineering analysis. After a brief review of individual column and plate buckling phenomena, the effect of one upon the other is investigated in the presence of initial imperfections. Estimates of the ultimate load capacity of such columns and the effects of material yielding are obtained. The results are compared with published experimental data, yielding good correspondence. The work clearly demonstrates that the interactive presence of Euler buckling, plate buckling, imperfections, and material yielding in thin-walled columns has a serious detrimental effect on their ultimate strength. Key words: buckling, stability, interaction, imperfections, yield, plates, columns, thin-walled, cold-formed, steel, experiments.