Effect of Lateral Restraint on Buckling Behaviour of a Thin-Walled Z-Section Column

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to interpret the effect of lateral restraint on buckling behaviour of a Z-cross section column subjected to pure axial load. Adequate analytical solutions are compared with the numerical and experimental results obtained for specimens both laterally free and those restrained by trapezoidal steel sheeting. Compared to the unrestrained column, a large relative increase of critical loads is detected. Therefore, further optimization of such structural elements is possible.