Inelastic Stability Analysis for Framed Structures Subjected to Nonconservative Forces

Abstract

In this study, the inelastic system buckling analysis is developed to evaluate the buckling loads and the effective length factors for columns in steel frames subjected to nonconservative forces. For this purpose, the finite element model for the nonconservative system is presented based on an extended Hamilton principle. The traditional elastic and inelastic stability analyses are briefly introduced for the conservative systems. Then evaluation procedure for the critical value of buckling load and its corresponding effective length factor for the nonconservative system are proposed based on the inelastic system buckling approach. In numerical examples, the buckling loads and the effective length factors for the inelastic conservative or nonconservative steel frames are evaluated and compared with results by other researchers. Particularly, the effects of various parameters such as the nonconservativeness parameter, the stiffness and span ratios of beam to column of frames on the inelastic stability behavior of nonconservative systems are newly addressed.