Enhanced generalised beam theory buckling formulation to handle transverse load application effects

This work deals with the development, finite element implementation and application of a generalised beam theory (GBT) formulation intended to analyse the localised, local, distortional and global buckling behaviour of thin-walled steel beams and frames subjected to transverse loads applied at various member cross-section points (away from its shear centre). In order to take into account the effects stemming from the transverse load position, the GBT buckling formulation must incorporate geometrical stiffness terms stemming from either (i) the internal work of the pre-buckling transversal normal stresses (“exact” formulation) or (ii) the external work of the applied transverse loads (approximate/simplified formulation). After presenting the main concepts and procedures involved in the development of the above “exact” and simplified formulations, the paper addresses the corresponding numerical implementations. Then, in order to illustrate their application and capabilities, as well as the limitations of the simplified formulation, various numerical result sets are presented and discussed. The accuracy of the GBT-based results is assessed through the comparison with “exact” values, yielded by rigorous shell finite element analyses carried out in the code Ansys.