Com,m/m & Soucrures Vol. 56, No. I, pp. I57- 176.

1995
00457949(94)00545-l
Copyright 1: 1995 Elsevier Sctence Ltd
Printed in Great Britain. All rights reserved
0045.7949/95 $9.50 + 0.M)
COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF THIN-WALLED
STRUCTURAL MEMBERS
J. P. Papangelis and G. J. Hancock
Centre for Advanced Structural Engineering, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
(Received 24 J anuary 1994)
Abstract-The calculation of the stresses and failure modes in thin-walled structural members is a complex
procedure. Structural designers will often need help in analysing these types of structures. A vehicle for
providing this help is the computer program developed for the microcomputer. In this paper, a computer
procedure is described for the cross-section analysis and elastic buckling analysis of thin-walled structural
members. The cross-section analysis calculates the section properties, warping displacements, and the
longitudinal and shear stresses for thin-walled open and closed cross-sections of any shape. The
longitudinal stresses are used to perform an elastic finite strip buckling analysis of thin-walled structural
members. The analysis can be done for a number of different buckle half-wavelengths of the member and
the load factor and buckled shape are output for each length. The analysis is performed by the
user-friendly computer program THIN-WALL, which is also described in the paper.
1. I NTRODUCTI ON
Thin-walled structures can be used in a wide variety
of different applications in structural engineering.
Thin-walled structural systems include box and plate
girder bridges, roof sheeting, floor decking, and
frame structures such as houses, portal frame build-
ings and storage racks. Thin-walled sections are
composed of very slender plates and have modes of
failure and deformation which are usually quite
different from those of standard hot-rolled sections.
In addition, the stresses and failure modes in thin-
walled sections can be quite complex to predict.
Structural designers will often need help in the analy-
sis of thin-walled structures. A vehicle for providing
this help is the computer program developed for the
microcomputer. In this paper, a computer procedure
and program are described for the cross-section
analysis and elastic buckling analysis of thin-walied
structural members.
In order to use thin-walled structures efficiently, an
understanding of all the stresses caused by flexure and
torsion is required. The calculation of longitudinal
stresses caused by flexure is straightforward for all
sections, although for general cross-sections the cal-
culation of the required section properties can be
tedious. However the calculation of the longitudinal
stresses caused by torsion and the shear stresses
caused by flexure and torsion is more difficult to carry
out and manual methods usually require simplifying
assumptions.
Because thin-walled structural members are com-
posed of very slender plates, they may fail by local or
distortional buckling of the cross-section. Local
buckling assumes that the line junctions between
intersecting plates remain straight, whereas distor-
sional buckling involves movement of the line
junction between intersecting plates without a rigid
body rotation or translation of the cross-section. The
finite strip method of buckling analysis is a very
efficient tool for investigating the buckling behaviour
of thin-walled members in bending and compression.
In this paper, a general matrix method for
analysing the section properties and stresses in thin-
walled cross-sections of any shape is presented. The
analysis calculates the section properties, warping
displacements, and the longitudinal and shear stresses
caused by flexure and torsion. Also presented is a
finite strip method of analysis which can be used to
study the local, distortional and flexural-torsional
modes of buckling of thin-walled structural members
under longitudinal stress.
The analysis is performed by the user-friendly
computer program THIN-WALL, which is also de-
scribed in the paper. This program gives the struc-
tural designer the ability to analyse thin-walled
sections of any shape quickly and efficiently. Included
in THIN-WALL is a user-friendly data processor for
the creation of data, and a post-processor which
shows the results graphically on the screen. An
example is used to illustrate the program.
2. CROSS-SECTI ON GEOMETRY
Before a computer analysis of a thin-walled section
can be commenced, the geometry of the cross-section
must be described to the computer. The method of
computer data input is similar to the data for a plane
structural framework being analysed on a computer.
To achieve this similarity, a thin-walled cross-section
should be divided into an assemblage of rectangular
elements, with the ends of the elements intersecting at
158
J. P. Papangelis and G. J. Hancock
Fig. 1. Pi-section
5
- Node numbers
nodes. For example, the subdivision of a section
(called a pi-section) is shown in Fig. I. It has been
subdivided into five elements and six nodes.
The coordinates of the nodes of the cross-section
based on an arbitrary axis system (X, Y) are input
with the identification number for each node. The
rectangular elements of the cross-section are input
together with the identification number of the con-
nected nodes. A number of different element types
can be defined, and the effective thicknesses and elastic
moduli in flexure and shear, and Poissons ratio for
each type are also input. Any elements which form a
closed loop must be included in the data for the
section. The element number in the loop is preceded by
a negative sign if the order of the node numbers which
define the ends of the element is opposite to that for
a clockwise traverse around a loop.
3. WARPI NG DI SPLACEMENTS
3.1. Sectorial coordinate for open sections
When a thin-walled member is twisted, points on
the cross-section move parallel to the longitudinal
Z-axis. This phenomenon is called warping. The
(Shear Centre)
7
C (Centroid)
x
Fig. 3. Shear flow along an element.
warping displacement w at a point in the cross-section
was derived by Vlasov [I] to be
d+
w = -Cq-
dz
(1)
where the term d+/dz is the angle of rotation 4 of the
cross-section per unit length commonly called the
twist. The sectorial coordinate a,, is the longitudinal
warping displacement resulting from unit negative
twist, and is defined by
an = a,,,, +
S
~0 ds (2)
0
where the arbitrary constant a,,, is usually derived so
that the integral of the warping pattern over the
whole cross-section is zero:
Fig. 2. Normalized unit warping pattern for pi-section
Computer analysis of thin-walled structural members 159
s
a,, dA = 0.
(3)
In addition, each element has an equation relating
A
the warping at each end to the twist of the section.
When this is achieved, the unit warping pattern is
This equation is derived from cqns (1) and (2) to be
d# L
ws -
WAC --
Pu ds. (5)
s
dz o
termed normalized. The normalized warping pattern
for the pi-section shown in Fg. 1 is shown in Fig. 2.
The term p0 in eqn (2) is the perpendicular distance
from the shear centre to the tangent to the centreline
of the cross-section of an element dy located a
Since rhis equation can be written for each element,
distance s along the centreline of the cross-section, as
then there are five element compatibility equations
shown in Fig. 3. The shear centre is defined as the
for the pi-section
point in the plane of the cross-section through which
the shear force must act if no twisting of the section
is to take place.
w-n. --YF
2 I -
dt
3.2. Computation of warping displacements of open
sections
The warping displacements at the ends of each
element are chosen as unknowns and hence the
number of simultaneous equations required to be
solved is twice the number of elements. For the
pi-section shown in Fig. 1. there arc five clcments and
hence 10 warping displacements to be determined.
The warping displacements at the adjoining ends of
elements connected to the same node are equal,
therefore node compatibility equations can be written
J+,J
4
_MSjZ _??!F
dz 2
w
6
-Us= -!!!F
da 3
(6)
)V* w, =
d?
dz 4
to define this condition. Since there is atways one less
equation of warping compatibility at a node than the
number of elements, then the pi-section shown in
Fig. 4 has the following four node compatibility
u =_!?F
L1,O - 19
dr7 5
equations
where
IL2 = W)
w> = I+-,
F/=
PO ds (7)
(4)
and L, is the length of element i.
Nine equations of warping compatibility have
been determined to solve for the unknown warping
Fig. 4. Warping of pi-section dissected into individual elements.
160 J. P. Papangelis and G. J. Hancock
(i) Geometry
6.3 f -2.7
(ii) Warping Pattern (2 = 1)
(a) Open Cross-Section
-0.67
: P
0.67
--I
0.67
I
-0.67
(i) Geometry
(ii) Warping Pattern ($ = 1)
(b) Closed Cross-Section
Fig. 5. Warping of an open and a closed section.
displacements. The tenth equation results from a
rigid body translation of the whole cross-section in
the direction of the warping displacements. Any value
of translation can be used, however the value gener-
ally used produces a normalized warping pattern. A
normalized warping pattern is one for which the
warping stresses derived using this pattern produce
no net axial force when integrated over the section.
The normalized equation derived from eqn (3) is
given by
+/I,( !y)+/4~~7,%)
+A, (8)
where A, is the area of element i.
The 10 equations can be represented
notation as
[C,,.]{w} = -F {F)
z
in matrix
(9)
where {w} is the vector of warping displacements at
the ends of the elements, [C,,] is the matrix of
coefficients for warping displacements and {F} is a
vector of geometric constants. If the vector {w>
divided by the scalar -d$ /dz is replaced by the
sectorial coordinate { c(,, ), then
{%I = [C,, I {Fi (10)
where
iw> = -g {F,). (11)
Computer analysis of thin-walled structural members 161
Equation (10) can be solved to determine the sectorial
coordinate at the ends of the elements.
3.3. Computation of warping displacements of closed
sections
Closed thin-walled sections, although similar to
open thin-walled sections in their flexural behaviour,
are distinctly different in their torsional behaviour.
The difference results mainly from the restraint to
warping provided by the closure of loops in the
cross-section to form boxes. As an example, a rec-
tangular cross-section has been drawn in Fig. 5. In
Fig. S(a)(i) it can be seen that there is a slit along the
centre of one side of the section and in Fig. S(b)(i) a
closed box section is formed. When subjected to a
twist, the open section warps significantly, as shown
in Fig. S(a)(ii). The warping pattern is derived by
integration of eqns (1) and (2) around the section to
give
(0 p
(iii) My
(iii) T,
d4 .
w, = wo - -
s
dz o
PO ds (12)
where w, is the warping displacement at a distance s
along the centreline of the section and w, is the
warping displacement at s = 0. It can be seen that the
difference in the warping displacements at the adja-
cent edges of the slit is very large.
The closed section however, has such a differential
warping displacement prevented since the slit does
not exist. Shear straining therefore takes place in the
elements of the box to compensate for the geometric
warping. This shear straining produces a shear flow
(SF) around the box. Shear flow is a term used to
describe the shear force per unit length acting along
an element of a cross-section as shown in Fig. 3. If
the warping resulting from the shear straining is
included in eqn (12), the equation for warping
becomes
(a) Longitudinal Stresses
(ii) M,
(iv) B
(ii) Vy
(iv) Tw
(b) Shear Stresses
Fig. 6. Stresses in a channel section.
162 J. P. Papangelis and G. J. Hancock
in which G is the shear modulus. Applying eqn (13)
around the whole box so that M,< = uaO yields
9 ds.
(14)
The area swept out by the radius vector p,, is equal
to twice the area of the loop, hence
(15)
where A, is the area of the loop of the box. Equation
(15) can be used to solve for the shear flow around
closed sections resulting from twist. This calculation
is described in Section 7. Once the shear flow has been
(9 p
(iii) M,,
(0 VI
determined, it is included in eqn (6) by modifying eqn
(7) as follows:
L, (SF)
s
L,
F, = p,, ds -
s

zds
d4
(16)
0
-
dz
Figure 5(b) (ii) shows the warping of the closed box
derived using eqns (13) and (15). It is clearly much
less than the warping of the open section and is
generally regarded as insignificant except for heavy
box beams. Consequently, restraint of warping in
closed sections normally produces very little increase
in torsional stiffness and so the bimoment and warp-
ing torque are generally taken as negligible for closed
sections. Sections with a combination of open and
closed parts may display significant warping in some
parts of the section. A recent example of this is the
hollow flange beam which is essentially an I-section
with tubular flanges.
la) Longitudinal Stresses
(ii) M,
(iv) B
(ii) Vv
(iii) Tu
Ib> Shear Stresses
Fig. 7. Stresses in a box section.
Computer analysis of thin-walled structural members
163
4. STRESSES I N THI N-WALLED SECTI ONS
4.1, Open sections
The longitudinal and shear stresses resulting from
flexure and torsion in a channel section are shown in
Fig. 6. The longitudinal stresses shown in Fig. 6(a)
result from the stress resultants of axial force P acting
through the centroid, bending moments M, and MJ
about the principal x and y axes, and the bimoment
B. These four stress resultants must be known if the
longitudinal stresses resulting from both flexure and
torsion are to be determined. If only those resulting
from flexure are required, such as for biaxial bending
of an untwisted section, the bimoment B may be
input as zero.
The shear flows and shear stresses shown for the
channel in Fig. 6(b) result from the stress resultants of
shear force V, and VT acting through the shear centre
in the directions of the principal x and y axes, the
Saint-Venant torque T, and the warping torque T,q
components of the total torque. The Saint-Venant
torque is the torque resisted by a thin-walled member
unrestrained against warping, while the warping
torque is produced by restrained warping of a twisted
section. The Saint-Venant torque produces no net
shear flow in an open cross-section but a distribution
of shear stresses in the plates as shown in Fig. 6(b)(iii).
These shear stresses can be integrated to give the total
Saint-Venant torque T,. The magnitude of the shear
stresses 2, caused by the Saint-Venant torque is great-
est at the surface of the plate and is given by
T, t
z,. = -
J
(17)
where I is the thickness of the plate element being
considered, and J is the torsion constant of the
section given by
J = 1 !$
in which b is the plate width.
\I Y
The four stress resultants of shear force and torque
must be known if the complete shear flow and shear
stress distribution is to be determined. However, if
the section remains untwisted, only the shear forces
need to be known to determine the shear flows. In
addition, if the section is subjected to uniform torsion
alone, the Saint-Venant torque TV is the total torque
(i.e. the warping torque is zero for uniform torsion)
and so the shear flow in the section can be calculated
from the shear forces alone.
4.2. Closed sections
The longitudinal and shear stresses resulting from
flexure and torsion in a box section are shown in
Fig. 7. The longitudinal stresses shown in Fig. 7(a)
result from the stress resultants of axial force P acting
through the centroid and bending moments M,
and M, about the principal x and y axes, and
the bimoment B. The longitudinal stresses due to
bimoment are usually small although in some special
cases, such as hollow flange beams, they may be
significant.
The shear flows shown in Fig. 7(b) result from the
stress resultants of shear force V,r and Vr acting
through the shear centre in the directions of the
principal x and y axes and the uniform torque T,.
Non-uniform torsion of closed sections may produce
shear flow in closed sections, in addition to the shear
flow in the closed loops resulting from uniform
torsion. However, the shear flow in closed sections
resulting from non-uniform torsion is not considered
in this paper.
5. LONGI TUDI NAL STRESSES
5.1. Axial force and bending moment
Based on the input data, summations can be taken
over the elements of the cross-section in order to find
the coordinates (X,, Y,) of the centroid C, the area of
the cross-section A, the principal axis directions a,
Fig. 8. Axis systems for cross-section.
164 J. P. Papangelis and G. J. Hancock
the principal second moments of area I, and !I
and the section moduli Z, and Z,. Figure 8 shows the
axis systems used for the calculations described
above.
By using these cross-section properties it is possible
to calculate the longitudinal stresses at any point
(x,y) in the cross-section resulting from an axial
force P applied through the centroid and bending
moments M, and MY applied about the principal axes
from
(19)
Since the coordinates of the nodes are known, the
stresses are generally calculated at these points.
5.2, Bimoment
Vlasov [l] defined the bimoment B as the product
of the longitudinal warping stressf;,, with the sectorial
co-ordinate c(, integrated over the area of the cross-
section as given by
B = _(,,a, dA.
(20)
The name bimoment results from the pair of equal
and opposite flange moments caused by restrained
warping of an I-section. The longitudinal warping
stress at a point in the cross-section can be calculated
from
_Nodc I
f = _E,?.
,I
dz2
(21)
Equation (21) is derived by multiplying the elastic
modulus E with the warping normal strain at a point
in the cross-section. The warping normal strain is
calculated by differentiation of the warping displace-
ment given by eqn (1) with respect to z. Substituting
eqn (21) into eqn (20) yields
B = -El,*
dz2
(22)
in which the warping section constant is given by
I,, =
s
a: dA.
(23)
A
Combining eqns (21) and (22) yields
Equation (24) allows the calculation of the longitudi-
nal stress distribution in a cross-section in which a
bimoment acts. Equation (24) can be written in
matrix notation as
@
Node 5
Node 3
SF,,
(25)
Node 6
Fig. 9. Unit length of pi-section (dissected to show shear forces at nodes)
Computer analysis of thin-walled structural members 165
where {f;,} is the vector of longitudinal warping
stresses, and {c(} is the vector of sectorial coordinates
obtained from eqn (IO). The longitudinal stresses
contained in {JV} can be added to the longitudinal
stresses calculated from eqn (19) to obtain the total
longitudinal stress at each node.
6. SHEAR STRESSES IN OPEN SECTI ONS
6.1. Shear flow in an element of a cross-section
If a cross-section is subjected to shear forces V, and
yV and a warping torque T,,., a distribution of shear
flows is set up along the elements of the cross-section.
In order to determine the shear flow distribution
throughout the whole cross-section, it is first necess-
ary to determine the shear flow distribution within
each element. The shear flow is derived by integrating
the differential equation of longitudinal equilibrium
(26)
with respect to s along the element shown in Fig. 3.
The value off is the longitudinal stress at the point
s along the element and is given by
(27)
wheref;,., is the warping stress at end A of the element
and can be derived from eqn (25). The result of the
integration of eqn (26) along the element is
SF,-!=,.,= KC,+ VyD,+T,,.E,
where
xt ds
D,= -f
s
L
yt ds
II 0
L 5
E,=-; t
[S s
L
p. ds ds + tlnA
II 0 0
s 1
t ds
0
Fig. 10. Closed pi-section.
(28)
(29)
Fig. 11. Strip subdivision of an I-section
6.2. Shear fiow in complete section
The shear flows can be determined for a given set
of applied shears and a torque at each end of each
element of the cross-section, as shown in Fig. 9.
This is analogous to determining the bending
moment at each end of a beam in a frame analysis.
It is sufficient to determine the shear flow at each
end of an element, however additional nodes can
be added if the shear flow is required at points
along elements. This increases the number of
elements. For the final number of elements chosen,
there are two unknown shear flows for each element
and hence the number of simultaneous equations
to be solved is twice the number of elements.
For example, the pi-section shown in Fig. 1 has
five elements and consequently 10 unknown shear
flows.
In order to set up the simuitaneous equa-
tions which are required to be solved for the
unknown shear flows, longitudinal equilibrium of
the
the
of
by
nodes and elements is considered. Since
pisection has six nodes, there are six equations
longitudinal equilibrium at the nodes given
-SF, =0
SF,-SF,-SF,=0
SF,-SF,-SF,=0
(30)
-SF,=0
-SF,=0
-SF,, = 0.
166 J. P. Papangelis and G. J. Hancock
X
Z
(a) In-Plane (Membrane) Displacements
Cubic
(b) Out-of-Plane (Flexural) Displacements
Fig. 12. Displacement fields of strip.
Computer analysis of thin-walled structural members 167
Similarly there are five elements and hence five longitudinal equilibrium for the additional element.
element equilibrium equations given by The final equation is not based on equilibrium but
uses eqn (15) for warping compatibility around the
-SF, + SF, = v,C, + V,.D, + T,,.E,
loop as follows.
Firstly,
-SF,+SF,= v,C,+ l(,Dz+ T,,E,
resistance
loops can
the torsion constant JL for the torsional
caused by shear flow around the closed
be defined by
-SF5+SF,= v,C,+ V,vDx+T,,.E, (31)
-SF, + SF, = V, C, + vv D, + T,,, E4
-SF, + SF,, = v,C, + v,.D, + T,<E,.
TL
JL=Gcj
dz
(33)
Hence there are 11 equations to solve for 10 un-
where TL is the torque carried by shear flows around
knowns. However, the eleventh equation is a linear
the loops. This torque is commonly called the
combination of the other 10 as a result of the overall
Bredt-Batho torque [2] and corresponds to uniform
longitudinal equilibrium of the section. The equation
torsion. Substituting eqn (33) into eqn (15) yields
of equilibrium at the last node is thus eliminated since
equilibrium is automatically satisfied at this node.
The 10 equations can be written in matrix notation as
yds +!TL.
(34)
L
G,IWJ = WI{ VT> (32) Equation (34) relates the shear flow around a closed
loop to the Bredt-Batho component of total torque.
in which {SF} is the vector of shear flows at the ends The shear flow at any point s along an element can
of the elements, [GP] is a matrix of constants C,, D,, be found from eqns (26) and (27) as
E, defined by eqn (29), [Cs,] is the matrix of co-
efficients of the shear flows in the linear equations,
and the vector {VT } contains V,, I$, T,..
SF=SF,-~~~~tds-~~~yrds
7. SHEAR STRESSES IN CLOSED SECTIONS
If the pi-section shown in Fig. 1 has an element
added between nodes 5 and 6 as shown in Fig. 10, the
section becomes a box-section in the form of a closed
T.
J
-2
I,, 0 t 0
[.I s
p0 ds ds + c(,~
s 1
t ds . (35)
0
pi-section. The addition of the extra element creates
two additional unknown shear flows and so two extra
Substituting eqn (35) into eqn (34) gives
equations are required to solve for these extra un-
knowns. Only one equation of longitudinal equi-
librium is available and this is the equation of
SF, L,
,$, +-=
V,G, + k,H, + T,K,
(36)
I
Fig. 13. Longitudinal stress distribution in a strip.
CAS 5611-L
168 J. P. Papangelis and G. J. Hancock
where n is the number of loop elements, and
xt ds ds
yt d.9 ds
(37)
K,= -+.
L
The + or - sign depends on the direction of
integration with respect to s relative to a clockwise
rotation around loop i. Further, the term containing
the warping torque T,, in eqn (35) has been deleted
when deriving eqn (361, since the warping torque has
been taken as zero for a closed section, and only the
torque TL due to shear flow around the loops is
considered.
The complete set of equations to be solved can be
expressed in matrix format as
[G,I{W = [GJl{ VT 1 (38)
where the vector {VT } now contains V,, V, and the
uniform torque which is the loop torque TL It can be
seen that three components of shear flow can be
determined from eqn (38). The shear flow component
due to the uniform torque can be substituted into eqn
(16) to solve for the warping displacements.
8. FINITE STRIP BUCKLING ANALYSIS
8.1. General
The finite strip method is a variant of the finite
element method. The finite strip method differs from
the finite element rnethod in the way a thin-walled
structure is subdivided for analysis, and the displace-
ment functions used to describe the deformations of
the elements or strips. In the finite strip method, the
thin-walled section, such as the I-section in Fig. 11,
is subdivided into longitudinal strips. The displace-
ment functions used to describe the variation in the
longitudinal direction are assumed to be harmonic
functions, whereas polynomial functions are used to
describe the variation in the transverse direction. The
finite strip method generally has an order of magni-
tude fewer equations to be solved for a given problem
than the finite element method.
The finite strip buckling analysis can be rep-
resented in matrix format by
[Kl{~) - Wl{D) = 0 (39)
where [K] and [G] are the stiffness and stability
matrices of the thin-walled structure and A is the load
factor against buckling under the initially assumed
applied stress used to assemble the matrix [Cl. The
values of /I for which the determinant of the co-
efficients of {D} in eqn (39) vanishes are called the
eigenvalues. The corresponding vaues of {D} are
called the eigenvectors, which are the buckling modes.
8.2. StifSness matrix
Two assumptions are required in the derivation of
the stiffness matrix for the analysis of thin-walled
sections by the finite strip method. The first is that the
plates behave according to some plate theory. The
second assumption concerns the displacement fields
used in the analysis of a strip. The plate theory and
displacement fields used in this paper are the same as
those presented by Cheung [3].
The displacement field in the plane of a strip
(membrane displacements) is shown in Fig. 12(a).
Fig. 14. Z-Beam geometry and restraints.
Computer analysis of thin-walled structural members 169
The deflected shape in the plane of the strip consists
of the component 6, in the x direction and the
component 6; in the z direction. The 6, component is
represented by a sine curve in the z direction and a
linear variation in the x direction. The 6: component
consists of a cosine curve in the z direction and a
linear variation in the x direction. The latter assump-
tion is equivalent to the engineering bending theory
assumption of plane strain, although shear straining
under a constant shear flow is included. The displace-
ment field normal to the plane of the strip is shown
in Fig. 12(b). The deflections S, normal to the plane
of the strip are assumed to be represented by a cubic
polynomial in the x direction and a sine curve in the
z direction.
The lines A, B, and A, B2 of the strip shown in Fig.
12 are called the nodal lines. The vector {D} in eqn
(39) contains the displacements in the x, y and z
directions and the rotations 8, about the z-axis of the
nodal lines. The displacements in the Cartesian direc-
tions and the rotations about the z-axis are assumed
to be compatible between adjoining strips along these
lines. The lines A, A, and B, B2 define the ends of a
strip. The displacements of the lines A, A, and B, B2
are limited by assuming a Fourier series displacement
function in the longitudinal direction.
The mathematical formulation of the displacement
functions used in this paper is presented in Ref. [4].
The stiffness matrix for the finite strip analysis of a
thin-walled section can be found in Ref. [3]. Alterna-
tively, a derivation of the stiffness matrix for a strip,
using orthotropic plate theory and the displacement
fields assumed herein, can be found in Ref. [4].
8.3. Stability matrix
The strip is subjected to an initial stress g that acts
in the z direction and varies linearly from 6, on nodal
line A, B, to rr2 on nodal line A, B2, as shown
in Fig. 13. The potential energy U resulting from
the longitudinal in-plane forces can be calculated
using
(40)
in which V is the volume, and
u =o,+(u,-u,) ;
0
1.6
201.4
X
(Dimensions in mm)
{a) Z-Section Purlin (b) Computer Model
Fig. 15. Z-Section geometry.
170 J. P. Papangelis and G. J. Hancock
where b is the width of the strip, and t is the nonlinear
component of the strain in the longitudinal direction
as derived by Novozhilov [5].
The method for the calculation of the stability
matrix from the potential energy given by eqn (40) is
set out in Ref. [3]. The stability matrix for flexural
displacements was first presented by Przemieniecki [6]
and the stability matrix for membrane displacements
was first developed by Plank and Wittrick [7]. The
matrices used in the analyses herein are based on the
same assumptions as those in Refs [6] and [7] and are
presented in Ref. [4].
8.4. Solution
In program THIN-WALL, the eigenvalue prob-
lem is solved by using the direct eigenvalue rou-
tine set out in Ref. [8]. The method involves
computation of the Sturm sequence count to isolate
each particular eigenvalue by bisection. The eigenvec-
tor corresponding to each particular value of 1.
is computed using four iterations of inverse
iteration.
8.5. Buckle half-wavelengths
The finite stiip buckling analysis does not dis-
tinguish between local, distortional or flexural-tor-
sional modes. However, for short wavelength
buckling modes such as local and distortional, where
multiple half-wavelengths occur within the length of
the thin-walled member, then the analysis applies to
one half-wavelength and the assumption of simply
supported ends is usually valid at the ends of the
half-wavelength being considered. Hence, the analy-
sis must normally be repeated over a range of lengths
corresponding to buckle half-wavelengths, especially
for short wavelength buckling modes such as local
and distortional.
9. PROGRAM THIN-WALL
9.1. Introduction
THIN-WALL [9] is a user friendly computer pro-
gram for calculating the section properties and
stresses in thin-walled cross-sections of general
geometry. The input data for the program includes
the geometry of the cross-section and the stress-resul-
tants acting at the cross-section. The program calcu-
lates the section properties, sectorial coordinate, and
the longitudinal and shear stresses for the cross-
section.
THIN-WALL can also perform an elastic finite
strip buckling analysis of thin-walled structures sub-
jected to longitudinal stress. The structure being
analysed may be a folded plate system, a stiffened
plate or a thin-walled structural member, but it must
be uniform in thickness in the longitudinal direction
TH I N-WALL - Crosssection analysis and finiie ship budding ;
STANDARD SECTIONS
,
latysis
Fig. 16. Standard sections menu
Computer analysis of thin-walled structural members 171
. -TtiIN-WALL- Cross-sectibn analysis and finite strip buckling analysis : 1
.L;
.ZED: .
L ,
_ _ 9 ci
~,(..&
,_ .,:;:
B ,,ODES mHu,u *. I
Z-SECTION IN BENDING
node
no
Y restraints (l-free, Q:fixed)
long
QX 6Y 62 02 stress
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
-77.4
-76.9585
-75.7E122
-73.81956
-71.6
-55.15
-38.7
-22.25881
-5.8
86.5 1 1 1 1
94.9 1 1 1 1
97.11957 1 1 1 1
99.00122 1 1 1 1
180.2585 1 1 1 1
100.7 1 1 1 1
10B .7 1 1 1 1
MB.7 1 1 1 1
188.7 1 1 1 1
180.7 1 1 1 1
and simply supported at its ends. The longitudinal can be done for a number of different buckle half-
edges may be simply supported, clamped or free wavelengths of the structure and the load factor and
Fig. 17. Node data input.
along the full length of the plate system. The analysis buckled shape are output for each length.
PR IMMY DATA
SECTION PROPERTIES NODE DATA
ELEMENT DATA
ELEMENT PROPERTIES
A = 591.05 xc = -1.1715 CLOSED LOOP DhTA
Yc q 1.363 STRESS RESULTFlNTS
Ix = 3748780 2x = 36729 HALF-WAUELENGTHS
Iy = 657050 Zy = 8619.4 px = -17.586
py = -17.189 WC1RP ING
Ixy = -11604ElO LONG STRESS
xo = 2.2624 SHEAR FLOW
Ix = 41357m 2x = 34887 yo = 8.2955 BUCKLING MODE
Iy = 269990 Zy = 5950.5 GRAPHICS
a q 18.447
J = 504.37
Iw = 4.5157E+09
UNIUERSITY OF SYDNEY CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Fig. 18. Section properties
172 J. P. Papangelis and G. J. Hancock
ZED
TH I N-WALL - Crosssection analysis and finite strip buckling analysis
: Z-SECTI ON I N BENDI NG
I
SECTORIfiL COORDINATE
SECTION
NODES
ELENENTS
TYPES
CLOSED LOOPS
WARPING
LONG STRESS
SHEAR FLOW
BUCKLED SHAPE
GRAPH
AXES
UNIUERSITY OF SYDNEY CENTRE FOR FlDUANCED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Fig. 19. Warping pattern.
9.2. Data input section or for the modification of data for
an existing section. Help screens provide
In THIN-WALL a user-friendly data processor advice concerning the nature of the data re-
can be used for the creation of data for a new quired, and a facility exists for the automatic
THIN-WALL - Cross-section analysii and finite strip bucking anatysis
ZED Z-SECTI ON I N BENDI NG
I
1 SECTION
NODES
ELENENTS
TYPES
CLOSED LOOPS
WARPING
LONG STRESS
SHEAR FLOW
BUCKLED SHAPE
tlax stress = 274.05 at node 22
flin stress =-266.8 at node 10
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY CENTRE FOR ADUANCED STRUCTURFlL ENGINEERING
Fig. 20. Longitudinal stress distribution
Computer analysis of thin-walled structural members 173
TH I N-WALL - Cross-section atklysid&dinite strip btidditig analysis
;_
ED ~-~E~~~INBENDING 2:
I
I
TYPES
CLOSED LOOPS
WARPING
BUCKLED SHAPE
GRAPH
Load factor = 1.248 Mode = 1 Half-wauelength = l&M AXES
UNIUERSITY OF SYDNEY CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Fig. 21. Buckling mode for L = 100 mm.
generation of the node and element numbers for 9.3. Analysis
many standard sections. The data can easily THIN-WALL is based on the cross-section analy-
be checked by drawing the section on the sis described in Sections 3, 5-7, and on the finite strip
screen. buckling analysis described in Section 8.
LONG STRESS
1 SHEAR FLOW
Load factor = -8769 Node = 1 Half-uauelength = 660 AXES
UNIUERSITY OF SYDNEY CENTRE FOR ADUANCED STRUCTURRL ENGINEERING
Fig. 22. Buckling mode for L = 600 mm.
174 J. P. Papangelis and G. J. Hancock
9.4. Results
THIN-WALL can display all the data and results
on the screen in tabular or graphic format. The data
and results can also be written to output files. The
graphics results include plots of sectorial coordinate,
longitudinal and shear stress distribution, and the
buckled shape. A plot of maximum buckling stress vs
buckle half-wavelength can also be shown.
10. EXAMPLE
10.1. Data
The beam shown in Fig. 14 was analysed to
determine the stress resultants at the central cross-
section. The span of the beam is 6 m with two 5 kN
loads acting down at the third points. Lateral re-
straints exist at the load points and these are located
at the centroid of the section. At the ends, lateral and
torsional restraint is provided, and the beam is simply
supported for bending in the plane of the web which
is the plane of loading. It is assumed that the load is
applied in the plane of the shear centre and hence no
torque is applied to the beam. In practice, a lateral
and torsional restraint should be applied at each load
point to prevent twisting of the section if the load
becomes eccentric from the shear centre.
The section of the beam is a Z-section whose
geometry is shown in Fig. 15(a). The section has been
sub-divided into 30 elements (strips), as shown in
Fig. 15(b). Each flat plate consists of four elements,
and the corner radii have been approximated by four
flat elements. The node coordinates were generated
by choosing the Z-section from the list of standard
sections shown in Fig. 16. Figure 17 shows the screen
for node data input for the Z-section with the
automatically generated node coordinates included.
The beam was analysed using a matrix displace-
ment analysis of frames composed of thin-walled
members described in Ref. [IO]. The analysis pro-
duced the following stress resultants
P=O
MY= -10.5 x 1ONmm
M, =0.238 x 1ONmm
B=O
V,= -119N
v> = -5240N
T,, = 0
T,v = 0.
10.2. Cross-section analysis
The section properties of the Z-section from the
cross-section analysis are shown in Fig. 18, where /3,
and /$ are monosymmetry parameters, and x0 and .yO
are the coordinates of the shear centre with respect to
TH I N-WALL - Crosssection anaiysii and linite ship bucfding analysis
s
ZED Z-SECTION PJ BENDING
TYPES
I
CLOSED LOOPS
SHEAR FLOW
BUCKLED SHfiPE
GRAPH
Load factor = .124 Node = 1 Half-uauelenyth = BOOI
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY CENTRE FOR ADUANCED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Fig. 23. Buckling mode for L = 8000 mm.
Computer analysis of thin-walled structural members
175
tMx1nun
STRESS
IN
SECTION
AT
BUCKLING
1
-r-
:.
,..
. .
I ,
: :
:
:
,...I...:__
i :
.i...i..
:
._..i._.i..
: :
: .:..
.i...:,,
:
.: ..I._
:
!.i .:
: :
\
: :
. . ..y...
. .
: : ::
: : :.
:..:..:.I
: :
i ::
. . . . . . . . .
: : ::
-ii
: : ::
..: .._
: : :.
: : :.
.;.: . . . . .
: :
_:
: ::..
5000 10000
BUCKLE HALF-WAVELENGTH
Fig. 24. Maximum buckling stress vs buckle half-wavelength.
the centroid, as shown in Fig. 8. The sectorial coor-
dinate is plotted in Fig. 19, and the longitudinal
stresses computed are plotted in Fig. 20. The stress
distribution has a uniform stress in both the top and
bottom flanges and the beam simply deflects verti-
cally with no twisting or lateral deflection.
10.3. Buckling analysis
procedure. Structural designers will often need help
in analysing these types of structures. A vehicle for
providing this help is computer programs developed
for the microcomputer. In this paper a computer
procedure and program for the cross-section analysis
and buckling analysis of thin-walled structural
members has been presented.
The buckling modes of the Z-section for various
buckle half-wavelengths are shown in Figs 21-23. The
local buckling mode in Fig. 21 consists of defor-
mation of the web, flange and lip elements without
movement of the line junctions between the flange
and web and the flange and lip stiffener. The buckling
mode in Fig. 22 is a distortional buckling mode since
movement of the line junction between the flange and
lip stiffener occurs without a rigid body rotation or
translation of the cross-section. At long wavelengths,
the beam buckles in a flexural-torsional mode, as
shown in Fig. 23.
A general matrix method for analysing the section
properties and stresses in thin-walled open and closed
cross-sections of any shape has been presented. The
analysis calculates the section properties, warping
displacements, and the longitudinal and shear stresses
caused by flexure and torsion. A finite strip method
of analysis which can be used to study the local,
distortional and flexural-torsional modes of buckling
of thin-walled structures under longitudinal stress
was also presented.
Figure 24 shows the variation of the maximum
buckling stress with the buckle half-wavelength for
the beam. A minimum occurs in the curve at half-
wavelengths of 100 and 600 mm. These minimum
points represent the local and distortional buckling
modes shown in Figs 21 and 22, respectively.
The cross-section analysis and finite strip buckling
analysis are performed by the user-friendly computer
program THIN-WALL. This program gives the
structural designer the ability to analyse thin-walled
sections of any shape quickly and efficiently. The user
can take advantage of a user-friendly data processor
for the creation of data, and a post-processor which
can show the results graphically on the screen. An
example of a Z-section in bending was used to
illustrate the program.
11. CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
The calculation of the stresses and failure modes
1. V. Z. Vlasov, Thin- Walled Elastic Beams. Israel
in thin-walled structural members is a complex
Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem (1961).
176 J. P. Papangelis and G. J. Hancock
5.
6.
C. F. Kollbrunner and K. Basler, Torsion in Structures,
2nd Edn. Springer, Berlin (1969).
Y. K. Cheung, Finite Strip Method in Structural Analy-
sis. Pergamon Press, New York (1976).
G. J. Hancock. Local, distortional and lateral
buckling of I-Beams. Research Report R312,
School of Civil Engineering, University of Sydney
(1977).
?. Novozhilov, Foundations of the Non-linear Theory
of Efasticitv. Gravlock Press, Rochester, NY
(i953). . -
J. S. Przemieniecki, Finite element structural analysis of
local instability. Am. Inst. Aeronaut. Astronauf. J. 11,
33-39 (1973).
7. R. J. Plank and W. H. Wittrick, Buckling under com-
bined loading of thin, flat-walled structures by a com-
plex finite strip method. Int. J. namer. Meth. Engng 8,
323-329 (1974).
8. G. J. Hancock, Structural buckling and vibration analy-
ses on microcomputers. Ciuil Engng Trans. Inst. Engrs,
Australia CE26, 327-332 (1974).
9. THIN-WALL, Cross-Section Analysis and Finite Strip
Buckling Analysis of Thin- Walled Structures, Users
Manual. Centre for Advanced Structural Engineering,
University of Sydney (1994).
10. G. J. Hancock, Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structures,
2nd Edn. Australian Institute of Steel Construction,
Sydney ( 1994).