• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.289-299
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• 2012

The goal of this paper is to apply the multi-step Taylor method to a space truss, a non-linear discrete dynamic system, and analyze the non-linear dynamic response and unstable behavior of the structures. The accurate solution based on an analytical approach is needed to deal with the inverse problem, or the dynamic instability of a space truss, because the governing equation has geometrical non-linearity. Therefore, the governing motion equations of the space truss were formulated by considering non-linearity, where an accurate analytical solution could be obtained using the Taylor method. To verify the accuracy of the applied method, an SDOF model was adopted, and the analysis using the Taylor method was compared with the result of the 4th order Runge-Kutta method. Moreover, the dynamic instability and buckling characteristics of the adopted model under step excitation was investigated. The result of the comparison between the two methods of analysis was well matched, and the investigation shows that the dynamic response and the attractors in the phase space can also delineate dynamic snapping under step excitation, and damping affects the displacement of the truss. The analysis shows that dynamic buckling occurs at approximately 77% and 83% of the static buckling in the undamped and damped systems, respectively.