• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.683-691
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• 2001

Numerical methods are developed for solving the elastica and buckling load of tapered columns with shear deformation, subjected to a compressive end load. The linear, parabolic and sinusoidal tapers with the regular polygon cross-sections are considered, whose material volume and span length are always held constant. The differential equations governing the elastica of buckled column are derived. The Runge-Kutta method is used to integrate the differential equations, and the Regula-Falsi method is used to determine the rotation at left end and the buckling load, respectively. The numerical methods developed herein for computing the elastica and the buckling loads of the columns are found to be efficient and reliable.