• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.49-75
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• 2004

The paper derives, validates and illustrates the application of GBT-based formulae to estimate distortional critical lengths and bifurcation stress resultants in cold-formed steel rack-section columns, beams and beam-columns with arbitrarily inclined mid-stiffeners and four support conditions. After a brief review of the Generalised Beam Theory (GBT) basics, the main concepts and procedures employed to obtain the formulae are addressed. Then, the GBT-based estimates are compared with exact results and, when possible, also with values yielded by formulae due to Lau and Hancock, Hancock and Teng et al. A few remarks on novel aspects of the rack-section beam-column distortional buckling behaviour, unveiled by the GBT-based approach, are also included.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.135-148
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• 1997

The main objective of this paper is to analyze the rectangular stiffened plates with two opposite ends elastically restrained and the others simply supported subjected to in-plane bending by Finite Element Method. Another objective is to develope Classical Method analyzing the unstiffened rectangular plates with the above boundary conditions. In order to validate finite element and classical methods, the buckling strengths of the rectangular plates with four simply supported ends, and with two simply supported and the others fixed ends by finite element method and classical method are compared with those of references. In finite element method, elastically restrained ends can be obtained as considering torsional and warping rigidities of end stiffeners. The buckling strengths of the rectangular plates with elastically restrained ends by finite element and classical methods are calculated and compared with each other. In case of stiffened plates, to validate finite element method, the buckling strengths of the rectangular stiffened plates with four simply supported ends, and with two simply supported and the others fixed ends are also compared with those of references. The buckling strengths of the rectangular stiffened plates with elastically restrained ends by finite element method are calculated as solving eigenvalue problems which are obtained as assembling rectangular plate elements and beam elements considered torsional and warping rigidities. The buckling strengths of rectangular stiffened plates according to various positions of rectangular intermediate stiffener, J and I/sub w/ of end stiffeners are also obtained, which are compared to determine the efficient position of intermediate stiffener.