MECHANICS OF STRUCTURAL INSTABILITY

IN THIN-WALLED STRUCTURES
K F Chung
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR

ABSTRACT
Instability is an important branch of structural mechanics which examines alternate
equilibrium states associated with large deformation.
Structural instability in one
dimensional beam-column members and two dimensional plate members is examined in this
paper. Various forms of buckling, namely, column buckling, beam buckling and local plate
buckling, under different loading and boundary conditions are illustrated to establish the
phenomena as well as various analysis and design methods for practical design.

KEYWORDS
Structural instability, column buckling, beam buckling, local plate buckling.

84

COLUMN BUCKLING
Consider a column pinned at both ends [1] as shown in Figure 1.

Equilibrium

deformation elastic curve

of the column

Alternative Equilibrium

P
Mx

Figure 1

Free body diagram

Buckling of a column

Taking moment about the pinned support in the free body diagram,
Py + Mx = 0
d2y
As Mx = E I 2 ,
dx
EI

d2y
+ Py = 0
dx 2

85

By writing k 2 =

P
, the above equation is arranged as follows:
EI

d2y
+ k2 y = 0
2
dx
The solution of the differential equation is given by:
y = A sin(kx ) + B cos(kx ) + C x + D

Applying the boundary conditions at both pinned ends:

y=
B

d2y
=0
dx 2
=

when x = 0 and x = L
=

0,

and

sin (kL) = 0

Hence,
kL =

and

n
=
L

P
.
EI

By taking n = 1 as a minimum, the elastic critical buckling load, PE , is given by:

PE

2 E I
L2

The deflected shape for the elastic critical buckling of the column is given by:
y = A sin (

x
)
L

where A is a constant with an arbitrary value.

Design method using the slenderness of a column

Expanding the second moment of area, I , as the product of area and the radius of gyration,
A ry2 , the elastic critical buckling load, PE , may be re-presented as follows:

PE =

2
2
E A ry
L2
86

Then the elastic critical buckling strength, pE , is given as follows:

P
pE = E =
A

2
L

r
y

Re-writing the column slenderness =

L
L
as = , the elastic critical buckling strength,
ry
ry

pE, is given as follows:

pE =

2 E
2

This equation gives the elastic critical buckling strength of a column in terms of its material
property, E, as well as its geometrical property, i.e. the column slenderness.
It is important to evaluate the compressive buckling strength of real columns, pc, in the
presence of initial mechanical and geometrical imperfections, a Perry Robertson interaction
formula [2] is adopted as follows:

pE py

pc =
where
py

where

+ 2 pE py

p y + (1 + )p E
2

is the design strength of the column member;

is the Perry factor;
=

0.001 a (

o )

is the Robertson constant with typical values such as 2.0, 3.5, 5.5, 8.0;

is the limiting slenderness;

=

0.2

E
py

The choice of the value of the Robertson constant a depends on the cross-sections of the
columns, the axes of buckling, and the thicknesses of the sections.

87

Design method using non-dimensionalised slenderness of a column

It is highly desirable to represent the elastic critical buckling strength of a column, pE , into a
non-dimensional ratio. Consider the elastic critical buckling strength, pE , as follows:
pE =

2 E
2

Dividing both sides of the equation by py ,

pE
2 E 1
=
py
p y 2

It is useful to establish a material parameter Y as follows:

Y =

E
py

Y =

so that

2 E
py

Hence

pE
= Y2
py

Similarly, a strength reduction factor may be established to allow for column buckling in real
columns, and a number of non-dimensionalised column buckling curves are established to
provide strength reduction factors to the design strengths of real columns for practical design
as shown in Figure 2. The following parameters are adopted:

is the strength reduction factor due to column buckling;

=

pc
py

is the non-dimensionalised slenderness of a column;

=

88

1.2
Material Yielding

Strength reduction factor ,

Elastic Buckling

1.0
a=2
a = 3.5

0.8

a = 5.5

0.6

a=8

0.4

0.2

0.0
0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

Non-dimensional slenderness,

Figure 2

Non-dimensionalized column buckling curves

BEAM BUCKLING

For a beam member with a bi-symmetric cross-section under uniform moment, the elastic
critical buckling moment, ME, is given by [2]:

ME =
where
L
E
G
Iy
H
J

EI y GJ
L

2 EH
1 + 2
L GJ

is the beam length;

is the Youngs modulus;
is the shear modulus;
is the second moment of area about the minor axis;
is the warping constant;
is the torsional constant; and
=

Iy
Ix

Design method using the slenderness of a beam member

Similar to a column member, it is possible to evaluate the buckling moment, Mb , of a beam

with the Perry-Robertson interaction formula and the equivalent slenderness, LT , of the beam
[2] as follows:
89

Mb =
where
pb

pb Sx

pE py

where

LT =

LT +

LT - p E p y

p y + ( 1 + LT ) p E
2

LT

LT

is the Robertson constant which is taken as 7.0;

L0

is the non-dimensionalised limiting slenderness;

0.001 LT ( LT

E
py

0.4

pE

2E
2
LT

LT

uv

L
ry

I y Sx 2

A2 H

1+
10

0.25

AH
J Iy

1
4

Sx

L0 )

1+

1

20 x

is the plastic modulus about the major axis;

is the Poissons ratio.
90

Design method using non-dimensionalised slenderness of a beam

By adopting the non-dimensionalised slenderness of a beam, a non-dimensionalised beam

buckling curve may be established as shown in Figure 3 to provide strength reduction factors
to the design strengths or the moment capacities of real beams for practical design. The
following parameters are adopted:

LT

is the strength reduction factor due to beam buckling;

pb
py

LT

is the non-dimensionalised slenderness of a beam;

=

LT
Y

1.2

Material yielding
1.0

Strength reduction ratio,

LT

Elastic buckling

0.8

0.6

a = 7.0
0.4

0.2

0.0
0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

Non-dimensionalised slenderness, LT
Figure 3

Non-dimensionalised beam buckling curve

91

2.0

LOCAL PLATE BUCKLING UNDER UNIFORM COMPRESSION

Consider a rectangular plate which is simply supported along both the longitudinal and the
transverse edges [3]. The plate is under a compression force of No along the transverse
edges.
y
No
S/S

S/S

S/S

S/S

a
w

Figure 4

Local buckling in a simply supported plate under compression

Assume that the deflected shape of the plate is represented with sine curves in both
longitudinal and traverse directions as follows:

m =1 n =1

mn

x
y

sin m sin n
a
b

where Amn is constant to be determined.

The strain energy is given by:
2

m2 n 2
b
2
a D 2 + 2 A mn
8 m=1 n =1 a
b
4

The work done by the external force is given by:

1
Nx
2

dw
2
2 b
2
dx
dy
=

o m A mn
0 dx
8a
m =1 n =1
b

By equating the work done and the strain energy as follows:

2

m2 n 2
b
b
2
2
N cr m 2 A mn = 4 a D 2 + 2 A mn

8a
8
a
b
m =1 n =1
m =1 n =1

92

The elastic critical buckling load, Ncr , is found to be as follows:

Ncr =

m2 n 2
2
a D 2 + 2 A mn
b
m =1 n =1 a
2

m
m =1 n =1

A mn

To obtain the smallest value of Ncr, consider only the first term as follows:

Ncr =

2 a 2 D m 2 n 2

2 + 2
2
b
m
a

For the minimum value of Ncr, n = 1

Ncr =

2 D
a2
2 m + 2 2
m b
a

Alternatively, by re-writing the formula in term of the elastic critical buckling strength, pcr ,
pcr =

N cr
t

or

2 E
t
K
2
12 (1 ) b

2 D
b2t

where k is equal to 4 for the minimum value of the elastic critical buckling strength in simply
supported plates.

93

LOCAL PLATE BUCKLING UNDER IN-PLANE BENDING

Consider a rectangular plate which is simply supported along both the longitudinal and the
transverse edges [3]. The plate is under an in-plane bending moment with a linearly varying
compression force of No along the transverse edges.
y
y

1 2 No
b

S/S

S/S

S/S

S/S

a
w

Figure 5

Local buckling in a simply supported plate under in-plane bending

Assume that the deflected shape of a plate is represented with sine curves in both longitudinal
and traverse directions as follows:

A
m =1 n =1

mn

sin

mx
ny
sin
a
b

where Amn is constant to be determined.

The strain energy is given by:

D ab 4
2 4

A
m =1 n =1

2
mn

m2 n 2 2
+ )
a 2 b2

The work done by the external force is given by:

T

1 a b
y dw
N 0 (1 )( ) 2 dxdy

2 0 0
b dx

where = 2 for pure bending

By equating the work done and the strain energy, the elastic critical buckling load is given by:

94

Ncr =

A mn
m =1 n =1

m22
a2

m2 n 2 2
D A mn ( 2 + 2 )
a
b
m =1 n =1
2 2

m
32

2
2 [ A mn 2
2 m =1 a

n =1
4

n =1

A mn A mi ni
]
2
i2 )2

(n

The derivative with respect to Amn is given by:

2
m2 n2 2
m22 m
DA mn ( 2 + 2 ) = ( N 0 ) cr {A mn

2 a2
a
b
a2

[A mn

16 A mi ni
2 2 2 2 ]}
i (n i )

Assume that the deflected shape is approximated by the first three terms:
mx 3
ny
A mn sin
w = sin

a n =1
b
The minimum value of the elastic critical buckling strength, pcr , is given by:
N cr
t

pcr =

or

2 E
t
K
2
12 (1 ) b

2 D
b2t

The value of K is found to be dependent on the value of

a
as follows:
b

a
b

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.667

0.75

0.8

0.9

1.0

1.5

29.1

25.6

24.1

23.9

24.1

24.4

25.6

25.6

24.1

95

DESIGN METHODS USING EFFECTIVE SECTIONS

It is important to evaluate the effective section capacities of plates undergoing local plate
buckling in the presence of initial mechanical and geometrical imperfections, and a codified
section analysis using an effective thickness approach or an effective width approach may be
adopted.
Based on the effective width approach, the effective width, beff , of a plate undergoing local
plate buckling may be established [4] as follows:
beff
b

=
5

1 + 14 f /p 0.35 4
c
cr

where b is the width of the plate and fc is the applied compressive stress of the plate.
Figure 6 plots the function of

beff
b

against the value of

b
.
t

1.2
K = 0.425

1.0

K = 4.00

beff / b

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0

Figure 6

50

100

150

200

250

b/t
Ratio of effective width to flat width of compression plate

COMPARSION WITH NUMERICAL MODELS

Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate local plate buckling in rectangular plates under different loading
and boundary conditions. The following analyses are performed and summarised for direct
comparison:

analytical analysis using energy method;

section analysis using effective width approach;
elastic critical buckling analysis using finite element technique [5]; and
geometrical and material nonlinear analysis using finite element technique [5].
96

Geometry

Geometrical data

P
S/S

S/S

P
S/S

S/S
a

200 mm

100 mm

1.6 mm

a/b

62.5

Elastic critical analysis

b/t
Pcr = 30.3 kN

Material data

Material and geometrical nonlinear analysis

280
280

113
c

32 mm

280
32 mm

280

Applied load, P (kN)

50

Pgross = 44.8 kN

40

Pcr = 30.3 kN
PFEM = 29.3 kN

30

20

pcr

pcr

b eff =
b

10

0
0

0.04

0.08

0.12

0.16

Pgross =

189.4 N/mm2
4

f

1 + 14 c 0.35
p

cr

0.64

Local plate buckling in a plate under compression.

Simply supported along four sides.

97

A py

44.8 kN

30.3 kN

PLB =

Aeff py

28.9 kN

PFEM =

29.3 kN

Pcr

4.0

0.2

Axial shortening, c (mm)

Figure 7

2E
t
K
12(1 2 ) b

0.2

Geometry

Geometrical data

P
S/S

S/S

Free
a

S/S

200 mm

50 mm

1.6 mm

a/b

31.3

b/t

Elastic critical analysis

Material data
Pcr = 12.8 kN

Material and geometrical nonlinear analysis

280 N/mm2

32 mm

94 N/mm2

pcr

pcr

25

Applied load, P (kN)

Pgross = 22.4 kN
20

b eff =
b

15

Pcr = 12.8 kN
10

280 N/mm2

PFEM = 9.23 kN

2E
t
K
12(1 2 ) b

0.423
189.4 N/mm2
4

f

1 + 14 c 0.35
p

cr

0.647

Pgross =

A py

22.4 kN

12.8 kN

PLB =

Aeff py

9.45 kN

PFEM =

9.23 kN

0
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

Axial shortening, c (mm)

Figure 8

Pcr

Local plate buckling in a plate under compression.

Simply supported along three sides and free along one side.
98

0.2

M
Geometrical data

S/S

S/S

200 mm

100 mm

0.6 mm

a/b

62.5

Geometry
M

S/S
S/S

b/t

Mcr
= 0.340 kNm

Material data

Elastic critical analysis

py

350 N/mm2

205 kN/mm2

0.3

280
0
280

Material

and

geometrical

nonlinear analysis
po

Applied moment, M (kNm)

0.5

0 .5

b py
p y
1.13 0.0019
t 280

271.6 N/mm2

0.4

Mgross = 0.351 kNm

Mcr = 0.340 kNm

0.3

Mgross

MFEM = 0.263 kNm

0.2

0.1

= py Z
=

0.351 kNm

Mcr

0.340 kNm

MLB

= po Z
=

MFEM

0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Rotation,

Figure 9

Local plate buckling in a plate under in-plane bending.

Simply supported along four sides.

99

0.272 kNm

= 0.263 kNm

Comparison with gross section capacities and effective section capacities in the presence of
local plate buckling are provided. It should be noted that the results from various analyses
are very close among themselves.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to appreciate structural instability in one dimensional beam-column members

and two-dimensional plate members under different loading and boundary conditions. Some
basic features of column buckling, beam buckling and local plate buckling are presented to
facilitate buckling analysis and design in practice.

REFERENCES

1. Timoshenko SP and Gere JM. Mechanics of materials. Fourth edition, 1997.

2. The Steel Construction Institute. Steel Designers Manual. Sixth edition, 2003.
3. Timoshenko SP and Gere JM. Theory of elastic stability. Second edition, 1963.
4. The Buildings Department, the Government of Hong Kong SAR. Code of Practice for
the Structural Use of Steel 2005. Chapter 11 Design of Cold-formed Steel Sections and
Sheet Profiles.
5. ABAQUS. (2004). Users Manual, Version 6.4, Hibbitt, Karlsson and Sorensen, Inc.

100