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UNIQUE GLOBAL AND LOCAL INITIAL

IMPERFECTION IN THE SHAPE OF THE ELASTIC
BUCKLING MODE...

Conference Paper January 2014

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 EUROSTEEL 2014, September 10-12, 2014, Naples, Italy

UNIQUE GLOBAL AND LOCAL INITIAL IMPERFECTION IN THE SHAPE

OF THE ELASTIC BUCKLING MODE
Application for frames with Class 4 cross-sections

Jn Brodnianskya, Rudolf rocha, Andrej Belicab

a
Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Dept. of Steel and Timber Structures, Slovakia
jan_brodniansky@stuba.sk, rudolf.aroch@stuba.sk
b
Lindab S.A., Diekirch, Luxembourg
a.belica@astron.biz

INTRODUCTION
The resistance of frames with axially loaded members can be, according to [1], assessed by using an
equivalent unique global and local initial (UGLI) imperfection in the shape of the elastic critical
buckling mode cr of the structure, following by the calculation of internal forces and moments by
means of the 2nd order theory and finally by verifying the resistance of the individual cross-sections.
The basic idea behind this approach is that the imperfections exercise the most adverse effect on the
structure when they have the shape of the elastic critical buckling mode. The problem of the
amplitude of the equivalent imperfections was solved from the requirement that the buckling
resistance of the frame structure with axially loaded members shall be equal to the flexural buckling
resistance of the equivalent member. The method and the value of the amplitude, developed by
Prof. Chladn, can be found in 5.3.2(11) in [1] and was later generalized also for non-uniform
cross-sections and/or non-uniform compression forces in 5.3.2(11) in [2].
In such a case the position of the cross-section with the maximum overall stresses, the so called
critical cross-section (and denoted by the index m) has to be found by iterations. The buckling
resistance of the frame is found by considering the utilization in the critical cross-section m as
Um 1 (taking the effect of axial forces, bending moments, imperfections and 2nd order theory into
account).
A frame consisting of Class 4 cross-section members can also be checked by this method. The
effective cross-sectional characteristics of the members cause non-uniform cross-sections along
the members. One more loop in the iterations has to be added that assigns the stress state in the
members to their stiffness.
A computer program that was created recently for a PhD thesis [3] was further developed to
incorporate Class 4 cross-sections. Because of the complexity of the solved problem only the first
results of the study are shown in this paper. It is considered to expand this approach to more
complex frame structures in the near future.
This paper will focus on the following problems of the used method:
- Evaluation of the effective characteristics according to the actual stress distribution caused
by the actual internal forces and moments in the cross-section;
- Evaluation of the shift of neutral axis caused by stresses from the actual internal forces and
moments;
- Evaluation of the shape and amplitude of the unique global and local initial (UGLI)
imperfection in the form of elastic buckling mode.

1 EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVE CHARACTERISTICS

This procedure is made on the basis of standards [4] and [5].
The effective cross-sectional characteristics depend not only from the slendernesses of the
individual cross-sectional parts but also from the distribution and magnitude of normal stresses at
the cross-section. According to 4.4(4) in [5]
 com, Ed
p.red p (1)
fy M0
the plate slenderness can be reduced according to the maximum design compressive stress in the
element determined using the effective area of the cross-section caused by the axial force and
bending moment acting simultaneously and based on 2nd order analysis with global imperfections.
As the normal stresses change along the members (mainly because of changes in bending moments)
the effective cross-sectional characteristics change along the members too. They have to be found
by iterations in the same way and together with the critical cross-section m.

2 EVALUATION OF THE SHIFT OF NEUTRAL AXIS

By using the actual normal stress distribution due to axial forces and bending moments acting
simultaneously it was necessary to take into account also the shift of the neutral axis. This shift was
then incorporated into the calculation model by changing the geometrical shape of the analysed
structure. The shifts of neutral axis were modelled by short beams with bending stiffness equal to
100 times the bending stiffness of the gross cross-section.

3 EVALUATION OF THE SHAPE AND AMPLITUDE OF THE UGLI IMPERFECTION

In Eurocodes this method is described as an alternative method for obtaining imperfections. The
method is described and its usage explained on illustrative examples in [6] and [7]. Additional
explanations of this method are given in [3].
For Class 4 cross-sections we have the effective cross-sectional characteristics ( Aeff , I eff , Weff ) that
change along the members length due to their stressing (axial load and bending moment acting
simultaneously). The elastic critical buckling mode of the effective structure can be denoted as
cr,eff . The design value of the maximum amplitude of the UGLI imperfection is then

N cr,eff ,m cr,eff
init,m,max e0d,eff ,m max
(2)
EI eff ,m cr,eff
"
m

where
eff ,m 2 eff
1
M1
eff , m 0.2
M Rk ,m
e0 d,eff ,m is the design value of the bow imperfection for the
N Rk ,m 1 eff ,m 2 eff
equivalent member
Aeff ,m f y N Rk, m
eff ,m is the relative slenderness
N cr,eff ,m Ncr,eff ,m
NRk, m Aeff ,m f y is the characteristic resistance to normal force of the
critical cross section
M Rk, m Weff ,m f y is the characteristic moments resistance of the critical
cross section
eff is the reduction factor for the relevant buckling curve
and the relative slenderness
Ncr,eff ,m = cr,eff N Ed,m is the elastic critical force, i.e. the axial force in the
critical cross- section m at the critical loading of the
structure based on the effective cross sectional
properties
The calculation procedure is divided into 8 basic steps:
1) Calculation of the shape of the buckling mode cr,eff ( x) and the factor cr,eff of our structure.
In the first iteration we use the gross cross-sectional characteristics, in the following
iterations we use the appropriate effective characteristics with the change of geometry due to
the shift of neutral axis. The maximal amplitude of the elastic buckling mode is set as 1 and
other coordinates are proportionally evaluated.
2) Calculation of the second derivate of the buckling mode crII ,eff ( x) by using numerical
derivation.
3) Estimation of the position of the critical cross-section m.
4) Calculation of values e0 d ,eff ,m , init,m,max and the distribution of UGLI imperfection.
5) Calculation of internal forces and bending moments according to the 2nd order theory. The
maximum of the utilization function along the structure gives us the position of the new
critical cross-section m.
6) Iteration is needed to obtain the precise location of the critical cross-section m.
7) The effective cross-sectional characteristics are calculated from the actual internal forces
and moments distribution. Return to point 1 until convergence is reached.
8) The maximum of the utilization function at m gives us the design verification of the
structure.

4 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Our computer program is based on the core of a computer program, which was made by Marian
Dallemule, MSc., PhD. and is described in [3]. The programming language MATLAB was used.
The additional parts of our program are:
1) Subroutine which can change the structure according to the number of beam divisions
2) Subroutine which can evaluate the cross-sectional characteristics of open cross-sections.
There is the possibility to evaluate also Class 4 cross-sections, e.g. C, 2U, 2C with simple
edge stiffeners, taking into account the local and distortional buckling.
3) Subroutine which can change the geometry of the structure according to the shift of neutral
axis on the basis of actual internal forces and bending moments.

5 SOLVED EXAMPLES OF BEAMS

We will consider a beam with a length L =10m, which has different types of elementary boundary
conditions (pinned ends, one end pinned and one end fixed), see Fig. 1. The cross-section is shown
on Fig. 2. This beam is divided into n parts (divisions). Internal forces and moments necessary for
the evaluation of effective parameters are taken from the cross-section in the middle of each
division.

Fig. 1. Loading and boundary conditions Fig. 2. 2C Gross cross-section

Only the buckling resistance in the plane of the beams (frame) was analyzed, lateral-torsional
buckling was neglected. All beams were divided into 21 divisions for which effective characteristics
and the shift of N.A. is calculated. The axial force is changed in 5kN intervals until we obtained a
utilization factor U 1.
5.1 Simple supported beam under compressive force
Results for a simple supported beam loaded by a compressive force are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Simple supported beam under compressive force

cr 2,2790

Shape of the buckling mode and loading

Eccentricity graph

1st order bending moments 2nd order bending moments

2nd order bending moments + imperfection Utilization of beam

5.2 One end fixed and one end hinged beam under compressive force
Results for a fixed-hinged beam loaded by a compressive force are shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Fixed-hinged beam under compressive force

cr 4,1825

Shape of the buckling mode and loading

Eccentricity graph

1st order bending moments 2nd order bending moments

2nd order bending moments + imperfection Utilization of beam

5.3 Simple supported beam under compressive force and transverse load
Results for a simple supported beam are shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Simple supported beam under compressive force and transverse load

cr 3,9238

Shape of the buckling mode and loading

Eccentricity graph

2nd order bending moments + imperfection Utilization of beam

5.4 One end fixed and one end hinged beam under compressive force and transverse load
Results for a fixed-hinged beam loaded by an axial force and transverse load are shown in Table 4.

Table 4. Fixed-hinged beam under compressive force and transverse load

cr 6,6511

Shape of the buckling mode and loading

Eccentricity graph

2nd order bending moments + imperfection Utilization of beam

Table 5 shows a comparison of different verifications according to EN for beams under bending and
axial compression. It is evident that the verification by Eq.(6.61) in [1] is up to 8% conservative, the
verification by Eq.(6.36) in [4] is up to 21% on the safe side.

Table 5. Comparison of verifications for different types of loadings

EN 1993-1-1 EN 1993-1-3 EN 1993-1-1
Beam type Loading
Eq.(6.61) Eq.(6.36) 5.3.2(11)
q = 5kN/m, F = 525kN 1,0320 +3,6% 1,1101 +11,4% 0,9963
Simple q = 7,5kN/m, F = 375kN 1,0325 +3,1% 1,1185 +11,7% 1,0011
supported beam q = 10kN/m, F = 235kN 1,0299 +3,2% 1,1192 +12,1% 0,9984
q = 12,5kN/m, F = 110kN 1,0277 +2,0% 1,1115 +10,4% 1,0071
q = 5kN/m, F = 635kN 1,0556 +6,0% 1,1666 +17,2% 0,9954
One side fixed q = 7,5kN/m, F = 500kN 1,0829 +7,8% 1,2066 +20,2% 1,0041
and one side
hinged q = 10kN/m, F = 340kN 1,0718 +7,6% 1,2075 +21,2% 0,9960
q = 12,5kN/m, F = 195kN 1,0642 +5,6% 1,2015 +19,3% 1,0073
6 SOLVED EXAMPLE OF A FRAME
Results for a simple frame with fixed supports loaded by two equal forces are shown in Table 6.
Table 6. Results for a simple frame

Shape of the buckling mode and 2nd order bending moments + Utilization of frame
loading imperfection
Table 7 shows a comparison of different verifications according to EN for the studied frame. It is
evident that the verification by Eq.(6.61) in [1] with buckling lengths equal to system length and 2nd
order moments is up to 19% conservative, the verification by Eq.(6.61) in [1] with actual buckling
lengths and 1st order moments is up to 14% conservative, the verification by Eq.(6.36) in [4] is up to
23% on the safe side in comparison with the verification with the UGLI imperfection.
Table 7. Comparison of verifications of the frame
EC 1993-1-1, Eq.(6.61) EC 1993-1-3, Eq.(6.36) EN 1993-1-1
Structure Loading st
1 method 2nd method st
1 method nd
2 method 5.3.2(11)
Frame 2 x F=835kN 1,1776 +18,9% 1,1326 +14,4% 1,2133 +22,5% 1,1546 +16,6% 0,9905
NOTE: 1st method ( Lcr L , M Ed M Ed
II
), 2nd method ( Lcr Lcr , M Ed M Ed )
I

7 CONCLUSION
A computer program for the verification of frames with the unique global and local initial (UGLI)
imperfection in the shape of the elastic buckling mode has been further developed for Class 4 cross-
sections. The first results show the highest resistance compared to other more simple verification
procedures. This highly iterative approach to verification is in development and we expect to
specify the precision of our results in the near future.

8 ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors thank the Grant agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sports of
the Slovak Republic for providing a grant from the research program VEGA Nr. 1/0929/12.

REFERENCES
[1] EN 1993-1-1: 2005 Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures Part 1-1: General rules and rules for
buildings.
[2] EN 1999-1-1: 2005 Eurocode 9: Design of aluminium structures Part 1-1: General structural rules
[3] Dallemule M.: Vzpern odolnos oblkovch kontrukci v ich rovine (Buckling resistance of arches in
their plane). PhD. Thesis, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, 2013 (in Slovak)
[4] EN 1993-1-3: 2006 Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures Part 1-3: General rules Supplementary
rules for cold formed members and sheeting.
[5] EN 1993-1-5: 2008 Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures Part 1-5: Plated structural elements.
[6] Chladn E., tujberov M., 2013. Frames with unique global and local imperfection in the shape of the
elastic buckling mode. Stahlbau, ISSN 0038-9145, Wilhelm Ernst & Sohn, Vol. 82, pp. 609-617.
[7] Bal I., Kolekov Y., 2012: Structures with UGLI Imperfections. Proc. 18th International
Conference Engineering Mechanics 2012, May 14-17, 2012, Svratka, Czech Republic, pp.61-86

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