Buckling Analysis

Buckling Analysis

Buckling Analysis
 Buckling Analysis
Objective of Buckling
Analysis:

• To Find Buckling load factor

• To Find Buckling mode shape

• To determine member effective

lengths

• Buckling Analysis Hands-on

Exercise Using SPACE GASS
 Buckling Analysis
What is Buckling Analysis:
An accurate buckling analysis looks at the interaction of every
member in the structure and detects buckling modes that involve
one member, groups of members, or the structure as a whole.
A buckling analysis is an essential component of every structural
design because it:
1. Determines if the loads exceed the structure's buckling
capacity and by how much.
2. Calculates the member effective lengths for use in the
member design.
3. Determines if the static analysis results are useable or not.
 Buckling Analysis
Buckling effective lengths:
The effective length of a compression member is the length of an
equivalent pin-ended strut that has an Euler buckling capacity
equal to the axial force “Pcr” in the member at the point of frame
buckling. It can be determined from the formula:

It is evident from the formula that because the member actual

length is not involved in the calculation, subdividing the member
into smaller segments does not change its effective length.
Many Structural analysis software allows, Effective lengths
calculated by the buckling analysis can be automatically
transferred into the steel member design modules
 Buckling Analysis
Buckling effective lengths:
Buckling analysis identifies the portion of the frame that buckles
first. This determines the BLF and, consequently, controls the
effective lengths of all the members in the frame. The buckled
portion of the frame may just involve one or two members and
may be remote from many of the members that are having their
effective lengths controlled by it.
For example, the buckling collapse of the left-hand column of a
portal frame due to a heavy load applied to it can control the
effective length of the right-hand column which has no such load
applied.
Consequently, each column would have a different effective
length.
 Buckling Analysis
Buckling effective lengths:
During Buckling Analysis, ensure that node movements that are able
to move in the real structure are not restrained. For example, if
intermediate nodes restrains translation in out-of-plane direction in
the real structure then it will prevent the lateral translations of the
nodes. While this may not affect a static analysis (due to no loads in
that direction), it may affect a buckling analysis because any out-of-
plane buckling modes involving the intermediate nodes would be
restricted.

A frame buckling
failure is triggered
whenever a degree
of freedom becomes
unstable
 Buckling Analysis
Buckling effective lengths:
In particular, when performing a buckling analysis, node
movements may occur in directions in which there are no loads
and it must be ensured that you don’t restrain those movements
if they can occur in the real structure.
Remember that restraints anchor the structure in space. They
should not be confused with member fixities which are used to
model internal releases such as pin-jointed members!
A frame buckling failure is triggered whenever a degree of
freedom becomes unstable
 Buckling Analysis
Non-Linear Effects:
A non-linear analysis considers both P-∆
and P-δ effects.
The P-∆ effect occurs as a result of the
ends of an axially loaded member moving
laterally with respect to each other.
A moment of P.∆ is induced which alters the
member’s equilibrium and causes the
relative member end movement to change
further. Unless the axial load P exceeds the
member’s Euler buckling load, a point of
equilibrium eventually occurs such that the
P-∆ moment is balanced by moments
applied by other members or restraints.
 Buckling Analysis
Non-Linear Effects:
The P-δ effect occurs as a result of lateral
curvature being induced in an axially loaded
member. A parabolic moment distribution is
induced along the length of the member
which alters the member’s effective stiffness
and causes the curvature to change further.
Unless the axial load P exceeds the member’s
Euler buckling load, a point of equilibrium
eventually occurs such that the P-δ moments
are balanced by internal flexural resistance
built up within the member.
 Buckling Analysis
Special buckling considerations:

For sway members, limit the effective lengths to a multiple of the

actual member length by entering a factor into the "compression
effective length ratio limit" field at the start of the design phase. In
fact, effective lengths charts in most design codes limit the
effective lengths for sway members to not more than 5.0 times
the actual member length.
For braced members, simply specify them as "braced" in the steel
member design data for the direction(s) in which they are braced.
This will limit the effective lengths from the buckling analysis to
the actual member length.
 Buckling Analysis
Special buckling considerations:

Restraining the structure for buckling - It is important to restrain

the appropriate degrees of freedom to prevent buckling modes
that can’t occur in the real structure.
For example, if a plane frame is braced in the out-of-plane
direction, you must ensure that the braced nodes are restrained
in that direction, otherwise the buckling load factor may apply to
an unexpected out-of-plane buckling mode.
 Buckling Analysis
Special buckling considerations:

A linear static analysis of a plane frame is not as sensitive to out-

of-plane restraints as a buckling analysis because static analysis
out-of-plane displacements generally only occur if out-of-plane
loads are applied.
This is not true of a buckling analysis which can cause buckling
in any direction, even if there are no loads in that direction.
 Buckling Analysis
Special buckling considerations:

Buckling analysis with secondary members -

Structures are often modelled with the secondary members such
as ties or bracing removed. If these members are required to
prevent buckling of the major members in the real structure then
they should be included in the buckling analysis model,
otherwise the buckling capacity of the structure will be
underestimated by the analysis.
This is particularly true of tower structures that contain large
numbers of slender members that prevent buckling of the major
support members.
 Buckling Analysis
Buckling Analysis Exercise:

Exercise – Buckling Analysis using SPACE GASS

 Buckling Analysis
Key Features:

The SPACE GASS buckling analysis module performs a rational

elastic buckling analysis of a frame to determine :
• its buckling load factors,
• buckling mode shapes and
• member effective lengths
Analysis Procedure:
Buckling Analysis
The purpose of
this exercise is to
illustrate the ease
of carrying out
buckling analysis
using SPACE
GASS and to
obtain a frame’s
buckling load
factor and
member effective
lengths.
The Frame shown
is used for
illustration
 Buckling Analysis
Analysis Procedure:

The procedure for the buckling analysis exercise is as follows:

1.Perform Linear Static Analysis using Load case 1 (SW + UDL 30kN/m)

Deflections BM Diagram
 Buckling Analysis
Analysis Procedure:

2. Add a combination load

case (load case 2) which
factors up load case 1 (SW +
UDL 30kN/m) by a factor of
4.0.
3. Perform a static non-linear
analysis on both load cases.
Take note of the message at
the end of the static analysis
that states that “Frame
buckling occurred in one or
more load cases and therefore
the results for those load
cases should not be used”.
 Buckling Analysis
Analysis Procedure:

4. The deformed geometry

for both load cases.
Note that load case 2 causes
a sway to the left which is
opposite to the direction
you would expect.
This is a clear indication
that buckling has occurred
and that the frame has
moved to a position of
unstable equilibrium.
 Buckling Analysis
Analysis Procedure:

5. Load case 2 come with a

warning that states that
they should not be used
because frame buckling
has occurred.
From this, you can
determine that frame
buckling has occurred in
load case 2, however you
can’t tell which members
are involved or how close
to buckling you are.
 Buckling Analysis
Running buckling analysis:
 Buckling Analysis
Running buckling analysis:
Buckling modes
The number of buckling modes that are required.
Normally only the first buckling mode is of interest,
because beyond that the structure has usually
collapsed and further modes are of academic use
only.
Solver
The "Paradise" solver is a new parallel multi-core
sparse solver. The Paradise solver is the
recommended setting for all static analyses. This
solver doesn't generate buckling mode shapes. The
Wavefront solver be used instead.
 Buckling Analysis
Analysis Procedure:

6. Perform a buckling analysis using a

linear

Buckling Mode Shape

 Buckling Analysis
Codes and Recommended Practices
Wittrick W.H. and Williams F.W.
"Natural Frequencies of Elastic Structures", Quarterly Journal of Mechanics
and Applied Mathematics, Vol. XXIV, Pt. 3, 1971.

Harrison H.B.
"Computer Methods in Structural Analysis", pp 248-251, Prentice Hall, 1973.
 Q&A

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