POST-BUCKLING BEHAVIOUR AND STRENGTH OF ANGLE COLUMNS

This paper reports the available results of an ongoing numerical investigation aimed at providing fresh insight on the mechanics underlying the local and global post-buckling behaviour of short-to-intermediate equal-leg angle steel columns. Both pinned-ended and fixed-ended columns are analysed and the most of the results presented and discussed concern their elastic buckling and (mostly) post-buckling behaviour − moreover, the elastic-plastic load-carrying capacity of these columns is also briefly addressed, as well as the corresponding design implications. The numerical post-buckling and ultimate strength results presented were obtained by means of ABAQUS shell finite element analyses. In order to help clarifying the distinction between local and global buckling, some GBT-based critical stresses and buckling mode shapes are also displayed and interpreted.