Load-response determination for imperfect column using vibratory data

In addition to the initial crook to a column, the structural integrity is often not as reliable as expected due to the immaturity of current engineering techniques. Thus, the actual load response is sometimes not consistent with the design predictions for the column. For design considerations, it is necessary to establish experimentally an analytical method for determining the load-deflection curves and buckling load. In this paper, a dynamic method is described for building the load-deflection curves up to its buckling load for an imperfect column. The proposed method does not require the application of axial load and is feasible for arbitrary types of boundary conditions. The load-deflection curves and buckling load are determined from the measured natural frequencies and the vibration modes.