A semi-analytical method for the analysis of the interactive buckling of thin-walled elastic structures in the second order approximation

investigation is concerned with a semi-analytical method for the interactive buckling analysis of thin-walled closed and open cross-section structures in the second order approximation based on the linear analysis. An improved “lower bound” approach by Koiter and Pignataro [Koiter, W. T. and Pignataro, M. (1976). A general theory for the interaction between local and overall buckling of stiffened panels. WTHD Report No. 556, Delft University. p. 491 enables us to determine the overall flexural stiffness of a beam-column after its local buckling. The theoretical basis of the present approach is discussed and some typical examples are considered. Copyright c 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd