NORDIC STEEL 2019

The 14th Nordic Steel Construction Conference,

September 18–20, 2019, Copenhagen, Denmark

New stability design methodology through overall linear buckling analysis

József Szalai*,a, Ferenc Pappb

a
ConSteel Solutions Ltd., Hungary
jozsef.szalai@consteelsoftware.com
b
Széchenyi István University, Faculty of Architectural, Civil and Transportation Engineering, Győr, Hungary
pappfe@sze.hu

ABSTRACT
Two new stability design methods are presented: the Overall Strength Reduction Method (OSRM)
and the Overall Imperfection Method (OIM). Both methods are based on the linear buckling analysis
(LBA) of global structural models and use the standard reduction curves. The OSRM is formulated
in the classic way using generalized slenderness and reduction factors while the OIM uses equivalent
amplitude for the buckling mode based geometrical imperfection. It is shown that both methods have
the same mechanical background which is built on two essential components: (1) the generalized
form of an Ayrton-Perry (or Perry-Robertson) type strength reduction method for basic reference
members and (2) a generalized transformation technique connecting the real members of the global
structural model with the proper basic reference member. The first component is a mechanically
consistent extension of the model behind the traditional buckling curves used only for specific
stability cases like flexural buckling of columns or lateral-torsional buckling of beams so far. The
second component can be regarded as the generalization of the well-known effective length approach.
The new design methods cover all types of buckling modes (flexural, torsional, flexural-torsional,
lateral-torsional or any interaction), which can be calculated by LBA of structural models composed
of uniform or non-uniform members with arbitrary cross-sections and support conditions and
subjected to any complex loading (e.g. biaxial bending with moment gradient, direct torsion effects
etc.). There is no need for any additional input for the calculations (like effective length factors,
unrestrained lengths of beams, moment gradient factors, equivalent length for the imperfection
amplitude etc.) since all the necessary information is received from the elastic critical load and
buckling mode shape. This paper clarifies the mechanical interpretation and proper calculation of all
the components of the two methods and shows some comprehensive validation study on the
performance.

Keywords: global buckling design, equivalent geometrical imperfection, strength reduction factor,
Ayrton-Perry formula, linear bifurcation analysis, equivalent reference member

1 INTRODUCTION
In this paper a new design methodology is presented which utilizes the overall Linear Buckling
Analysis (LBA) results of any structural model. The elastic critical load factor, the buckling mode
shape and the modal geometrical imperfection induced second order internal moments are the basic
additional analysis results needed for the methodology. These results together with the usual first and
second order internal forces and moments calculated on the perfect structural model (LA and GNA)
form the complete set of design input making the method fully automatic for any buckling problem
of any structural model. Accordingly there is no need for separate parameters from any kind of
calculation of specific buckling results of an ideally isolated single member with effective length (like
the Euler load or elastic critical moment) for the member buckling design. The methodology is based
on an essential underlying assumption which states that any complex global buckling mode calculated
by the LBA can be classified into finite number of fundamental buckling mode types which are
significantly different in terms of various mechanical characteristics (loading, mode shape
displacement components etc.). It is also assumed that the well-known, calibrated standard buckling
curves are solutions for some of these fundamental buckling modes (for flexural buckling or LTB of
doubly symmetric cross-sections etc.) which can be used within the proposed methodology to ensure
its reliability level. Accordingly the methodology consists of two basic steps:
(1) a universal transformation method which converts the real structural model with a certain
complex buckling problem into a properly defined equivalent reference member which is a prototype
model of the corresponding fundamental buckling mode type – this is the ultimate generalization of
the effective length (or equivalent member) method to any buckling problem
(2) a closed-form analytical solution for the reference member which is based on the standard
buckling curves corresponding to the equivalent fundamental buckling mode type (1) – this is the
ultimate generalization of the beam-column buckling strength interaction equations.

Fig. 1. The structure of the OSDM

The proposed new design methodology is referred further to as Overall Stability Design Method
(OSDM) indicating that the procedure is directly based on the overall LBA of the global structural
model. Two equivalent alternatives are presented having the same underlying mechanics: the Overall
Strength Reduction Method (OSRM) which uses the traditional reduction factor for the calculation
of the design buckling resistance and the Overall Imperfection Method (OIM) which calculates the
equivalent amplitude for the buckling mode based geometrical imperfection. In the paper the
background of the two steps is explained, then the calculation steps of the complete OSDM is
presented.

2 THE FORWARD MODEL TRANSFORMATION

The forward model transformation reduces the actual complex buckling problem of the real structural
model to a simpler problem of a fundamental buckling mode interpreted on a suitable single reference
member. The reference member in general is a straight, prismatic, simply supported member with
arbitrary shaped cross-section subjected to uniform compression force and/or bending moments.
Important feature of the reference member that it has analytical solutions for its elastic behaviour
(elastic critical buckling load and mode shape and elastic second order displacements due to
geometrical imperfections) for all the fundamental buckling modes. The general reference member is
called Equivalent Reference Member (ERM) if it is directly connected to a complex buckling problem
of a concrete real structural model. For the proper definition of the ERM the following data should
be determined:
 geometry: cross-section and member length
 member loads (causing uniform compression force and/or bending moments)
 buckling mode type (one of the fundamental buckling modes)
So the forward model transformation creates the ERM with the above properties deriving them from
the LBA results performed on the real structural model. The proposed transformation technique is
based on the following assumption: the most intense information about the mechanical nature of the
© Ernst & Sohn Verlag für Architektur und technische Wissenschaften GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin ∙ ce/papers (2019)
actual complex buckling problem can be received from a certain point on the structural model where
the second order internal stress utilization effect from the buckling mode shape is the highest (or the
second order flexural curvature of the compressed flange from the buckling mode is the highest). This
specific utilization is assumed to be equal to the same one calculated on the ERM forming the
equivalency relationship between the real structural model and the ERM which is the basic hypothesis
of the universal transformation method (2). The transformation point is called the equivalent point
(ep) and this is the base for the determination of the necessary properties of the suitable ERM with
equivalent fundamental buckling mode type. The recovery of the equivalent point is practically done
by calculating the internal force and moments due to the deformation of the buckling mode shape
along the longitudinal member axes of the whole structural model (denoted by x):
𝑺𝒄𝒓 (𝑥 ) = [𝑁 𝑐𝑟 (𝑥); 𝑀𝑐𝑟 𝑦 (𝑥); 𝑀𝑐𝑟 𝑧 (𝑥); 𝐵𝑐𝑟 (𝑥)] (1)
and calculating the corresponding cross-section resistances (which can be varying along the member
axes) using the appropriate classes:
1 1 1 1
𝑹(𝑥 ) = [𝑁 𝑀𝑧,𝑠𝑒𝑐 (𝑥) 𝐵𝑠𝑒𝑐 (𝑥)] (2)
𝑠𝑒𝑐 (𝑥) 𝑀𝑦,𝑠𝑒𝑐 (𝑥)

then the linear utilization function form these internal force and moments can be finally determined:
1
𝑼𝒔𝒆𝒄,𝒄𝒓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑹𝑻 (𝑥 )𝑺𝒄𝒓 (𝑥) = 𝛼 (3)
𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑐𝑟(𝑥)

where 𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑐𝑟 (𝑒𝑝) is the corresponding linear load multiplication factor (LMF). The equivalent point x
= ep is where the utilization function of Eq. (3) takes the highest value:
𝑼𝒔𝒆𝒄,𝒄𝒓 (𝑒𝑝) = max 𝑼𝒔𝒆𝒄,𝒄𝒓 (𝑥 ) → 𝑥 = 𝑒𝑝 (4)
Once the equivalent point has been determined the cross-section geometry and its properties as well
as the uniform member loads of the ERM can be defined straight, but for the equivalent member
length the proper fundamental buckling mode type should be selected. Based on the results in (1)
Table 1. shows the fundamental buckling mode classification system.

Table 1. The fundamental Buckling Mode Classes (BMC)

BMC Cross-section at the Active load Buckling mode shape Buckling mode type
ep components component(s) at the ep
at the ep
BMC_01 𝑁𝐼 {𝑤𝑐𝑟 } strong axis flexural buckling
𝐼 {𝑣𝑐𝑟 }
BMC_02 𝑁 weak axis flexural buckling
BMC_03 doubly symmetric 𝑁𝐼 {𝜑𝑐𝑟 } torsional buckling
BMC_04 𝑀𝐼 𝑦 {𝑣𝑐𝑟 ; 𝜑𝑐𝑟 } lateral-torsional buckling
BMC_05 𝑁 𝐼 ; 𝑀𝑦𝐼 {𝑣𝑐𝑟 ; 𝜑𝑐𝑟 } coupled lateral-torsional buckling
BMC_06 mono-symmetric 𝑁𝐼 {𝑤𝑐𝑟 ; 𝜑𝑐𝑟 } strong axis flexural-torsional buckling
BMC_07 with weak axis 𝑁𝐼 {𝑣𝑐𝑟 } weak axis flexural buckling
asymmetry
BMC_08 𝑀𝐼 𝑦 {𝑣𝑐𝑟 ; 𝜑𝑐𝑟 } lateral-torsional buckling
(strong axis
𝐼
BMC_09 symmetry) 𝑁 ; 𝑀𝑦𝐼 {𝑣𝑐𝑟 ; 𝜑𝑐𝑟 } coupled lateral-torsional buckling
𝐼 {𝑤𝑐𝑟 }
BMC_10 mono-symmetric 𝑁 strong axis flexural buckling
BMC_11 with strong axis 𝑁𝐼 {𝑣𝑐𝑟 ; 𝜑𝑐𝑟 } weak axis flexural-torsional buckling
asymmetry
BMC_12 𝑀𝐼 𝑦 {𝑣𝑐𝑟 ; 𝜑𝑐𝑟 } lateral-torsional buckling
(weak axis
BMC_13 symmetry) 𝑁 𝐼 ; 𝑀𝑦𝐼 {𝑣𝑐𝑟 ; 𝜑𝑐𝑟 } coupled lateral-torsional buckling
𝐼 {𝑤𝑐𝑟 ; 𝑣𝑐𝑟 ; 𝜑𝑐𝑟 }
BMC_14 𝑁 flexural-torsional buckling
BMC_15 asymmetric 𝑀𝐼 𝑦 {𝑤𝑐𝑟 ; 𝑣𝑐𝑟 ; 𝜑𝑐𝑟 } lateral-torsional buckling
BMC_16 𝑁 𝐼 ; 𝑀𝑦𝐼 {𝑤𝑐𝑟 ; 𝑣𝑐𝑟 ; 𝜑𝑐𝑟 } coupled lateral-torsional buckling

© Ernst & Sohn Verlag für Architektur und technische Wissenschaften GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin ∙ ce/papers (2019)
In Table 1. the active loads are the first order compression and/or strong axis bending moment
whichever are present at the equivalent point and directly generate the actual buckling mode (1).
When the fundamental buckling mode type is defined the equivalency relationship can be used to
calculate the member length of the ERM, which can be written in the following form:
𝑰𝑰,𝑬𝑹𝑴
𝑼𝑰𝑰
𝒔𝒆𝒄,𝒄𝒓 (𝑒𝑝 ) = 𝑼𝒔𝒆𝒄,𝒄𝒓 (5)
Since the cross-section and the loading at the equivalent point is identical to the ones of the ERM the
equivalency relationship requires the equality of the elastic critical load factors of the real structural
model and the ERM (equality of the second order amplification). For the elastic critical loads of the
ERM there are well-known analytical formulae for each fundamental buckling mode types – for
instance in (3) – from which the member length of the ERM can be calculated using the elastic critical
equivalency, accordingly the ERM is fully defined.

3 SOLUTION FOR THE REFERENCE MEMBER

Once the ERM is completely defined its specific buckling solution yields the necessary information
for the final solution of the complex buckling problem of the real structural model. The analytical
solution of any ERM is based on the generalized Ayrton-Perry model of a general reference member
– discussed deeply in (1) – subjected to geometrical imperfection with a shape corresponding to the
fundamental buckling mode and with a proper amplitude consistent with the standard buckling
resistances. The key parameter of the Ayrton-Perry formula is the imperfection factor which is
responsible for the correct second order effect and the base for the standard safety calibration.
Accordingly in the OSDM the imperfection factor of the ERM is the most important component this
is the base of the equivalency relationship of Eq. (5) and is the guaranty for the reliability of the
method.
3.1 The equivalent imperfection factor
The imperfection factors are well defined internal parameters of the Ayrton-Perry based standard
reduction factors of the EC3 corresponding to the fundamental buckling mode types of pure loads
(compression or bending only). The coupled mode types (BMC_05, 09, 13 and 16 in Table 1.)
however have no standard imperfection factors since these buckling problems are handled by some
kind of interaction equation in EC3. In (1) the correct mechanical form of all the imperfection
factors are derived and based on that a solution has been proposed for the imperfection factors
corresponding to coupled buckling modes in the following general form:
𝑁𝐼 𝑀𝐼𝑦
𝐸𝑅𝑀 𝑁𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝐸𝑅𝑀 𝑀𝑦,𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝐸𝑅𝑀 𝛼 𝐸𝑅𝑀 𝛼 𝐸𝑅𝑀
𝜂𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑑 = 𝑀𝐼𝑦
𝜂𝑁 +𝜇 𝑀𝐼𝑦
𝜂𝑀𝑦 = 𝛼 𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑎 𝜂𝑁 + 𝜇 𝛼 𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑎 𝜂𝑀𝑦 (6)
𝑁𝐼 𝑁𝐼 𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑁 𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑀𝑦
+ +
𝑁𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑀𝑦,𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑁𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑀𝑦,𝑠𝑒𝑐

where 𝜂𝑁𝐸𝑅𝑀 and 𝜂𝑀𝑦𝐸𝑅𝑀

are the standard imperfection factors corresponding to the buckling modes for
compression (some kind of flexural buckling) and bending moment (lateral-torsional buckling)
respectively; 𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑁 , 𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑀𝑦 and 𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑎 are the appropriate active LMFs and 𝜇 is a modifying factor
dependent on the pure elastic critical loads of the reference member described in detail in (1).
3.2 Results of the ERM
The key result of the ERM is the generalized Ayrton-Perry formula based equivalent reduction factor
𝛼
including the generalized slenderness 𝜆𝐸𝑅𝑀 = √ 𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑎 and the equivalent imperfection factor 𝜂𝐸𝑅𝑀 :
𝑐𝑟

𝐸𝑅𝑀 1 1 𝐸𝑅𝑀 2
𝜒 = where 𝛷 = 2 (1 + 𝜂 + 𝜆𝐸𝑅𝑀 ) (7)
𝛷+√𝛷2 −𝜆 𝐸𝑅𝑀 2

Also important result that the second order utilization of the ERM used in Eq. (5) can be directly
expressed using the general form of the imperfection factor as derived in (1) as follows:
𝑁𝐼 𝑀𝑦𝐼 1 𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑎 1
𝑼𝑰𝑰,𝑬𝑹𝑴
𝒔𝒆𝒄,𝒄𝒓 = 𝜂
𝐸𝑅𝑀
(𝑁 +𝑀 ) 1
𝐼𝐼,𝐸𝑅𝑀
or equivalently 𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑐𝑟 = 𝜂𝐸𝑅𝑀
(1 − 𝛼 ) (8)
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑦,𝑠𝑒𝑐 1− 𝑐𝑟
𝛼𝑐𝑟
These ERM results are the bases for the backward result transformation to the real structural model.

© Ernst & Sohn Verlag für Architektur und technische Wissenschaften GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin ∙ ce/papers (2019)
4 BACKWARD RESULT TRANSFORMATION
4.1 Overall Imperfection Method (OIM)
In the OIM the correct design amplitude is to be determined for the applied equivalent geometrical
imperfection with the shape of the complex buckling mode of the whole structural model. Important
to note that the buckling mode shape (𝜼𝒄𝒓 (𝑥)) can have arbitrary amplitude when calculating 𝑺𝒄𝒓 (𝑥 )
of Eq. (1) and it is linearly dependent on the actual amplitude so the equivalency relationship of Eq.
(5) can be written using the amplified form of Eq. (3) and the utilization of the ERM of Eq. (8):
𝑰𝑰,𝑬𝑹𝑴 1 1 1
𝑼𝑰𝑰
𝒔𝒆𝒄,𝒄𝒓 (𝑒𝑝 ) = 𝑼𝒔𝒆𝒄,𝒄𝒓 → 𝛿𝑒𝑞 𝑼𝒔𝒆𝒄,𝒄𝒓 (𝑒𝑝 ) 𝛼 = 𝜂𝐸𝑅𝑀 𝛼 1 (9)
𝑐𝑟 −1 𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑎 1−
𝛼𝑐𝑟

where 𝛿𝑒𝑞 is the equivalent scale factor of the complex buckling mode shape which fulfils the
equivalency relationship thus determines the correct amplitude of the equivalent geometrical
imperfection of the real structural model which after some arrangement takes the following form:
𝛼𝑐𝑟
𝜼𝒄𝒓,𝒆𝒒 (𝑥 ) = 𝛿𝑒𝑞 𝜼𝒄𝒓 (𝑥) = 𝜂𝐸𝑅𝑀 𝛼 𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑐𝑟 (𝑒𝑝)𝜼𝒄𝒓 (𝑥) (10)
𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑎

The final step of the OIM is running a second order analysis and a cross-section check on the real
structural model with the equivalent geometrical imperfection.
4.2 Overall Strength Reduction Method (OSRM)
Since by definition the reduction factors includes all the second order effects due to the proper
equivalent geometrical imperfection in the OSRM the equivalency relationship means the equality of
the reduction factors of the ERM and the real model at the equivalent point:
𝑰𝑰,𝑬𝑹𝑴
𝑼𝑰𝑰
𝒔𝒆𝒄,𝒄𝒓 (𝑒𝑝 ) = 𝑼𝒔𝒆𝒄,𝒄𝒓 → 𝜒𝑒𝑞 (𝑒𝑝) = 𝜒
𝐸𝑅𝑀
(11)
Important to note that the equivalent reduction factor of the real structural model is not constant in
general but its distribution follows the distribution of the second order effects defined by Eq. (3).
Accordingly after some manipulation – described in (4) – the final from of the equivalent non-uniform
reduction factor along the real structural model can be written as follows:
1
𝜒𝑒𝑞 (𝑥 ) = 𝜒 𝐸𝑅𝑀 𝑚(𝑥 ) = 𝜒 𝐸𝑅𝑀 𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑐𝑟(𝑒𝑝) 𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑎 (𝑥) (12)
𝜒𝐸𝑅𝑀 +(1−𝜒𝐸𝑅𝑀 )
𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑐𝑟(𝑥) 𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑎 (𝑒𝑝)

The final check of the buckling resistance along the real structural model take the following form:
1
≤1 (13)
𝜒𝑒𝑞 (𝑥)𝛼𝑠𝑒𝑐,𝑎 (𝑥)/𝛾𝑀1

5 CONCLUSIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

In this paper a new design methodology called OSDM (Overall Stability Design Method) is presented
which overcomes the difficulties of the traditional stability design methods dealing with a suitable
single member isolated from the global structural model by fully utilizing the results of LBA
performed on the global model. It has been shown that the two versions of the methodology – the
OIM (Overall Imperfection Method) and the OSRM (Overall Strength Reduction Method) – have
common mechanical background based on the generalized Ayrton-Perry formulation and a universal
transformation method. The theoretical background of the two components are described in detail in
(1) and (2). The calculation steps of both methods are presented and briefly explained these steps are
summarized in Table 2. Application examples of the OSDM are demonstrated in (5), while a
validation of the universal transformation method is presented in (6).
The research was supported by the grant “KFI_16-1-2017-0466” provided by the Hungarian National
Research, Development and Innovation Office.

© Ernst & Sohn Verlag für Architektur und technische Wissenschaften GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin ∙ ce/papers (2019)
 Table 2. The steps of the OIM and OSRM
OIM OSRM
Numerical calculations on the real structural model
Step Structural analysis
1 1.1 Linear Elastic Analysis (LA)
1.2 Geometrically Nonlinear Elastic Analysis (GNA)
1.3 Linear Buckling Analysis (LBA) performed on the perfect real structural model
Forward model transformation: real structural model  Equivalent Reference Member (ERM)
Step Determination of the equivalent point
2 2.1 Calculation of the internal force and moments due to the buckling mode shape– Eq. (1)
2.2 Calculation of the cross-section resistances along the member – Eq. (2)
2.3 Calculation of the liner utilization from 𝑺𝒄𝒓 (𝑥) – Eq. (3)
2.4 Determination of the equivalent point by Eq. (4)
Step Buckling mode classification through the equivalent point
3 3.1 Determination of the buckling active loads in Table 1.
3.2 Classification of the buckling mode into one fundamental case based on Table 1.
Step Equivalent length of the reference member
4 Calculation of the length of the ERM from the equality of the critical loads
Analytical solution of the ERM
Step Equivalent imperfection factor
5 Calculation of equivalent standard imperfection factor of the ERM considering the BMC – Eq. (6)
Step Second order effect on the reference member Equivalent reduction factor
6 6.1 Buckling-active LMF – from Eq. (6) 6.1 Buckling-active LMF – from Eq. (6)
6.2 Second order effect LMF – Eq. (8) 6.2 Equivalent slenderness
6.3 Equivalent reduction factor – Eq. (7)
Backward result transformation: ERM  real structural model
Step Equivalent geometrical imperfection Non-uniform equivalent reduction factor
7 7.1 Calculation of the equivalent scale factor 7.1 Calculation of the non-uniform load effect
7.2 Calculation equivalent geometrical imperfection modification factor along the member
from the scaled buckling mode shape – Eq. (10) 7.2 Calculation of the non-uniform reduction factor
along the member – Eq. (12)
Step Final check Final check
8

REFERENCES
1. Szalai, József. Complete generalization of the Ayrton-Perry formula for beam-column buckling
problems. Engineering Structures. 2017.
2. Papp, Ferenc. Buckling assessment of steel members through overall imperfection method.
Engineering Structures. 2016, 106 pp. 124-136.
3. Traihair, NS. Flexural-torsional buckling of structures. CRC Press, 1993.
4. Direct buckling analysis based stability design method of steel structures. Szalai, József. Ninth
International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures (ICASS2018) 5-7 December 2018 - Hong
Kong, China.
5. Out-of-Plane Buckling Assessment of Frames through Overall Stability Design Method. Papp,
Ferenc and Szalai, József and Movahedi, R. Majid. The 14th Nordic Steel Construction
Conference, September 18–20, 2019, Copenhagen, Denmark.
6. The Validity of the Universal Transformation Method in Global Buckling Design. Hajdú, Gábor.
The 14th Nordic Steel Construction Conference, September 18–20, 2019, Copenhagen, Denmark.

© Ernst & Sohn Verlag für Architektur und technische Wissenschaften GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin ∙ ce/papers (2019)