Exact element for advanced analysis of practical steel frames

Proceedings - 2001 Annual Technical Session, and Meeting, Structural Stability Research Council, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 9-12 May 2001The exact element for advanced analysis of practical steel frames to re-produce the buckling curve of a member in design codes was analyzed. The exact stiffness matrix of an imperfect member under large axial force was derived and incorporated into a second-order analysis computer program for skeletal structures. It was shown that the element is accurate even when the axial force is 4 times of the Euler's buckling load. The results show that it can provide a bench mark solution for other elements and be used in the routine analysis of skeletal frames, when incorporated into an analysis program.Department of Civil and Environmental Engineerin