ABSTRACT

Each fundamental buckling type (global, distortional or local) has its characteristic post-buckling behaviour; consequently, the derivation of the modal participation for a general buckling mode is a crucial step in assessing the real design resistance of the member. Shell Finite Element Analysis (SFEA), the most commonly used instrument to study the behaviour of thin-walled members, can easily handle complex geometries of perforated/unperforated members and arbitrary load and member end conditions, but it has no possibility of providing the modal participation.