Calculation buckling ratio – general formula

When setting the buckling factors ky or kz equal to "calculate" SCIA Engineer will calculate these factors based on the applied sway settings. It is important to emphasize that the sway settings play a significant role in the calculation because they determine which formula will be used. These formulas are treated in reference [1], [2] and [3].

The following formulas are used for the buckling ratios (Ref[1],pp.21) :

 

with:

L

the system length

E

the modulus of Young

l buckling length (formula's above)

I

the moment of inertia (formula's below - rho,i)

Ci

the stiffness in node i

Mi

the moment in node i

Fi

the rotation in node i

The values for Mi and φi are approximately determined by the internal forces and the deformations, calculated by load cases which generate deformation forms, having an affinity with the buckling form. (See also Ref.[5], pp.113 and Ref.[6],pp.112).

The following load cases are considered:

In addition, the following limitations apply (Ref[1],pp.21):

The used approach gives good results for frame structures with perpendicular rigid or semi-rigid beam connections. For other cases, the user has to evaluate the presented bucking ratios. In such cases a more refined approach (from stability analysis) can be applied.