Analysis of flexure, torsion and buckling of thinwalled frames with a focus on the joint warping behaviour

Abstract

This paper presents a finite element analysis of flexural-torsional and buckling behaviour of a thin-walled frame with a special focus on the joint warping behaviour. Four different joint types and two different cross-sections are analysed in order to investigate the influence of warping transmission on the overall behaviour of the structure. External loads are assumed to be static and conservative. The material is assumed to be homogenous, isotropic and linear elastic. The analysis is performed using the MSC Nastran shell model consisting of parabolic shell elements. The results obtained in the analysis together with some typical examples are discussed.