Structural Behavior of Members Consisting of Curved Elements

A series of stub column tests have been performed in order to determine the initial buckling stress of curved elements with three supported edges and one longitudinal edge free. An empirical expression for the prediction of the elastic local buckling of this type of curved element has been developed and is compared to the test data. The tangent modulus concept is employed for the prediction of inelastic buckling. Also studied is the interaction between flat and curved elements when the flat element buckles before the adjoining curved element.