Instability behavior and application of prismatic multi-tube latticed steel column

Multi-tube latticed steel columns without diagonal tubes and the ones with diagonal tubes are two common types of prismatic latticed columns used nowadays. Instability behavior of prismatic multi-tube latticed steel columns is studied in this paper. The focus on the problem is based on the derivation of shear stiffness for multi-tube latticed steel columns. Formulas are established to express the elastic buckling loads as well as the modified slenderness ratios, in which the effect of shear deformation is taken into account. Cases are analyzed via finite element method ANSYS to calculate the ultimate load-carrying capacity of the latticed columns for comparison with the design method in different design codes for compressive members. Formulas to estimate the design resistance for axial compressive prismatic multi-tube latticed steel columns are proposed and detailed design suggestions for the component steel tubes are presented as well.