Shear effect on buckling of cellular columns subjected to axially compressed load

• Theoretical solution is derived for critical buckling load of cellular columns.
• The analysis considers the effect of web shear deformation.
• The theoretical solution is validated by FEA.
• Web shear deformation remarkably reduces the buckling resistance of cellular columns.

This paper presents an analytical solution for calculating the critical buckling load of simply supported cellular columns when they buckle about the major axis. The solution takes into account the influence of web shear deformation on the buckling of cellular columns and is derived using the stationary principle of potential energy. The formula derived for calculating the critical buckling load is validated using finite element analysis results. It is shown from the present analytical solution that the web shear deformation can significantly reduce the buckling resistance of cellular columns. The influence of the shear deformation on the critical buckling load increases with the cross-section area of the tee section and the radius of circular holes but decreases with the length and the web thickness of the cellular column.