Effect of transverse impact on buckling behavior of compressed column

The effect of transverse impact on the buckling behavior of a column under axial compressive load was numerically investigated with finite-element analysis. An axially compressed column was subjected to transverse-impact that instantaneously reduced its structural stiffness. Due to this impact, the column lost its stability and buckled even when the axial load was lower than Euler's buckling load. A transverse-impact load like a half-sine wave with different peaks and durations was applied to the column. We found that the critical condition to generate buckling was determined by the external work of the transverse-impact load. The velocity of column deformation increased as the maximum load for transverse-impact increased. Therefore, deformation during the post-buckling process might be controlled by transverse-impact.