Buckling analysis of thin-walled members with open-branched cross section via semi-analytical finite strip transfer matrix method

Thin-walled members with open-branched cross section have been used in many modern engineering structures, and their buckling performance has been widely studied. In this paper, two transfer methods are developed to tackle the transfer problems at the junction of the open-branched cross-section of thin-walled members by using semi-analytical finite strip transfer matrix method (FS-TMM) which is a combined use of semi-analytical finite strip method (SA-FSM) and transfer matrix method (TMM) for the buckling analysis. Compared to traditional SA-FSM, this method has a smaller matrix and higher computational efficiency due to no global stiffness matrix generated. An asymmetric E-section member, a symmetric I-section member and a X-section member with loaded edges simply supported are analyzed by the derived formulation. All the results are compared with SA-FSM's or finite element method's results to prove the reliability and efficiency of this method.