Imperfection sensitivity of thin-walled rectangular hollow section struts susceptible to interactive buckling

A variational model describing the interactive buckling of thin-walled rectangular hollow section struts with geometric imperfections is developed based on analytical techniques. A system of nonlinear differential and integral equilibrium equations is derived and solved using numerical continuation. Imperfection sensitivity studies focus on the cases where the global and local buckling loads are close. The equilibrium behaviour of struts with varying imperfection sizes, characterized by the equilibrium paths and the progressive change in local buckling wavelength, is highlighted and compared. The numerical results reveal that struts exhibiting mode interaction are very sensitive to both local and global imperfections. The results from the variational model are verified using the finite element method in conjunction with the static Riks method and show good comparisons. A simplified method to calculate the pitchfork bifurcation load where mode interaction is triggered for struts with a global imperfection is developed for the first time. The simplified method is calibrated to predict the ultimate load for struts with tolerance level global imperfections and combined imperfections based on the parametric study, which also reveals that local and global imperfections are relatively more significant where global and local buckling are critical respectively. Finally, the ultimate load for struts with tolerance level geometric imperfections is compared with the existing Direct Strength Method (DSM). Potential dangers of making unsafe load-carrying capacity predictions by the DSM are highlighted and an improved strength equation is proposed.