Buckling Analysis of Eccentrically Loaded Cracked Columns

The analysis of buckling of elastic columns is one of the first problem in structural engineering that was historically solved. Critical loads of perfect columns with various end restrains have been derived. Nevertheless, the perfect column is an idealized model. In reality, unavoidable imperfections should be considered. Solutions for transversal disturbing load, crookedness or load eccentricity have been proposed. Another frequent imperfection to be taken into account is the weakness at an interior location due to a partial edge crack. In this paper the influence of this type of imperfection on the critical load is analyzed. The case of the load eccentricity has been also considered. The weakness can be modeled as an internal hinge with a rotational spring. Exact critical loads for various end conditions, crack locations and cross-sections are obtained.