Elastic Buckling Behavior of Shuttle-shape Steel Latticed Column

Shuttle shape lattice column (SLC) formed by steel pipes and horizontal diaphragms as a latticed column with varying section is being used and extended to many public buildings recently. In this paper, elastic buckling behavior of SLC subjected to axial compressive forces has been investigated theoretically by employing a powerful finite element analysis package ANSYS. Three kinds of latticed columns constrained by pin connections at two ends are involved in the analysis. They are single steel pipe column, two steel pipe latticed column and three steel pipe latticed column where the two or three pipes are combined as a whole by welding horizontal diaphragms to the pipes. Parameter studies for the elastic bifurcation buckling and corresponding buckling mode of the latticed columns have been carried out. The obtained results indicates that the SLC generally behaves as two different buckling modes which are dependant on their slenderness ratio, length, numbers and thickness of horizontal diaphragms, and so on. This conclusion is very helpful to design such SLC employed in Guangzhou New Baiyun International Airport.