Stability analysis of steel compression members under shock loads

This paper presents the results of a numerical analysis of the elastic-plastic behaviour of steel compression members subjected to compression with a permanent pre-deformation in the longitudinal axis by a longitudinal indispensable shock load. A differential load intensity was considered up to the loss of stability. A finite difference method was applied, with an explicit integration schema for the time of the dynamic stability equations. It was assumed that the precursor to the unstable behaviour of a steel compression member was a continuous deformation of the rod axis, which was defined according to current industry-standard design procedures. Cases of flexible and stiff rods, varying in slenderness, were considered. It was demonstrated that a significant load on the performance of the steel compression members and their buckling mechanisms is attributable to longitudinal wave effects. These longitudinal wave effects cause high-frequency changes in the axial forces with a significant stress concentration due to the effect of reflection from a pinned support. This is critical for the dissipation of internal energy by plastic deformation. The applied research method facilitated an estimation of the dynamic critical forces and their relationships with static values.