Local buckling of elliptical hollow sections under combined compression and bending

Abstract

The local buckling response of elliptical hollow sections is sensitive to the applied loading conditions due to the continuously varying curvature of the structural profile. Under pure compression and minor axis bending, local buckling initiates at the point of the maximum radius of curvature, while the introduction of major axis bending cause this point to migrate around the cross-section. In the present paper, the structural response of elliptical hollow sections under the most general loading condition of compression plus biaxial bending is considered. The elastic local buckling response is examined analytically, while ultimate capacity is investigated experimentally and numerically. Design recommendations are made on the basis of the findings.