Buckling length of non-uniform members under stepped axial loads

In this paper an axially compressed non-uniform column connected with beams at its two ends is studied. The stepped axial loads act eccentrically on the column at intermediate points. The non-linear equilibrium equations of this model are established in the case of non-sway and sway mode, respectively. Using these equations and following an iteration procedure, the equivalent buckling length coefficients and the corresponding critical loads are obtained and the results are presented in an easy to use graphical form. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.