3D STABILITY OF PRESTRESSED STAYED COLUMNS

A geometrically nonlinear analysis of the buckling and post-buckling behavior of the stayed columns is employed using FEM and ANSYS software. The buckling of these members depends on their geometrical and material properties, prestressing and boundary conditions. In the paper are discussed respective critical buckling loads and post-buckling paths with regards to 2D LBA (linear buckling analysis) and 3D GNIA (geometrically nonlinear analysis with imperfections). Former tests and recent detailed analyses of other authors are commented with respect to 3D analysis, level of imperfections and boundary conditions at the central crossarm.