Frame mode method for thin-walled structures

Abstract

The Rayleigh-Ritz method is extended to thin-walled structures on continuous supports by means of the combinations of frame modes transversely and continuous beam modes longitudinally. Effects of warping, distortion and shear-lag are considered simultaneously. The thin-walled structure problem is reduced to simpler plane frame and continuous beam problems. Numerical results are compared to the finite element and finite strip methods. The present method is advantageous over both the finite element and finite strip methods in the reduced number of generalised coordinates and its ability to use the existing frame programmes to analyse thin-walled structures. No new elements are required to be generated.