Calculation of the deep bending collapse response for complex thin-walled columns - I. Pre-collapse and collapse phases

The increasing complexity of transport vehicles means that more powerful fi nite element models are needed to simulate their crash behaviour. As existi ng models' calculation times are long and cannot effectively optimize struc tures in terms of peak moment and energy management, they should only be us ed as a final verifying tool. Distinct analytical models have been develope d to determine the resistance to collapse of thin-walled structures subject ed to a bending load. Part I of this paper concerns the theoretical predict ion of bending strength in the pre-failure range for thin-walled structures of relatively complex geometry. Two types of buckling are considered: elas tic and plastic. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.