Buckling analysis of structures composed of tapered members

Based on the energy principle, the tapered elements for beam-columns are derived and incorporated into a user-friendly nonlinear frame analysis computer program. When compared to the methods using the conventional uniform elements or the numerical integration technique, the present approach is more accurate and/or efficient for the nonlinear analysis of tapering structures. Numerical examples demonstrating the performance of the derived tapered elements and the uses of the elements in the large deflection and snap-through analysis of structures comprising tapered members are given. It was found that, although a tapered member may have a higher member buckling load than its uniform counterpart of same weight of material, its uses in the construction of space frames may reduce considerably the global snap-through load of the structure, leading to a potential danger of earlier structural collapse.