Analysis of Flexural Behavior and Lateral Buckling of Inelastic Steel Beams under Cyclic Loads

Abstract

Inelastic steel beams are analyzed with emphasis on their transient flexural behavior and lateral buckling under cyclic loads. The constraint and load conditions are chosen so that they simulate inelastic beams, of a frame structure subjected to a horizontal seismic motion. An analytical model of inelastic beams is proposed that accounts for basic transient behaviors of mild steel. On this basis, a detailed discussion is made on the mechanism of transient behaviors including those of the plasic hinge, loaddeflection relation, lateral buckling load, etc. A physical interpretation is given as regards the transient flexural behavior and the deformation capacity for the lateral buckling of steel beams under monotonic and cyclic loadings.