Buckling of slender prismatic circular columns weakened by multiple edge cracks (Q867410)

Using the transfer matrix method and solutions for uncracked columns, the author analyzes the buckling of slender prismatic circular columns with multiple non-propagating edge cracks. The cracked sections are modeled through massless rotational springs. It is assumed that the cracks are open and the columns are in linear-elastic range. By employing this procedure, the eigenvalue equations for buckling of cracked columns with any end conditions can be obtained from a system of two linear equations. Eigenvalue equations are obtained in explicit form for classical columns and written for columns with various elastic end conditions. Five numerical examples show that the buckling loads are affected considerably by the depths, locations and number of cracks.