The effect of crack on buckling behaviour of weakened column

This research deals with the buckling analysis of cracked column with fixed-fixed conditions. The crack is modelled with a unilateral elastic bending-stiffness behaviour, represented by a unilateral rotational spring. This model takes into account the crack closure effect on buckling behaviour of column. The governing equation of the problem is introduced by the variational approach based on energy arguments. Using the variational approach, the governing equation can be formulated as a function of damage index. Damage index is the stiffness of the equivalent rotational spring associated with the crack. A one-crack and a tow-crack are theoretically investigated to illustrate the effects of the crack on the buckling load. For the one crack column, the buckling load increases with the stiffness of the crack section. When the crack-stiffness parameter tends towards an infinite value, the structural model is reduced to the classical Euler column. It is observed that the buckling load increases as the crack get closer to the supports, for constant damage value of the crack parameter (constant crack depth). For the two crack column, the crack closure phenomenon is investigated. In order to two cases are considered. In the first case, the two-crack are located on the same side of column, and in the second case, the cracks are located on the opposite side of the columns. Comparison between two cases show that the crack closure influence on the buckling load. In other words the crack-closure phenomenon tends to increase the buckling load.