Buckling length analysis for compression chord in cold-formed steel cantilever truss

The lateral buckling of a cold-formed steel truss structure was investigated. Both an experimental test and finite element analysis presented a good correlation in the failure mechanism of specimens. The critical buckling load of the compression truss chord was analyzed using a Southwell plot and the analytical method. The transfer matrix method and the governing equation of an Euler column were used to analyze the critical buckling load of a multi-step, uniform chord memberwith lateral spring supports. Expressions for the buckling length factor presented according to AISI (2012) and the EN 1993-1-3 (2006) specification were compared by experimental testing and the analytical method. The buckling length factorof the experimental test and the analytical model confirmed that the buckling length of a compressed truss chord was less than the distance between the lateral bracing.