The Static Analysis of Thin-Walled Curved Beams under Inclined Eccentric Line Load

Abstract

This paper proposes an approximate solution for the linear static analysis of isotropic thin-walled curved beams with small to moderate curvature and a doubly symmetric H-shaped cross-section, subjected to inclined, eccentric and uniformly distributed line loads acting at the web-flange junction. These loading conditions lead to coupled in-plane and out-of-plane deformations for which closed-form solutions are derived based on Vlasov’s assumptions and a Maclaurin series expansion, allowing the use of simplified geometric properties. The accuracy of the solution is demonstrated by comparing the predicted displacements and longitudinal normal stresses with the results of a shell finite element model. The proposed method is shown to give good agreement with the numerical solutions and provide reliable results for engineering applications.