• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.479-489
• /
• 2000

Based on the stiffness equation of the tapered beam element involving the effects of axial force and shear deformation, numerical investigations are carried out on elastic instability for web-linearly tapered columns with I-section of steel portal frames. Effects of shear deformation on the effective length of the tapered columns with I-section are studied. An efficient approach for determining the effective length of the tapered portal frame columns considering effects of shear deformation is proposed.