GSA Training Notes

P- delta & Buckling

Analysis
1 P-delta analysis
1.1

Introduction

Consider a structure consisting of two bars as shown below. This cannot be analysed using a linear
static method, as the structure has no lateral stiffness. There is nothing to resist the lateral force F.
However, we know that this type of structure can work, provided there is tension in the bars.

l
F
l

If we consider the effect of the force F giving the centre node a deflection x, then we can write an
equilibrium equation for the deformed structure.

2N
x
l

Thus we can support a transverse load F by allowing the structure to deflect provided we have
sufficient tension in the bars. This interaction between axial force (P) and lateral deflection () gives
rise to the name P-delta.
If we put this in terms of the stiffness matrices, we have the linear stiffness for the bar

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 f x1

f y1
f x2
f y2

AE
l
0

AE

l
0

AE
l
0
AE
l
0

0
0
0
0

0 u x1

0 u y1

x
2

0 u y 2

we can now add some additional stiffness due to geometrical effects (deformations)

0
0
f x1
N

f
0
y1
l

0
0
f
x2

N
f y 2
0
l

0
N
0
l
0
0
N
0

l
0

u x1
u
y1

u x2
u y 2

so the system can be represented as

f K u Kg u
where Kg is known as the geometric stiffness.
In exactly the same way as tension provides extra stiffness for the structure. Compression removes
stiffness from the structure. If the bars are subject to compression, the structure is unstable if any
lateral load is applied since the terms in the geometric stiffness matrix become negative, thus the
compression reinforces the destabilising effect of the transverse load.

1.2

Static P-delta analysis in GSA

Because a P-delta analysis includes the geometric stiffness which is load dependent, a different
solution procedure from a linear static analysis is required. The steps are as follows:

Calculate the linear stiffness matrix

Solve for the deformed shape of the structure

Use the deformed shape to infer the member loads used to build the geometric stiffness

Combine the linear and geometric stiffnesses

Solve for the displacements

Note that this involves two passes through the solver. It is also worth noting that this is a linearized
approach, since we are assuming that the deformations in the second pass are not sufficiently different
from those in the first pass, so as to invalidate the geometric stiffness matrix.
The static P-delta option allows a crude investigation of the load at which the structure would buckle.
This is achieved by repeating the P-delta calculation with increasing load until the solver is unable to
solve because the stiffness matrix is no longer positive definite. This load gives an indication of the
buckling capacity.

1.2.1

Combinations

In linear static analysis results from different load cases can be combined. This is possible because

f1 f 2 K u1 K u 2 K u1 u 2
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However, when P-delta effects are included, the stiffness terms on the right hand side are no longer the
same. The linear stiffness parts are as before, but the geometric stiffness matrices for the two cases are
different, as these are based on the load on the structure.

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2 Buckling
Consider a simple structure consisting of two bars and a spring

F
x0 x
x

Assuming small deflection theory we can write the equilibrium equation at the pin

F kx

2N
( x x0 )
l

Note that the spring force depends only on the deflection x while the lateral force generated by
components of N depend on the deflection plus the initial imperfection x + x0. The equation can be
rearranged to express the deflection x in terms of force and stiffness

2N
x0
l
x
2N
k
l
F

The divisor represents the stiffness of the structure. The effect of the axial force is equivalent to an
additional stiffness of 2N/l acting laterally at the pin. This is the geometric stiffness. When the axial
force is tensile the geometric stiffness is positive. The effects on the system tend to be beneficial, the
lateral deflection and the restraining force in the spring are both reduced. When the axial force is
compressive, the geometric stiffness is negative. The effects on the system tend to be detrimental, the
lateral deflection and the restraining force in the spring are both increased. To understand and allow for
these effects is the aim of a buckling analysis.
There is a critical load that can be applied to the structure such that the negative geometric stiffness
cancels out the spring stiffness, resulting in zero total stiffness. This critical load is

N cr

kl
2

Using this equation the equilibrium equation can be recast as

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2N
)x
kl
N
(1
)x
N cr
(1

F 2N

x0
k
kl
F
N

x0
k N cr

what is important in this equation is the ratio of N to Ncr, rather than the absolute value of either. It is
useful to work with a load factor defined as

cr

N cr
N

Also F/k is the solution with no axial force

x N 0

F
k

Then the equilibrium equation can be written as

1
1
(1
)
cr

x N 0

1
cr

x0
1
(1
)
cr

While this has been developed for a very simple structure the principles are applicable to general
buckling problems. The following points can be made
1.

2.

Considering the first term in the above equation, the deflection in the absence of axial load.
Division by (1-1/cr) has the effect of amplifying the deflection and hence the spring force, or
more generally the forces in the element resisting lateral load. Amplification values in the
following table illustrate this. The amplification values indicate that if an analysis is to be accurate
to within 10% it needs to allow for the effects of buckling if N/Ncr > 0.1 or cr < 10.
N/Ncr

cr

Amplification

1.000

0.1

10

1.111

0.2

1.250

0.3

3.333

1.500

0.4

2.500

1.667

0.5

2.000

2.000

0.6

1.667

2.500

0.7

1.429

3.333

0.8

1.250

5.000

0.9

1.111

10.00

1.0

1.0

The equation implies that in the absence of any applied lateral load there would be a bifurcation of
the system at the critical load. In reality the presence of imperfections means that this does not
happen. Rather the initial imperfections are progressively amplified as the compressive axial load
is increased as indicated by the second term in the above equation.

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3.

It is sometimes believed that the value of cr in some way represents a factor of safety against
buckling occurring. It is better to think of the effects of buckling being ever present, and it being
necessary to make specific allowance for them if cr < 10.

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2.1
2.1.1

Buckling Analysis
The eigenproblem

The basic idea is that the structural stiffness is a combination of the linear stiffness and the geometric
or differential stiffness. So the equilibrium equation for the structure is

K x Kg x f
What we are concerned with is the point at which the stiffness of the structure is cancelled out by the
geometric stiffness so that the structure can no longer carry any load. This can be represented by a load
factor ,

K x Kg x 0
or

K Kg 0
We can write the eigenproblem as

K Kg
This is similar to the equation for a modal dynamic problem where the mass matrix has been replaced
by the geometric stiffness matrix. There are a number of differences between the form of the geometric
stiffness matrix and the form of the mass matrix. The most significant of these is that the mass matrix
is dominated by positive terms, and in the case of lumped masses all the terms are positive with the
result is that all the eigenvalues are positive. The sign of the terms in the geometric stiffness matrix
may be positive or negative, so the resulting eigenvalues may be positive or negative. This is discussed
in more detail below.
As noted for a dynamic analysis the eigenvectors can be scaled arbitrarily. In Gss they are scaled to a
maximum translation of unity.

2.1.2

Significance of magnitude and sign of eigenvalues

A buckling analysis is the first part of checking the structure against buckling. If the lowest modes
have a load factor > 10 then buckling is unlikely to need further consideration. For values less than 10
some further evaluation is required.
Consider a simple column with axial load. If the axial load is compressive the column will have a
tendency to buckling and the load factor at which this occurs is determined by a buckling analysis. If
however the axial load is tensile, the loading tends to stabilise the column and this results in a load
factor < 0. A load factor less than zero is not in itself a cause for concern. The significance of negative
load factors depends on the magnitude (if in the range 10:0) and if it is possible for the sign of the
load to change so that the beneficial effects of tension are replaced by compression. For example a
suspension bridge would have small negative load factors for the hangers, however, the hangers are
there to work in tension so compression there is not an issue.
In some cases more than one eigenvalue may have the same value. In this case it is necessary to
consider how these might combine. For example a circular structure under uniform compression has
pairs of modes with the same load factor. The paired mode shapes are similar except that they are
rotated such that the nodes of one correspond to antinodes or the other. Combining the modes using
sine and cosine factors produces a shape where the antinode can be anywhere around the rim. In such a
case the shape should be constant around the perimeter, not varied according to either original shape.

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2.1.3

Combining results for design

Once we have solved the eigenproblem we can calculate a modal stiffness and a modal geometric
stiffness (in a similar way to the modal stiffness and modal mass in a dynamic analysis).
T

ki i K i
T

k gi i K g i
The response qi in any mode can be written in terms of the modal characteristics as

1
cri
1
qi
qi
q oi
1
1
(1
)
(1
)
cri
cri
where

q i

iT f
ki

If the structure is sensitive to buckling, allowance need to be made for two effects:

The increased response of the perfect structure to loading

The additional response of the structure due to imperfections

The response of the perfect structure is calculated using the Gss Static P-delta option

x (K K g ) 1 f
The effect of the additional response due to imperfection can be calculated from the second term in the
modal response

qi
2.1.4

1
( cri 1 )

qoi

Modelling considerations

Loading
The buckling behaviour of the structure helps identify the loading to which it is sensitive and hence
what loading should be used in the design. Be prepared to revise the loading once the buckled shapes
have been found.
P-delta analysis
Select the load cases for P-delta analysis seeking to maximize the product of the linear response,
dependant on the modal load iT f, and the amplification factor 1 / (1 1/cr).

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Imperfections
Consider imperfections corresponding to mode shapes found in eigen analysis. Calculate values of q0
based on the waveform length and a suitable imperfection factor. Use

qi

1
qoi
(cri 1)

to calculate values of response.

Utilisation
Check members under the combination of the forces from the P-delta analyses, and the modal forces
from the buckling eigen analyses factored by the modal response calculated due to the imperfections.
Assuming that the relevant overall buckling modes have been found, the effective length used in the
member check can be based on the local restraint conditions and will normally be the member length.

2.2

Preparing a model for buckling analysis

A buckling analysis is a different way of analysing a structure, so the model will be substantially the
same as for a static analysis. There are however a number of points to consider.

A buckling analysis applies only to structures involving bars, beams and 2D shell elements.
Springs and rigid elements can be used but care should be taken to ensure that they do not prevent
true buckling behaviour. Their use is best limited to local connections.

Avoid using beam elements when a bar element is more appropriate. This may avoid modes
associated with individual elements. These modes should not be ignored but are of limited interest
when analyzing the whole structure.

A buckling analysis is selected in the Analysis Wizard. First choose the Gss solver and the Buckling
option. The next page is where the number of modes is specified and the P-delta analysis case.

2.2.1

Modelling advice

Buckling analysis is quite different from a static analysis.

If there is any uncertainty about whether or how something works, check it using a simple model.

The eigensolver will find the lowest magnitude eigenvalues regardless of sign. Modelling slender
tension members with bar elements will avoid modes with low negative eigenvalues

If in doubt seek advice!

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Bibliography

1.

Bathe KJ, Finite Element Procedures, Prentice Hall, 1996

2.

Dallard PRB, Buckling An Approach Based on Geomentric Stiffness and Eigen Analysis,1998

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