Eccentrically Loaded Elastically Supported Columns

Storage bins, silos, stud wall systems with heavy cladding, and other similar structures often consist of siding supported by vertical stiffeners on one side only. In some cases, the weight of the cladding contributes significantly to the axial load on the stiffeners. In other cases, the fill in such structures often exerts lateral forces on the siding which in turn generates friction forces. The side walls will thus carry a significant vertical load which is usually transmitted to the stiffeners as eccentric distributed axial loads. In either case since the vertical forces can be quite large, the question arises as to how these eccentric forces should be accounted for in the design. The cladding or fill, or both, provides lateral support to some degree. However, designers have had little guidance as to when the moments due to eccentric axial loads can be neglected. The purpose of this paper is to provide such guidance.