Cyclic Analysis of Fix-Ended Steel Beam-Columns

The paper describes an analytical model for theoretically predicting the inelastic cyclic behavior of fix-ended steel beam-columns subjected to one cycle of axial loading. The analysis is based on the hinge-by-hinge method used widely in the study of elastic-plastic behavior of steel structures. In this analysis, the solution of an elastic-plastic beam-column under cyclic and reversed loading is obtained as a sequence of elastic column solutions which follow the history of loading. Using this analytical procedure, closed form expressions are derived for axially loaded beam-columns with constant lateral loads. With these expressions, extensive numerical solutions are presented. Some of the results are compared with available tests on actual tubular beam-columns, providing the needed confirmation of the validity of the simple analytical model for practical use.