Large Deflections and Buckling Loads of Cantilever Columns with Constant Volume

This paper deals with the large deflections and buckling loads of tapered cantilever columns with a constant volume. The column member has a solid regular polygonal cross-section. The depth of this cross-section is functionally varied along the column axis. Geometrical nonlinear differential equations, which govern the buckled shape of the column, are derived using the large deflection theory, considering the effect of shear deformation. The buckling load of the column is approximately equivalent to the load under which a very small tip deflection occurs. In regard to the numerical results, both the elastica and buckling loads with varying column parameters are discussed. The configurations of the strongest column are also presented.