New GBT Approach for Tapered Thin-walled Members with Closed Cross- sections

This paper presents a Generalised Beam Theory (GBT) extension developed for elastic linear analysis and buckling behaviour of tapered thin-walled members with one-cell closed cross-sections. This offers a new analysis method for structures as: columns, beams, box shaped bridges of variable cross-section. Approximating the annular cross-section with a polygonal one, this approach can also analyse conical elements, hyperbolic cooling towers, etc. In order to illustrate the potential of the new GBT formulation several numerical results are briefly presented and compared to estimates already validated in the scientific community or obtained by means of shell finite element analysis.