Analysis of an Elastically Restrained Column using Stiffness Matrix Method and Artificial Intelligence

The determination of critical load in frames is a crucial part of determining the stability of a structure and creating a simplified method of analysis for varying element and frame materials, lengths and sizes. The accuracy of critical loading determination using the stiffness matrix method is evaluated by comparison to critical loading obtained when using the second order differential equation method for an elastically restrained column. Both of these methods result in Pcr = 14.7 EI/L<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup>, verifying the accuracy of the stiffness matrix method and slope deflection method in critical load determination. Future studies may be conducted to compare the accuracy of other methods using these results.