Calculation of geometric properties for storage rack column sections

Abstract

This paper develops closed-form analytical formulas for calculating the geometric properties of open-section thin-walled steel storage rack columns, with particular emphasis on flexural-torsional buckling analysis. The study focuses on storage rack columns, which are typically fabricated from cold-formed thin-walled steel and have complex cross-sectional geometries including folded edges, lips, and stiffeners. The theoretical formulation is based on Vlasov thin-walled beam theory, in which cross-sectional warping is described by sectorial coordinates. On this basis, warping constant and shear-center location of the section are derived. Numerical examples validate the proposed formulas through comparison with CUFSM and GBTUL results, and the calculated geometric properties are subsequently used to evaluate the flexural-torsional buckling capacity of the members.