Effect of transverse impact on buckling behavior of a column under static axial compressive force

We investigated the buckling behavior of a column subjected to a transverse impact during static axial compression in relation to structural energy absorption in an experiment. Either a steel bar or an acrylic bar was collided into an aluminum alloy column to apply different histories of the transverse impact load. The column was buckled by the transverse impact under force lower than axial Euler's buckling force. We found that the critical condition of buckling generation was determined by the kinetic energy of the impactor independent of the impact force history. The velocity of the column deformation increased as the transverse impact velocity increased even when the axial force was low. Therefore, the deformation during post-buckling process can be controlled by the transverse impact.