Effects of shear deformation on the effective length of tapered columns with I-section for steel portal frames

Based on the stiffness equation of the tapered beam element involving the effects of axial force and shear deformation, numerical investigations are carried out on elastic instability for web-linearly tapered columns with I-section of steel portal frames. Effects of shear deformation on the effective length of the tapered columns with I-section are studied. An efficient approach for determining the effective length of the tapered portal frame columns considering effects of shear deformation is proposed.