This paper presents an efficient approach to the determination of the buckling loads of downaisle,
spliced, unbraced, pallet rack structures subjected to vertical and horizontal loads. A pallet rack
structures is analysed by considering the stabilit...
This paper presents an efficient approach to the determination of the buckling loads of downaisle,
spliced, unbraced, pallet rack structures subjected to vertical and horizontal loads. A pallet rack
structures is analysed by considering the stability equations of an equivalent free-sway column. The effects of
semi-rigid beam-to-upright, splice-to-upright and base-plate-to-upright connections are fully incorporated into
the analysis. Each section of upright between successive beam levels in the pallet rack is considered to be a
single column element with two rotational degrees of freedom. A computer algebra package was used to
determine modified stability equations for column elements containing splices. The influence of the position
of splices in a pallet rack is clearly demonstrated.