The phenomena that occur during compression of hybrid thin-walled columns with open cross-sections in the elastic range are discussed. Nonlinear buckling problems were solved within Koiter's approximation theory. A multimodal approach was assumed to investigate an effect of symmetrical and anti-symmetrical buckling modes on the ultimate load-carrying capacity. Detailed simulations were carried out for freely supported columns with a C-section and a top-hat type section of medium lengths. The columns under analysis were made of two layers of isotropic materials characterized by various mechanical properties. The results attained were verified with the finite element method (FEM). The boundary conditions applied in the FEM allowed us to confirm the eigensolutions obtained within Koiter's theory with very high accuracy. Nonlinear solutions comply within these two approaches for low and medium overloads. To trace the correctness of the solutions, the Riks algorithm, which allows for investigating unsteady paths, was used in the FEM. The results for the ultimate load-carrying capacity obtained within the FEM are higher than those attained with Koiter's approximation method, but the leap takes place on the identical equilibrium path as the one determined from Koiter's theory.
Keywords: FEM; Koiter’s theory; compression; imperfection; multi-mode buckling.