I agree with Mike, a is a better detail. Would look to "haunch" the top of the column to get additional strength / stiffness at this critical location
If the structure only has one row of columns I am surprised that columns are not box sections (would examine torsional rigidity /strength of the...
Because Maxwells proof is based purely on energy, am I correct in assuming that his theorem applies to non linear structures?
i ask the question because so much discussion on previous threads appears to assume that linear elastic behaviour is a pre requisite to the application of the theory