Structural Steelwork Eurocodes

Development of
A Trans-national Approach
Course: Eurocode 3
Module 4: Member design

Lecture 12: Unrestrained Beams

Summary:

Beams bent about the major axis may fail by buckling in a more flexible plane
This form of buckling involves both lateral deflection and twisting - lateral-torsional buckling
The applied moment at which a beam buckles by deflecting laterally and twisting reached is the elastic
critical moment
A design approach for beams prone to failure by lateral-torsional buckling must account for a large
number of factors - including section shape, the degree of lateral restraint, type of loading, residual
stress pattern and initial imperfections
Stocky beams are unaffected by lateral torsional buckling and capacity is governed by the plastic
resistance moment of the cross section
Slender beams have capacities close to the theoretical elastic critical moment
Many practical beams are significantly adversely affected by inelasticity and geometrical
imperfections, hence elastic theory provides an upper band solution.
A design expression linking the plastic capacity of stocky beams with the elastic behaviour of slender
beams is provided by a reduction factor for lateral torsional buckling, LT.

Pre-requisites:

Bending theory
Buckling of structural elements
Restrained beam behaviour

Notes for Tutors:

This material comprises one 30 minute lecture.

SSEDTA

Structural Steelwork Eurocodes Development of a Trans-National Approach

Design of Members
Unrestrained Beams

Objectives:
The student should:
be aware of the phenomenon of lateral torsional stability
be able to identify the controlling paprameters
understand the significance of the terms in the elastic torsional buckling equations
be able to apply the EC3 rules to the design of a simply supported laterally unrestrained beam
recognise practical applications where lateral torsional buckling is unlikely to present a problem

References:

Narayanan, R., editor, Beams and Beam Columns: Stability and Strength, Applied Science
Publishers, 1983
Chen, W. F. and Atsuta, T., Thoery of Beam Columns Volume 2, Space Behaviour and Design,
McGraw Hill, 1977
Timoshenko, S.P. and Gere, J.M., Theory of Elastic Stability, Second Edition, McGraw Hill, 1962
Trahair, N.S. and Bradford, M.A., The Behaviour and Design of Steel Structures, E&F Spon, 1994
Kirby, P.A. and Nethercot, D.A., Design for Structural Stability

Contents:
1.Introduction
2.Elastic buckling of a simply supported beam
3.Development of a design approach
4.Extension to other cases
4.1 Load pattern
4.2 Level of application of Load
4.3 End support conditions
4.4 Beams with intermediate lateral support
4.5 Continuous beams
5. Concluding summary

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Structural Steelwork Eurocodes Development of a Trans-National Approach

Design of Members
Unrestrained Beams

1. Introduction
Whenever a slender structural element is loaded in its stiff plane there exist a tendency for it to
fail by buckling in a more flexible plane. In the case of beam bent about its major axis, failure
may occur by a form of buckling which involves both lateral deflection and twisting - lateraltorsional buckling. Figure 1 illustrates the phenomenon with a slender cantilever beam loaded
by a vertical end load.

Clam p at
root

Unloaded
posit ion
Buc k led
posit ion

Dead w eight
load applied
v ert ically

Figure 1 Lateral-torsional buckling of a slender cantilever beam

If the cantilever was perfectly straight and the cross section initially stress free and perfectly
elastic, the tip of the cantilever would deflect only in the vertical plane with no out of plane
deflection until the applied moment reached a critical value at which the beam buckles by
deflecting laterally and twisting. A design approach for beams prone to failure by lateraltorsional buckling must of necessity account for a large number of factors - including section
shape, the degree of lateral restraint, type of loading, residual stress pattern and initial
imperfections - and is therefore relatively complex. It is instructive to first consider a simple
basic model which may then be developed to include more general cases.

2. Elastic buckling of a simply supported beam

Figure 2 shows a perfectly elastic, initially straight I beam loaded by equal and opposite end
moments about its major axis (ie in the plane of the web). The beam is unrestrained along its
length except at each end where the sections is prevented from twisting and lateral deflection
but is free to rotate both in the plane of the web and on plan. The buckled shape and resultant
deformations are also shown in the figure (note only half of the beam is shown, the
deformations are at the midspan).

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Structural Steelwork Eurocodes Development of a Trans-National Approach

Design of Members
Unrestrained Beams

M
L
Section

Elevation

Plan
z
x
u

Figure 2 Lateral torsional buckling of a simple I beam under

uniform moment
The moment necessary to cause buckling may be determined by equating the disturbing effect
of the applied end moments, acting through the buckling deformations, to the internal (bending
and torsional) resistance of the section. The critical value of applied end moments, the elastic
critical moment (Mcr), is found to be

Mcr =

2 EI z I w
2

L2GI t
+

2
I z EI z

0 ,5

(1)

F.1

where
It is the torsion constant ; Iw is the warping constant
Iz is the second moment of area about the minor axis; L is the unrestrained length of beam.
The presence of the flexural stiffness (EIz) and torsional stiffness (GIt and EIw) in the equation
is a direct consequence of the lateral and torsional components of the buckling deformations.
The relative importance of these items will be a reflection of the type of cross section
considered. Figure 3 illustrates this point by comparing the elastic critical moment of a box
section (which has high flexural and torisional stiffness) with open sections of various shapes.

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Structural Steelwork Eurocodes Development of a Trans-National Approach

Design of Members
Unrestrained Beams

1 .0

0 .1
Rat io of M cr t o
M cr f or box
sect ion

0 .0 1

0 .0 0 1
0

10

20

40

30

50

60

70

Rat io of lengt h t o

Figure 3 Effect of cross section shape on theoretical elastic critical

moment
Figure 4 compares values of the elastic critical moment (Mcr) for an I beam and a column
section with similar in plane plastic moment capacities. Lateral-torsional buckling is a
potentially more significant design consideration for a beam section which is much less stiff
laterally and torsionally.

- Section

H - Section

457x152 UB 60

254x254 UC 89

14

Mcr
Mp

12

10

Wpl (cm3 )

1284

1228

y(cm4 )

25464

14307

z(cm )

794

4849

J
8

(cm4

4
w(cm )

31,5

97,6

386700

716400

6
254x254 UC 89

L
457x152 UB 60

10

12

14

16

18

20

L (m)

Figure 4 Comparison of elastic critical moments for I and H

sections

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Structural Steelwork Eurocodes Development of a Trans-National Approach

Design of Members
Unrestrained Beams

3. Development of a design approach

Real beams are not perfectly straight nor is the material elastic. Figure 5 shows the effects of
residual stresses and strain hardening on the lateral buckling strength. Note that at high
slenderness values the behaviour is well represented by elastic buckling theory but for stocky
beams there is a complex interplay as inelastic behaviour causes a reduction in capacity, and for
very stocky beams the capacity is limited by the plastic resistance of the section. Application of
a theoretical treatment of the problem would be too complex for routine design so a
combination of theory and test results is required to produce a reliable (safe) design approach.

Figure 5 Lateral buckling strengths of simply supported I beams

Figure 6 compares a typical set of lateral torsional buckling test data with the theoretical elastic
critical moments given by eqn 1. A non-dimensionalised form of plot has been used which
permits results from different test series (which have different cross-sections and material
strengths) to be compared directly via a non-dimensional slenderness, LT. For stocky beams
( LT 0.4) the capacity is unaffected by lateral torsional buckling and is governed by the
plastic resistance moment of the cross section. Slender beams ( LT 1.2) have capacities close
to the theoretical elastic critical moment, Mcr. However, beams of intermediate slenderness,
which covers many practical beams, are significantly adversely affected by inelasticity and
geometrical imperfections and therefore elastic theory provides an upper band solution. A
design expression linking the plastic capacity of stocky beams with the elastic behaviour of
slender beams is required. EC3 achieves this by use of a reduction factor for lateral torsional
buckling, LT.

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Structural Steelwork Eurocodes Development of a Trans-National Approach

Design of Members
Unrestrained Beams

M
M pl
1 ,0
M
M

0 ,8

cr
pl

0 ,6
0 ,4
0 ,2

St ocky

In t e rm e d ia t e

S le n d e r

0
0 ,2

0 ,4

0 ,6

0 ,8

1 ,0

1 ,2

1 ,4

LT =

M pl
M cr

Figure 6 Comparison of test data with theoretical elastic critical

moments

The design buckling resistance moment (Mb.Rd) of a laterally unrestrained beam is thus taken as:
Mb.Rd = LT w Wpl.y fy/m1

(2)

5.5.2 (1)
(5.48)

which is effectively the plastic resistance of the section multiplied by the reduction factor
( LT). Figure 7 shows the relationship between LT and the non-dimensional slenderness,

LT .
The curves shown are expressed by

LT =

LT + LT 2 LT

(3)

2 0,5

5.5.2. (2)
(5.49)

where

LT = 0,51 + aLT (LT 0.2) + LT ) + LT 2

(4)

in which a LT is an imperfection factor, taken as 0,21 for rolled sections and 0,49 for welded
sections, with their more severe residual stresses.

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Reduction factor LT

Structural Steelwork Eurocodes Development of a Trans-National Approach

Design of Members
Unrestrained Beams

1,0

1,0

Rolled sections

0,6

0,4

Welded beams

0,2

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0
Slenderness LT

Figure 7 Lateral-torsional buckling reduction factor

LT , the non-dimensional slenderness, defined as

M plRd / M cr , may be calculated either by

calculating the plastic resistance moment and elastic critical moment from first principles (see
Appendix F.1) or more conveniently by the relationship:

LT 0,5
w
1

LT =

(5)

5.5.2 (5)

where

E
1 =
fy

0,5

(6)

and Lt may be calculated using apppropriate expressions for a variety of section shapes (see
Appendix F.2.2.). For example, for any plain I or H section with equal flanges, and subject to
uniform moment with simple end restraints,
LT=

L / iz
2

L / iz
1
1 +

20 h / t f

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0 , 25

(7)

F.2.2

F.2.2 (5)
(F.21)

Structural Steelwork Eurocodes Development of a Trans-National Approach

Design of Members
Unrestrained Beams

4. Extension to other cases

4.1 Load pattern
Uniform moment applied to an unrestrained beam is the most severe for consideration of lateral
torsional buckling. An elastic analysis of alternative load cases results in higher values of
elastic critical moments. For example, the elastic critical moment for uniform moment is
(rearranging eqn (1))
Mcr =

2 EI

EI z GI r 1 + 2 w
L
L GI t

(8)

but for a beam with a central point load the maximum moment at the centre on the point of
buckling is
Mcr=

2 EI
4.24
EI z GI r 1 + 2 w
L
L GI t

(9)

which is 4.24/ higher than the base case. EC3 uses this ratio expressed as a factor, C1, to
allow for the loading arrangement (shape of the bending moment diagram) for a variety of
loading cases, as shown in Figure 8. C1 appears as a simple multiplier in expressions for Mcr
(see EC3 eqn F.2) or as

1 / C 1 in expressions for LT.

Mcr = C1
L

Beam
and loads
M

EI GJ

Bending
moment

2
1+ EIw
2
L GJ

Mmax

C1

1,00

1,879

Table F.1.1

-M
M
F

2,752

Table F.1.2
FL
4

1,365

FL
8

1,132

F
F
Note: The above values correspond to a effective length factor k of 1,0

Figure 8 Equivalent uniform moment factors C1

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Structural Steelwork Eurocodes Development of a Trans-National Approach

Design of Members
Unrestrained Beams

4.2 Level of application of Load

Lateral stability of a beam is dependent not only on the arrangement of loads within the span
but also on the level of application of the load relative to the centroid. Figure 9 illustrates the
effect of placing the load above and below the centroid for a simple span with a central point
load.

1,4
F
a=d/2

Equivalent uniform moment factor m

1,2

1,0

F
a=0

0,8

0,6

a=d/2

0,4
1

10

100

L2GI t
EI w

1000

Figure 9 Effect of level of load application on beam stability

Loads applied to the top flange add to the destabilising effect due to the additional twisting
moment arising from the action of the load not passing through the section centroid. The
influence of this behaviour becomes more significant as the depth of the section increases
and/or the span reduces ie as L2GIt/EIw becomes smaller. Again EC3 accounts for this by
introduction of a factor C2 into the general equation for the elastic critical moment (see EC3 eqn
F.2) and expressions for LT (see EC3 eqns F.27 - F.31).

F.1.2 (F,2)
F.2.2 (8)
(F.27-F.31)

4.3 End support conditions

All of the foregoing has assumed end conditions which prevent lateral movement and twist but
permit rotation on plan. End conditions which prevent rotation on plan enhance the elastic
buckling resistance (in much the same way that column capacities are enhanced by rotational
end restraints). A convenient way of including the effect of different support conditions is to
redefine the unrestrained length as an effective length, or more precisely with two effective
length factors, k and kw. The two factors reflect the two possible types of end fixity, lateral
bending restraint and warping restraint. However it should be noted that it is recommended that
kw be taken as 1,0 unless special provision for warping fixing is made. EC3 recommends k
values of 0,5 for fully fixed ends, 0,7 for one free and one fixed end and of course 1,0 for two
free ends. The choice of k is at the designers discretion.

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F.1.2 (4)
F.1.2 (2)

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Structural Steelwork Eurocodes Development of a Trans-National Approach

Design of Members
Unrestrained Beams

4.4 Beams with intermediate lateral support

Where beams have lateral restraints at intervals along the span the segments of the beam
between restraints may be treated in isolation, the design of the beam being based on the most
critical segment. Lengths of beams between restraints should use an effective length factor k of
1,0 not 0,7, as in the buckled shape the adjacent unrestrained length will buckle in sympathy.

4.5 Continuous beams

Beams continuous over a number of spans may be treated as individual spans taking into
account the shape of the bending moment diagram within each span as a result of continuity
using the C1 factor.

5. Concluding summary

Beams bent about the major axis may fail by buckling in a more flexible plane - lateraltorsional buckling
Moment at which buckling occurs is the elastic critical moment
Design approach must account for a large number of factors section shape, the degree of lateral restraint, type of loading,
residual stress pattern and initial imperfections
Stocky beams are unaffected by lateral torsional buckling
Slender beams have capacities close to the theoretical elastic critical moment
Practical beams are significantly adversely affected by inelasticity and geometrical
imperfections - elastic theory is an upper band solution.
A design expression linking the plastic capacity of stocky beams with the elastic behaviour
of slender beams is provided by a reduction factor for lateral torsional buckling, LT

11/02/08

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