Design of Laterally Unrestrained Beams

In this chapter, the resistance of members against instability phenomena caused by a bending moment will
be presented in standard cross sectional shapes, such as I or H bent around the major axis (y axis), the
typical instability phenomenon is lateral-torsional buckling.

1- Lateral-Torsional Buckling
Consider a member subject to bending about the strong axis of the cross section (y axis). Lateral-torsional
buckling is characterized by lateral deformation of the compressed part of the cross section (the
compressed flange in the case of I or H sections). This part behaves like a compressed member, but one
continuously restrained by the part of the section in tension, which initially does not have any tendency
to move laterally. As seen in the below Figures, where this phenomenon is illustrated for a cantilever
beam, the resulting deformation of the cross section includes both lateral bending and torsion. This is why
this phenomenon is called lateral-torsional buckling.
 2- Elastic critical moment

To obtain the elastic critical moment, consider the simply supported beam of Figure 3.56, with the
supports preventing lateral displacements and twisting but allowing warping and bending rotations around
the cross sectional axes (y and z), submitted to a constant bending moment My. Consider the following
assumptions:
1- perfect beam, without any type of imperfections (geometrical or material);
2- doubly symmetric cross section;
3- material with linear elastic behaviour;
4- small displacements ( sin= ; cos== 1 )
The critical value of the moment denoted as (critical moment of the “standard case”) is obtained:

By inspection of equation (3.99), it is observed that the critical moment of a member under bending
depends on several factors, such as:
 loading (shape of the bending moment diagram);
 support conditions;
 length of the member between laterally braced cross sections;
 lateral bending stiffness;
 torsion stiffness;
 warping stiffness.

Besides these factors, the point of application of the loading also has a direct influence on the elastic
critical moment of a beam. A gravity load applied below the shear centre C (that coincides with the
centroid, in case of doubly symmetric I or H sections) has a stabilizing effect (Mcr,1>Mcr), whereas the
same load applied above this point has a destabilizing effect (Mcr,2<Mcr), as illustrated in Figure 3.57.
The calculation of the critical moment for design of a beam must also incorporate this effect.

Equation (3.99) is valid for the calculation of the elastic critical moment of a simply supported beam, with
a doubly symmetric cross section and subjected to a constant bending moment (the “standard case”).
However, in reality, other situations often occur, such as beams with non-symmetrical cross sections, with
other support conditions, subject to different loading patterns and, consequently, subject to different
bending moment diagrams. The derivation of an exact expression for the critical moment for each case is
not practical, as this implies the computation of differential equations of some complexity.
Therefore, in practical applications approximate formulae are used, which are applicable to a wide
set of situations.
The elastic critical moment can be estimated using equation (3.107). This is applicable to members subject
to bending about the strong axis, with cross sections mono-symmetric about the weak z axis (see Figure
3.59), for several support conditions and types of loading.

Where
 C1, C2 and C3 are coefficients depending on the shape of the bending moment diagram and on
support conditions, given in Tables 3.6 and 3.7 for some usual situations.
 kz and kw are effective length factors that depend on the support conditions at the end sections.
Factor kz is related to rotations at the end sections about the weak axis z, and kw refers to warping
restriction in the same cross sections. These factors vary between 0.5 (restrained deformations)
and 1.0 (free deformations), and are equal to 0.7 in the case of free deformations at one end and
restrained at the other. Since in most practical situations restraint is only partial, conservatively a
value of kz = kw = 1.0 may be adopted;

 zg = (za – zs) , where za and zs are the coordinates of the point of application of the load and of
the shear centre, relative to the centroid of the cross section; these quantities are positive if located
in the compressed part and negative if located in the tension part;
 is a parameter that reflects the degree of asymmetry of the
cross section in relation to the y axis. It is zero for beams with doubly symmetric cross section
(such as I or H cross sections with equal flanges) and takes positive values when the flange with
the largest second moment of area about z is the compressed flange, at the cross section with
maximum bending moment;

For more details about details and application of equation 3.107, review the textbook.

3- Effect of imperfections and plasticity

In the previous sub-section the elastic critical moment was obtained for an ideal member with constant
bending moment (the “standard case”), and formulae were also presented, some exact and some
approximate, for the calculation of the elastic critical moment in members with other support and/or
loading conditions.

In the verification of the lateral-torsional buckling resistance, the effect of the following geometrical
imperfections should be considered:
 the initial lateral displacements;
 the initial torsional rotations;
 the eccentricity of the transverse loads relative to the shear centre of the cross sections;
 residual stresses.

Due to the presence of geometrical imperfections, the real behaviour of a member diverges from the
theoretical behaviour and the elastic critical moment is never reached.

The effect of geometrical imperfections may be introduced into the design procedure of a member under
major axis bending in a similar way to that for design of a member under pure compression.

As for compressed members, residual stresses and other geometrical imperfections affect the lateral-
torsional resistance of beams. In a simplified way, all these imperfections are taken into account through
the equivalent imperfection concept.

Based on extensive numerical, experimental and parametric simulations (Boissonnade et al, 2006) it was
concluded that the design of the majority of steel members (including members composed by rolled and
welded I or H sections) could be done according to the European buckling curves, previously obtained for
the design of members under pure axial compression.
 Design of Laterally Unrestrained Beams

Lateral-Torsional Buckling Resistance

The verification of resistance to lateral-torsional buckling of a prismatic member consists of the
verification of the following condition (clause 6.3.2.1(1)):

where MEd is the design value of the bending moment and Mb,Rd is the design buckling resistance, given
by (clause 6.3.2.1(3)):

In EC3-1-1 two methods for the calculation of the reduction coefficient in prismatic members are
proposed: a general method that can be applied to any type of cross section (more conservative) and an
alternative method that can be applied to rolled cross sections or equivalent welded sections.

i) General method
According to the general method (clause 6.3.2.2), the reduction coefficient is determined by the
following equation:

is the imperfection factor, which depends on the buckling curve;

Curve Type a0 a b c d
0.13 0.21 0.34 0.49 0.76

Mcr the elastic critical moment.

The buckling curves to be adopted depend on the geometry of the cross section of the member and are
indicated in Table 3.8. For the imperfection factors associated to the various curves, the values
given in section 3.5.2 for members in compression should be adopted.

ii) Alternative method – Rolled or equivalent welded sections

According to this second method, defined in clause 6.3.2.3, the reduction factor is determined by
the following equation:

The values for , and are given in Clause NA.2.17 of the National Annex to BS EN
1993-1-1, as follows:
A. For rolled sections, and hot finished and cold-formed hollow sections

, .
β = 0.75
B. For equivalent welded sections

, .
β = 1.0
 is the imperfection factor that depends on the appropriate buckling curve (defined as in the
general method);
Furthermore, the National Annex gives a replacement to Table 6.5 of BS EN 1993-1-1 for the selection
the lateral-torsional buckling curve, which is reproduced below as Table 3.2.

Curve Type a0 a b c d
0.13 0.21 0.34 0.49 0.76

the coefficient of non-dimensional slenderness (defined as in the general method);

Mcr the elastic critical moment.

According to this second method, defined in clause 6.3.2.3, the shape of the bending moment diagram,
between braced sections, can be taken into account by considering a modified reduction factor

The parameter f can be obtained from the following equation, or from an alternative process provided in
the National Annexes:

where kc is a correction factor, defined according to Table 3.10

iii) Conditions for ignoring the lateral-torsional buckling verification

The verification of lateral-torsional buckling for a member in bending may be ignored if at least one of
the following conditions is verified (clause 6.3.2.2(4)):

iv) Methods for improving the lateral-torsional buckling resistance

In practical situations, for given geometrical conditions, support conditions and assumed loading, the
lateral-torsional buckling behaviour of a member can be improved in two ways:

 by increasing the lateral bending and/or torsional stiffness, by increasing the section or changing
from IPE profiles to HEA or HEB or to closed hollow sections (square, rectangular or circular);
 by laterally bracing along the member the compressed part of the section (the compressed flange
in the case of I or H sections).

Usually, the second option is more economical, although sometimes it is not feasible. The bracing
members must connect the compressed zone of the cross sections with points with negligible transverse
displacement.
Laterally Unrestrained Beams
Solved Examples
Example 3.11: Consider the beam of example 3.4 (Figure 3.61), supported by web cleats and loaded by
two concentrated loads, P = 70.0 kN (design loads). Design the beam using a HEA profile (and
alternatively an IPE profile), in S 235 steel (E = 210 GPa and G = 81 GPa), according to EC3-1-1.
Consider free rotation at the supports with respect to the y-axis and the z-axis. Also assume free warping
at the supports but consider that the web cleats do not allow rotation around the axis of the beam (x axis).
Assume:
a) unbraced beam;
b) beam braced at the points of application of the concentrated loads.

1- Diagrams of internal forces

 2- Member assumption
Use HEA 220 with Wpl,y = 568.5 cm3 (or alternatively to a IPE 270 with Wpl,y = 484 cm3).

(a) Unbraced beam (Lateral-torsional buckling without intermediate bracing)

1- General method
Considering a HEA profile, a HEA 240 is adopted to allow for the effect of lateral-torsional buckling.
The required geometric characteristics of this cross section are: Wpl,y = 744.6 cm3, Iy = 7763 cm4, Iz =
2769 cm4, IT = 41.55 cm4 and IW = 328.5 x 103 cm6. The mechanical characteristics of the material are
defined by: fy = 235 MPa, E = 210 GPa and G = 81 GPa.

Use equation 3.107 to calculate Mcr

- Considering kz = kw = 1.0, C1 = 1.04 and C2 = 0.42 (Table 3.7),
and zg = 115 mm,
- equation (3.107) gives: Mcr = 231.5kNm
- calculate from = 0.87 where ,

- Since α LT = 0.21 (H rolled section, with h /b ≤ 2 ),

- Calculate  LT from

So,  LT = 0.95

- Calculate from

= 0.75

- The design buckling resistance is given by:

Alternatively, using a IPE profile, a IPE 400 is required, giving a design buckling resistance of

Mb,Rd = 131.0 kNm.

 2- Alternative method applicable to rolled or equivalent welded sections
Look at the textbook, Page 217

(b) beam braced at the points of application of the concentrated loads.

If the beam is laterally braced at the points of application of the loads, the lateral-torsional buckling
behaviour is improved. The problem now consists on the evaluation of the resistance to lateral-torsional
buckling of a beam segment 3.00 m long, under a constant bending moment (MEd = 105.0 kNm), as shown
in Figure 3.63.
 1- General method
For the HEA 220 profile in S 235 steel (minimum section, governed by plastic resistance to bending), with
L = 3.00 m, C1 = 1.0, kz = kw = 1.0, Iz = 1955 cm4, IT = 28.46 cm4, IW = 193.3 x 103 cm6, Wpl,y = 568.5
cm3, E = 210 GPa, G = 81 GPa and fy = 235 MPa, the elastic critical moment (equation (3.107) is given
by:

Mcr 551.3 kNm

0.49

As αLT 0.21 (rolled H section, with h/ b ≤2),

LT 0.65 LT 0.93

The lateral-torsional buckling resistance is given by:

and a HEA 220 is adequate. By using a profile from the IPE series, an IPE 300 is sufficient, with a lateral-
torsional buckling resistance given by Mb,Rd = 120.2kNm . Both sections, in S 235 steel, are class 1.

2- Alternative method applicable to rolled or equivalent welded sections

Look at the Textbook, Page 217
Example 3.12 : see the TextBook Page 220