CHAPTER

Torsional and Flexural-Torsional Buckling

Contents
6.1. Introduction 6.2. Strain Energy of Torsion 6.2.1. St. Venant Torsion 6.2.2. Warping Torsion 6.3. Torsional and Flexural-Torsional Buckling of Columns 6.4. Torsional and Flexural-Torsional Buckling under Thrust and End Moments 6.4.1. Pure Torsional Buckling 6.4.2. Flexural-Torsional Buckling 6.4.3. Torsional and Flexural-Torsional Buckling under Thrust and End Moments References Problems 303 305 305 306 307 317 318 319 321 325 326

6.1. INTRODUCTION
In Chapter 1, the fundamental case of buckling of centrally loaded columns is presented under the assumption that columns will buckle in the plane of a principal axis without the accompanying rotation of the cross sections. This assumption, rst made by Euler (1744), appears reasonable for the doubly symmetric cross section but becomes problematic if cross sections have only one axis of symmetry or none at all. The possibility of torsional column failure had never been recognized until open thin-walled sections were used in aircraft design in the 1930s. Experience has revealed that columns having an open section with only one or no axis of symmetry show a tendency to bend and twist simultaneously under axial compression. The ominous nature of this type of failure lies in the fact that the actual critical load of such columns may be less than that predicted by the generalized Euler formula due to their small torsional rigidities. Bleich (1952) gives a fairly thorough overview of the early development of the theory on the torsional buckling. Bleich and Bleich (1936) were among the early developers of the theory on torsional buckling along with Wagner and Pretschner (1936), Ostenfeld (1931), Kappus (1938), Lundquist and Fligg (1937), Goodier (1941), Hoff
Stability of Structures ISBN 978-0-12-385122-2, doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-385122-2.10006-5 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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(1944), and Timoshenko (1945). All of these authors make the fundamental assumption that the plane cross sections of the column warp but that their geometry does not change during buckling. Thus, the theories consider primary failure (global buckling) of columns as opposed to local failure characterized by distortion of the cross sections. The dividing line between primary and local failure is not always sharp. Separate analysis of primary and local buckling based on governing differential equations, without abandoning the assumption that cross sections of the column will not deform, may yield only approximate solutions since there could be coupling of primary and local buckling. Modern nite element codes with rened modeling capabilities incorporating at least at shell elements may be able to assess this combined buckling action. The notion of unit warping or the concept of sectorial coordinate appears to have gained currency in the literature including Goodier (1941), Galambos (1968), Kollbrunner and Basler (1969), Timoshenko (1945), and Vlasov (1961). Bleich and Bleich (1936) developed their differential equations governing the torsional buckling behavior of columns with thinwalled open sections based on the principle of minimum potential energy without invoking the notion of unit warping or the concept of the sectorial coordinate. Although they claim that their equations are practically the same as those developed under the concept of the sectorial coordinate, they differ in a signicant aspect. The warping constant Iw (or G in their notation) for the cross section consisting of thin rectangular elements does not vanish according to their theory, in which the axial strain and the curvature are considered to be coupled. This consideration appears to be odd since in the linearized bifurcation-type buckling analysis, an adjacent equilibrium conguration is examined after all static deformations have taken place. As a consequence of their theory of nonvanishing warping constant, a beam having a cross section consisting of a series of narrow rectangular elements that meet at the shear center will become warped. This is a direct contradiction to Timoshenko and Gere (1961)1 and Vlasov (1961).2 According to the denition of unit warping, the warping constant Iw must be equal to zero for such sections where the perpendicular distance from the shear center to each element wall becomes zero. Therefore, the differential equations to be developed for torsional and exural-tosional
1 See page 217. 2 See page 27: a thin-walled beam consisting of a single bundle of very thin rectangular plates does not become warped.

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buckling here in this chapter and for lateral-torsional buckling in the next chapter will be based on the concept of unit warping.

6.2. STRAIN ENERGY OF TORSION

Recall that the concept of the stress tensor arises from equilibrium considerations and that the concept of the strain tensor arises from kinematic (deformation) considerations. These tensors are related to each other by laws that are called constitutive laws. The constitutive laws relating stresses and strains directly and uniquely can be expressed mathematically as sij sij 311 ; 312 ; ::::; 333 (6.2.1)

where sij stresses and 3ij strains. Consider a quantity, U0, strain energy density function which is also known to be a point function that is independent from the integral path taken: Z 3ij U0 sij d 3ij
0

A strain energy density function is measured in energy per volume and is a scalar quantity. For linearly elastic materials, it becomes U0 1 sij 3ij 2 (6.2.2)

Then, the strain energy stored in a body is Z Z 1 Uo dv sij 3ij dv U 2 V V

(6.2.3)

The strain energy stored in a twisted member is broken down into two parts, one due to St. Venant torsion and the other due to warping torsion. In order to maintain a generality, torsional stresses and corresponding strain expressions are explicitly developed and substituted in Eq. (6.2.3). As columns of a closed cross section are not likely to develop torsional or exural-torsional buckling, such columns are not considered here.

6.2.1. St. Venant Torsion

Recall that the St. Venant torsional moment is given by Eq. (5.4.1) as
St GKT f0 Mz

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The corresponding shear stress in an open cross section shown in Fig. 5-20 is given by szs sSt z
St h 2Mz 2Ghf0 KT

(6.2.4a)

and the corresponding shear strain is 3zs gzs szs hf0 2 2G (6.2.4b)

Then, the strain energy due to St. Venant torsion is Z Z Z 1 1 St UT Uo dv sij 3ij dv szs 3zs ssz 3sz dv 2 V 2 V V Substituting (6.2.4a) and (6.2.4b) gives
St Uz 2Gf0 2

Z
0

Z
0

t =2

t=2

h2 dhdsdv 2Gf0 2

Z
0

Z
0

t 2 h3  t dsdz
2

1 2

Z
0

GKT f0 2 dz

(6.2.4c)

where b is the width of a thin-walled element and h is measured from the centerline of a thin-walled element thickness so that hmax t =2.

6.2.2. Warping Torsion

For a member subjected to warping torsion, the dominant strain energy stored in the member due to its resistance to warping is assumed to be the strain energy due to warping normal stresses. Even though warping shear stresses produce strain energy, it is usually considered to be negligibly small and is neglected as in the case of not including the shear deformation effect in ordinary exural analysis. Warping normal stresses and corresponding strains are evaluated by sw z BM un EIw f00 un E un f00 Iw Iw 3w z Hence, sw z un f00 E (5.8.26)

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307

w UT

1 2

1 EIw f00 2 dz 2 0 R where A un 2 dA Iw as per Eq. (5.8.20).

V Z

1 w 00 2 sw z 3z dv E f 2

Z Z
0

1 un dAdz 2 A
2

Z
0

EIw f00 2 dz (6.2.5)

6.3. TORSIONAL AND FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF COLUMNS

It is assumed that the cross section retains its original shape during buckling. For prismatic members having thin-walled open sections, there are two parallel longitudinal reference axes: One is the centroidal axis, and the other is the shear center axis. The column load P must be placed at the centroid to induce a uniform compressive stress over the entire cross section. Transverse loads for pure bending must be placed along the shear center axis in order to not induce unintended torsional response. Since the cross sectional rotation is measured by the rotation about the shear center axis, the only way not to generate unintended torsional moment by the transverse load is to place the transverse load directly on the shear center axis so as to eliminate the moment arm. It is assumed that the member ends are simply supported for simplicity so that displacements in the x- and y-directions and the moments about these axes vanish at the ends of the member. Hence, u u00 v v00 0 at z 0 and (6.3.1) The member ends are assumed to be simply supported for torsion so that the rotation with respect to the shear center axis and warping restraint are equal to zero at the ends of the member. Thus f f00 0
y y C y0 C S x0 C: centroid u S: shear center x x S x P C ( x 0, y 0)

(6.3.2)

v z u

Figure 6-1 Flexural-torsional buckling deformation

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In order to consider a meaningful warping restraint, the member ends must be welded (not bolted) thoroughly with thick end plates or embedded into heavy bulkhead with no gap at the ends. These types of torsional boundary conditions are not expected to be encountered in ordinary construction practice. Strain energy stored in the member in the adjacent equilibrium conguration consists of four parts, ignoring the small contribution of the bending shear strain energy and the warping shear strain energy: the energies due to bending in the x- and y-directions; the energy due to St. Venant shear stress; and the energy due to warping torsion. Thus Z Z Z 1 1 1 00 2 00 2 U EIy u dz EIx v dz GKT f0 2 dz 2 0 2 0 2 0 Z 1 EIw f00 2 dz (6.3.3) 2 0 The loss of potential energy of external loads is equal to the negative of the product of the loads and the distances they travel as the column takes an adjacent equilibrium position. Figure 6-2 shows a longitudinal ber whose ends get close to one another by an amount Db . The distance Db is equal to the difference between the arc length S and the chord length of the ber. Thus Z V Db sdA (6.3.4)
A

z
b A u + du
dz

A
u dS

v + dv

y x
y B

Figure 6-2 Fiber deformations due to buckling

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As shown in Fig. 6-2 when the x and y displacements of the lower end of a differential element dz of the column are designated as u and v, then the corresponding displacements at the upper end are u du and v dv. From the Pythagorean theorem, the length of the deformed element is s   2  2 q du dv 2 2 2 dS du dv dz 1 dz (6.3.5) dz dz In Section 1.6 it was shown that the binomial expansion can be applied to Eq. (6.3.5) if the magnitude of the derivatives is small compared to unity. Hence, s   2  2 !     du dv 1 du 2 1 dv 2 1 dz ^ 1 dz (6.3.6) dz dz 2 dz 2 dz Integrating Eq. (6.3.6) gives !   Z  2 1 du 1 dv 2 1 dz S 2 dz 2 dz 0 from which Db S 1 2 Z
0

(6.3.7)

  2  2 ! du dv dz dz dz

(6.3.8)

P r r

b P

S x

Figure 6-3 Lateral translation of longitudinal ber due to rotation about shear center

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Chai Yoo

where u and v are the translation of the shear center u and v plus additional translation due to rotation of the cross section about the shear center. The additional translations du and dv, in the x- and y-directions, are denoted, as shown in Fig. 6-3 by a and b. From the geometry of the gure, it is evident that PP 0 rf, a rf sin a, and b rf cos a. Since x r cos a and y r sin a, one may also write a yf and b xf. Hence, the total displacements of the ber are u u yf v v xf Substituting Eq. (6.3.9) into Eq. (6.3.8) yields    2  2 Z 1 du 2 dv dq 2 2 x y Db 2 0 dz dz dz      ! du d q dv dq 2y 2x dz dz dz dz dz 1 V 2 Z
0

(6.3.9)

6:3:10

Z
A

  2  2  2 du dv dq 2 2 s x y dz dz dz (6.3.11)

     ! du dq dv dq 2y 2x dAdz dz dz dz dz

In order to simplify Eq. (6.3.11), the following geometric relations can be used: R R R dA A; ydA y0 A; xdA x0 A
A

x2

y2 dA

2A Ix Iy r0

(6.3.12)

where r0 is polar radius of gyration of the cross section with respect to the shear center. It should be noted that the shear center is the origin of the coordinate system shown in Fig. 6-3. Hence,    2     2 Z P du 2 dv du df 2 df V r0 2y0 2 0 dz dz dz dz dz   ! dv df dz (6.3.13) 2x0 dz dz

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The total potential energy functional p is given by the sum of Eq. (6.3.3) and Eq. (6.3.13) as Z F z; u0 ; v0 ; f0 ; u00 ; v00 ; f00 dz P U Eq:6:3:3 V Eq:6:3:13

(6.3.14)

According to the rules of the calculus of variations, P will be stationary (minimum) if the following three Euler-Lagrange differential equations are satised: vF d vF d 2 vF 0 vu dz vu0 dz2 vu00 vF d vF d 2 vF 0 vv dz vv0 dz2 vv00 vF d vF d 2 vF 0 vf dz vf0 dz2 vf00 Execution of Eq. (6.3.15) gives EIy uiv Pu00 P y0 f00 0 EIx viv Pv00 Px0 f00 0
2 P GKT f00 y0 Pu00 x0 Pv00 0 EIw fiv r0

(6.3.15)

(6.3.16a) (6.3.16b) (6.3.16c)

These three differential equations are the simultaneous differential equations of torsional and exural-torsional buckling for centrally applied loads only. Each of the three equations in Eq. (6.3.16) is a fourth-order differential equation. Hence, the system must have 12 (4 3) boundary conditions to determine uniquely the integral constants. Equations (6.3.16) are linear and homogeneous, and have constant coefcients. Their general solution in the most general case can be obtained by means of the characteristic polynomial approach. Assume the solution to be of the form,3 pz pz pz u A sin ; v B sin ; f C sin where A, B, and C are arbitrary constants. Substituting derivatives of these functions into the differential equations (6.3.16) and reducing by the common factor sin(pz/), one obtains
3 Vlasov (1961) shows this is indeed the solution of the eigenfunctions for a simply supported column; see p. 271.

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EIy k2 P A y0 PC 0 EIx k2 P B x0 PC 0
2 P C 0 y0 PA x0 PB EIw k2 GKT r0

(6.3.17)

where k2 p2 =2. For a nontrivial solution for A, B, and C, the determinant of the system of homogeneous equations must vanish. Thus    Py P  0 y0 P      0 Px P x 0 P  (6.3.18)   0   2 P P   y0 P x0 P r0 f where Px   p2 EIy p2 EIx 1 p2 EI ; P ; P GK y f w 2 T 2 2 2 r0

(6.3.19)

Expanding Eq. (6.3.18) gives Py P Px P Pf P Py P P 2 x2 P 2 y2 0 0 P P x 2 2 0 r0 r0 (6.3.20)

The solution of the above cubic equation gives the critical load of the column. Case 1: If the cross section is doubly symmetrical, then x0 y0 0, and Eq. (6.3.20) reduces to Py P Px P Pf P 0 The three roots and corresponding mode shapes are: Pcr Py Pcr Px p2 EIy : 2 A s 0; B C 00pure flexural buckling

p2 EIx : B s 0; A C 00pure flexural buckling 2   1 p2 EIw Pcr Pf 2 GKT : 2 r0 C s 0; A B 00pure torsional buckling

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Coupled exural-torsional buckling does not occur in a column with a cross section where the shear center coincides with the center of gravity. Doubly symmetric sections and the Z purlin section have the shear center and the center of gravity at the same location. Example Consider a pinned column (W14 43) of length 280 inches. Use E 29 103 ksi and G 11.2 103 ksi For W14 43, Ix 428 in4, Iy 45.2 in 4, KT 1.05 in 4, Iw 1, 950 in 6 Py Px p2 EIy p2 29 103 45:2 165 kips 2 2802 p2 EIy p2 29 103 428 1; 563 kips 2 2802

r0 Ix Iy =A1=2 428 45:2=12:61=2 6:13 in   1 p2 29000 1950 11200 1:05 505 kips Pf 6:132 2802 Usually in a column fabricated of a W section, torsional buckling is not checked as it is likely to buckle with respect to the weak axis. Case 2: If there is only one axis of symmetry as shown in Fig. 6-4, say the x axis, then shear center lies on the x axis and y0 0. Then Eq. (6.3.20) reduces to ! P 2 x2 0 0 Py P Px P Pf P 2 r0 This equation is satised either if Pcr Py or if Px P Pf P P 2 x2 0 2 0 r0

The rst expression corresponds to pure exural buckling with respect to the y axis. The second is a quadratic equation in P and its solutions correspond to buckling by a combination of exure and twisting, that is, exural-torsional buckling. The smaller root of the second equation is q! 1 P F T Pf Px Pf Px 2 4KPx Pf 2K

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where

  ! x0 2 K 1 r0

Figure 6-4 Singly symmetric sections

Example For the simply supported column of a singly symmetric hat section shown in Fig. 6-5, develop the elastic buckling strength envelope for the data given. Section and material properties are: A 6bt ; Ix 7:333b3 t; Iy 1:167b3 t; Iw 0:591b5 t ;
2 2:086b2 ; t 0:1 in; b=t 10 KT 2bt 3 ; r0

sy 32 ksi; E 10; 300 ksi; G 3; 850 ksi where terms having t3 are neglected in the computation of Ix and Iy . P0 sy A   2 Px E b 12:062 P0 sy   2 Py E b 1:9196 P0 sy   2   2 Pf G t E b 0:160 0:466 P0 sy b sy
b t = 0.1" constant y b b S b 9b 11 x

C b 2

Figure 6-5 Hat section

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Results are tabulated in Table 6-1 and plotted in Fig. 6-6. As can be seen from Fig. 6-6, the exural-torsional buckling strength controls the lowest critical load for short columns until the Euler buckling load takes over at a longer column length. It is particularly ominous for cross sections where warping constants vanish, for which the pure torsional buckling load is independent from the column length. Case 3: If there is no axis of symmetry, then x0 s0; y0 s0 and Eq. (6.3.20) cannot be simplied. In such cases, bending about either principal axis is coupled with both twisting and bending about the other principal axis. All the three roots to Eq. (6.3.20) correspond to torsional-exural buckling and are lower than all the separable critical loads. Hence, if Py < Px < Pf , then Pcr < Py < Px < Pf
Table 6-1 Comparison of exural-torsional buckling analysis 1 Exact STSTB % Error Exact

10 STSTB % Error

Pf (kips) Px (kips) Py (kips) PT F (kips)

23.67 517.80 82.60 23.30

23.65 518.00 82.64 23.32

0.084 0.039 0.048 0.085

3.890 5.178 0.826 2.815

3.916 5.180 0.826 2.828

0.690 0.035 0.051 0.450

Note: Only four elements were used in STSTB (Yoo 1980). For t 0.1 in.

Pcr ( kips )

Px

10
Py

PFT

( in )
50 100

Figure 6-6 Buckling strength envelope, hat section

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Example For the simply supported column of an unequal leg angle, L8 6 1/2, shown in Fig. 6-7, develop the elastic buckling strength envelope. Use E 29 103 ksi and G 11.2 103 ksi. Neglecting the llet or corner effect, SECP gives the following section properties: Ix 54:52 in4 ; Iy 11:36 in4 ; KT 0:563 in4 ; Iw 0; r0 4:02 in; x0 2:15 in; y0 1:33 in: In this case the cubic equation, Eq. (6.3.23), must be solved for each set of critical loads, Px, Py , Pf. This can be best accomplished by utilizing Maple with Exel. As expected, the lowest elastic buckling load is controlled by the exural-torsional buckling as shown in Fig. 6-8.

29.2

1.33 C x

2.15

Figure 6-7 Unequal leg angle

Pcr ( kips )
500 400 300
PFT
Py P

Px

200 100

50

100
l ( in )

150

200

250

Figure 6-8 Buckling strength envelope, unequal leg angle

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Torsional buckling and exural-torsional buckling are particularly onerous in cold-formed steel design because of the thin gages utilized, which in turn yield lower torsional rigidities. A series of research projects sponsored by the American Iron and Steel Institute have produced rich research results in the area. Chajes and Winter (1965) is a good example of this effort.

6.4. TORSIONAL AND FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING UNDER THRUST AND END MOMENTS
In the previous section, the total potential energy functional of a column for torsional and exural-torsional buckling expressed with respect to the shear center was derived. When it is desired to express the same in the centroidal coordinate system, it can be done readily, provided that the sign of x0 and y0 needs to be reversed as they are dened in two separate coordinate systems (this time they are measured from the centroid). Hence,  2 2  2 2  2 Z Z Z 1 d u 1 d v 1 df EIy dz EIx dz GKT dz U 2 2 2 0 dz 2 0 dz 2 0 dz  2 2 Z 1 d f EIw dz 2 0 dz2 and P V 2   2  2  2    du dv du d f 2 df r0 2y0 dz dz dz dz dz 0   ! dv df dz (6.4.1) 2x0 dz dz Z

It can be seen from Eq. (6.4.1) that the sign of x0 and y0 is reversed from that in Eq. (6.3.13). It should be noted that r0 is the polar radius of gyration of the cross section with respect to the shear center. Although the differential equations for torsional and exural-torsional buckling have been successfully derived in the previous section with the coordinate center located at the shear center as was done by Goodier (1941) and Hoff (1944), the same equations, except the sign of x0 and y0, can be derived with the coordinate center located at the centroid. Also, it may be informative to examine the detailed mechanics in the neighboring equilibrium position instead of relying blindly on the calculus of variations procedure for the derivation of the differential equations.

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6.4.1. Pure Torsional Buckling

In order to show how a compressive load may cause purely torsional buckling, consider a column of a cruciform with four identical thin-walled anges of width b and thickness t as shown in Fig. 6-9. As demonstrated by Case 1 in the previous section, the torsional buckling load will be the lowest for the cruciform column unless the column length is longer than 40 times the ange width where the thickness is 5% of the width. It is imperative to draw a slightly deformed conguration of the column corresponding to the type of buckling to be examined (in this case, torsional buckling). The controidal axis z (which coincides with the shear center axis in this case) does not bend but twists slightly such that mn becomes part of a curve with a displacement component of v in the y-direction. As has been illustrated in Fig. 5-4, the membrane force times the second derivative produces a ctitious lateral load of intensity Pd 2 v=dz2 : Consider an element mn shown in Fig. 6-9 in the form of a strip of length dz located at a distance r from the z-axis and having a cross sectional area tdr. The displacement of this element in the y-direction becomes v rf (6.4.2) The compressive forces acting on the ends of the element mn are stdr, where s P/A. The statically equivalent ctitious lateral load is then stdr d 2 v=dz2 or strdr d2 f=dz2 . The twisting moment
z

tdr

n m r tdr

dz

y x b

Figure 6-9 Pure torsional buckling (after Timoshenko and Gere, Theory of Elastic Stability, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill, 1961). Reproduced by permission.

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about the z-axis due to this ctitious lateral load acting on the element mn is then sd 2 f=dz2 dztr 2 dr . Summing up the twisting moments for the entire cross section yields Z Z d2f d2f d2 f 2 s 2 dz tr dr s 2 dz r 2 dA s 2 dzI0 (6.4.3) dz dz dz A A where I0 is the polar moment of inertia of the cross section with respect to the shear center S, coinciding in this case with the centroid. Recalling the notation for the distributed torque, one obtains m z s d2 f I0 dz2 (6.4.4)

Substituting Eq. (6.4.4) into Eq. (5.8.23) yields EIw fv GKT sI0 f00 0 (6.4.5) For column cross sections in which all elements meet at a point such as that shown in Fig. 6-9, angles and tees, the warping constant vanishes. Hence, in the case of torsional buckling, Eq. (6.4.5) is satised if GKT sI0 0 3 4=3 bt G GKT Gt2 3 2 (6.4.6) scr I0 b 4=3 tb For cases in which the warping constant does not vanish, the critical compressive stress can also be obtained form Eq. (6.4.5). Introduce k2 sI0 GKT =EIw into Eq. (6.4.5) to transform it into fiv k2 f00 0, a similar form to a beam-column equation. The general solution of this equation is given by f a sin kz b cos kz cz d . Applying boundary conditions of a simply supported column gives f a sin k 0; from which k np. Substituting for k yields   1 n 2 p2 scr GKT 2 EIw (6.4.7) I0 which is identical to Eq. (6.3.19) obtained by the calculus of variations procedure in the previous Section as it should be. which yields

6.4.2. Flexural-Torsional Buckling

Consider an unsymmetrical section shown in Fig. 6-10. The x and y are principal axes, and x0 and y0 are the coordinate of the shear center

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C x S C

y0 C v S

x0 y

Figure 6-10

S measured from the centroid C. During buckling the centroid translates to C0 and then rotates to C00. Therefore, the nal position of the centroid is u y0 f and v x0 f: If only central load P is applied on a simply supported column, the bending moments with respect to the principal axes are Mx P v x0 f and My P u y0 f

The sign convention for Mx and My is such that they are considered positive when they create positive curvature EIx v00 Mx P v x0 f EIy u00 My P u y0 f (6.4.8) (6.4.9)

Consider a small longitudinal strip of cross section tds dened by coordinate x and y as was done in the case of pure torsional buckling. The components of its displacements in the - x and y directions during buckling are u y0 yf and v x0 xf, respectively. Recalling the procedure illustrated in Fig. 5-4, the products of the compressive force acting on the slightly bend element, stds and the second derivative of the displacements give a ctitious lateral load in the x- and y-directions of intensity stds stds d2 u y0 yf dz2

d2 v x0 xf dz2

These ctitious lateral loads produce twisting moment about the shear center per unit length of the column of intensity

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d2 dmz stds 2 u y0 yfy0 y dz d2 stds 2 v x0 xfx0 x dz Integrating over the entire cross-sectional area and realizing that Z Z Z Z s tds P ; xtds ytds 0; y2 tds Ix ; A A A A Z 2 x2 tds Iy ; I0 Ix Iy Ax2 0 y0
A

one obtains mz

Z
A

2 dmz P x0 v00 y0 u00 r0 P f00

(6.4.10)

2 I =A. where r0 0 Substituting Eq. (6.4.10) into Eq. (5.8.23) yields 2 00 EIw fiv GKT r0 f x0 Pv00 y0 Pu00 0

(6.4.11)

Equations (6.4.8), (6.4.9), and (6.4.11) are the three simultaneous differential equations for torsional, exural-torsional buckling of columns with arbitrary thin-walled cross sections. They are identical to Eq. (6.3.16) derived in the previous section as expected, except the signs of x0 and y0 are reversed as they are measured from the opposite reference point.

6.4.3. Torsional and Flexural-Torsional Buckling under Thrust and End Moments
Consider the case when the column is subjected to bending moments Mx and My applied at the ends in addition to the concentric load P. The bending moments Mx and My are taken positive when they produce positive curvatures in the plane of bending. It is assumed that the effect of P on the bending stresses can be neglected and the initial deection of the column due to the moments is considered to be small. Under this assumption, the normal stress at any point on the cross section of the column is independent of z and is given by P Mx y My x s (6.4.12) Iy A Ix

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As is customarily done in the elastic buckling analysis, any prebuckling deformations are not considered in the adjacent equilibrium condition. Additional deections u and v of the shear center and rotation f with respect to the shear center axis are produced during buckling, and examination is being conducted on this new slightly deformed conguration. Thus, the components of deection of any longitudinal ber of the column are u y0 yf and v x0 xf. Hence, the ctitious lateral loads and distributed twisting moment resulting from the initial compressive force in the bers acting on their slightly bent and rotated cross sections are obtained in a manner used earlier. Z d2 qx stds 2 u y0 yf dz A Z qy Z mz Z stds
A

d2 v x0 xf dz2

d2 stds 2 u y0 yfy0 y dz A

d2 stds 2 v x0 xfx0 x dz A

Substituting Eq. (6.4.12) into the above equations and integrating yields q x P q y P d2u d2 f P y M x 0 dz2 dz2 d2v d2 f Px M 0 y dz2 dz2

2 d2 u d2 v 2 d f mz P y0 Mx 2 Px0 My 2 Mx bx My by r0 P 2 dz dz dz

where the following new cross-sectional properties are introduced: Z  Z 1 y3 dA x2 ydA 2y0 (6.4.13 bx Ix A A 1 by Iy Z
A

x dA
A

 xy dA 2x0
2

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323

The three equations for bending and torsion of the column are EIy uiv Pu00 P y0 Mx f00 0 EIx viv Pv00 Px0 My f00 0
2 EIw fiv GKT Mx bx My by r0 P f00 P y0 Mx u00

(6.4.14) (6.4.15)

Px0 My v00 0

6:4:16

These are three simultaneous differential equations with constant coefcients. Hence, the critical values of the external forces can be computed for any combinations of end conditions. If the load P is applied eccentrically with the coordinate of the point of application of P by ex and ey measured from the centroid, the end moments become Mx Pey and My Pex. Equations (6.4.14) through (6.4.16) take the form EIy uiv Pu00 P y0 ey f00 0 EIx viv Pv00 P x0 ex f00 0
2 EIw fiv GKT Pey bx Pex by r0 P f00 P y0 ey u00

(6.4.17) (6.4.18)

P x0 ex v00 0

6:4:19

If the thrust P acts along the shear center axis (x0 ex and y0 ey), Eqs. (6.4.17) through (6.4.19) become very simple as they become independent of each other. The rst two equations yield the Euler loads, and the third equation gives the critical load corresponding to pure torsional buckling of the column. If the thrust becomes zero, one obtains the case of pure bending of a beam by couples Mx and My at the ends. Equations (6.4.17) through (6.4.19) take the form EIy uiv Mx f00 0 EIx viv My f00 0 EIw fiv GKT Mx bx My by f00 Mx u00 My v00 0 (6.4.20) (6.4.21) (6.4.22)

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Assume the x-axis is the strong axis. If My 0, then the critical lateraltorsional buckling moment can be computed from EIy uiv Mx f00 0 EIw fiv GKT Mx bx f00 Mx u00 0 (6.4.23) (6.4.24)

If the ends of the beam are simply supported, the displacement functions for u and f can be taken in the form u A sin pz pz f B sin

Substituting derivatives of the displacement functions, one obtains the following characteristic polynomial for the critical moment:   p2 EIy p2 2 GKT EIw 2 Mx bx Mx 0 (6.4.25) 2 Incorporating the following notations p2 EIy ; Py 2 Eq. (6.4.25) becomes
2 2 Mx Py bx Mx r0 Py Pf 0

  1 p2 Pf 2 GKT EIw 2 r0

(6.4.26)

The roots of Eq. (6.4.26) are Mxcr Py b x 2

s   Py bx 2 2P P r0 y f 2

(6.4.27)

If the beam has two axes of symmetry, bx vanishes and the critical moment becomes s q 2  2 2 P P r 2 EIy p 1 GK EI p Mxcr r0 y f T w 2 0 2 2 r 0 s   p p2 EIy GKT EIw 2 (6.4.28)

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325

where sign in Eq. (6.4.28) implies that a pair of end moments equal in magnitude but opposite in direction can cause lateral-torsional buckling of a doubly symmetrical beam. In this discussion, considerations have been given for the bending of a beam by couples applied at the ends so that the normal stresses caused by these moments remain constant, thereby maintaining the governing differential equations with constant coefcients. If a beam is subjected to lateral loads, the bending stresses vary with z and the resulting differential equations will have variable coefcients, for which there are no general closed-form solutions available and a variety of numerical integration schemes are used. The computation of critical loads of lateral-torsional buckling is discussed in the next chapter.

REFERENCES
Bleich, F. (1952). Buckling Strength of Metal Structures. New York: McGraw-Hill. Bleich, F. & Bleich, H. (1936). Bending Torsion and Buckling of Bars Composed of Thin Walls, Prelim. Pub. 2nd Cong. International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, English ed., p. 871, Berlin. Euler, L. (1744). Methodus Inveniendi Lineas Curvas Maximi Minimive Propreietate Gaudentes (Appendix, De Curvis Elasticis). Lausanne and Geneva: Marcum Michaelem Bousquet. Chajes, A., & Winter, G. (1965). Torsional-Flexural Buckling of Thin-Walled Members. Journal of the Structural Div., ASCE, Vol. 91(No. ST4), 103124. Galambos, T. V. (1968). Structural Members and Frames. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Goodier, J. N. (1941). The Buckling of Compressed Bars by Torsion and Flexure. Cornell University Engineering Experiment Station. Bulletin No. 27. Hoff, N. J. (1944). A Strain Energy Derivation of the Torsional-Flexural Buckling Loads of Straight Columns of Thin-Walled Open Sections. Quarterly of Applied Mathematics, Vol. 1(No. 4), 341345. Kappus, R. (1938). Drillknicken zentrisch gedrhckter Sta be emit offenem Prole im elastischen Bereich. Lufthahrt-Forschung, Vol. 14(No. 9), 444457, English translation, Twisting Failure of Centrally Loaded Open-Sections Columns in the Elastic Range, NACA Tech. Mem. No. 851. Kollbrunner, C. F., & Basler, K. (1969). E.C. Glauser (ed.) Torsion in Structures; An Engineering Approach, translated from German Berlin: Springer-Verlag. Lundquist, E.F., & Fligg, C.M. (1937). A Theory for Primary Failure of Straight Centrally Loaded Columns, NACA Tech: Report No. 582. Ostenfeld, A. (1931). Politechnisk Laereanstalts Laboratorium for Bygningsstatik. Copenhagen: Meddelelse No. 5. Timoshenko, S.P. (1945). Theory of Bending, Torsion and Buckling of Thin-Walled Members of Open Cross Section, J. Franklin Institute (Philadelphia), Vol. 239, No. 3, p. 201, No. 4, p. 248, No. 5, p. 343. Vlasov, V.Z. (1961). Tonkostennye uprugie sterzhni (Thin-walled elastic beams), (2nd ed.), Moscow, 1959, translated by Schechtman, Israel Program for Scientic Translation, Jerusalem. Wagner, H. & Pretschner, W. (1936). Torsion and Buckling of Open Sections, NACA Tech. mem. No. 784. Yoo, C. H. (1980). Bimoment Contribution to Stability of Thin-Walled Assemblages. Computers and Structures, Vol. 11(No. 5), 465471.

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PROBLEMS
6.1 Develop the buckling strength envelope for a simply supported column of light gage channel section shown in Fig. P6-1. Material properties and dimensions of the cross section are as follows:
E 29 103 ksi; G 11:2 103 ksi; a b 5 in; c 1 in ; t 0:1 in:

t: constant c b

Figure P6-1

6.2 Develop the buckling strength envelope for a simply supported column of an unequal leg angle shown in Fig. P6-2. Material properties and dimensions of the cross section are as follows: E 29 103 ksi, G 11.2 103 ksi, L1 6 in, L2 4 in, t 1/2 in.
y 23.9

C
1.27 S

1.38

Figure P6-2

6.3 For the coupled system of differential equations given by Eqs. (6.4.23) and (6.4.24), prove why the solution eigenfunctions are sine functions for a simply supported beam of a doubly symmetric section. In other words, state the reason why the eigenfunctions do not include hyperbolic functions or polynomials.