GUIDE FOR THE DESIGN OF METAL STRUCTURES

13.1.4 Global/FlexuralTorsional buckling

Columns
Concentrically loaded columns can buckle by (1) flexure about one of the principal axes, (2)
twisting about the shear center (torsional buckling), or (3) a combination of both flexure and
twisting, called flexuraltorsional buckling. Torsional buckling is a possible failure mode for
point symmetric sections. Flexuraltorsional buckling must be checked for open sections that are
singly symmetric and for sections that have no symmetry. Open sections that are doubly
symmetric or point symmetric are not subject to flexuraltorsional buckling because their shear
center and centroid coincide. Closed sections also are immune to flexuraltorsional buckling.
Flexural-torsional buckling is common in thin-walled construction and is thus the focus of the
discussion here, see Chapter 3 for further discussion on flexural column buckling.
One can explain the nature of flexuraltorsional buckling with the aid of Fig. 13.4. At
buckling, the axial load can be visualized to have a lateral component (qdz) as a consequence of
the column deflection. The torsional moment of this lateral component about the shear center of
the open section shown in Fig. 13.4 causes twisting of the column. The degree of interaction
between the torsional and flexural deformations determines the amount of reduction of the
buckling load in comparison to the flexural buckling load. Therefore, as the distance between the
shear center and the point of application of the axial load increases, the twisting tendency
increases and therefore the flexuraltorsional buckling load decreases. Flexuraltorsional
buckling can be a critical mode of failure for thin-walled open sections because of their low
torsional rigidity. The theory of elastic flexuraltorsional instability is well developed (Goodier,
1942; Vlasov, 1959; Timoshenko and Gere, 1961; Galambos, 1968). Flexuraltorsional buckling
of singly symmetric thin-walled open sections under concentric and eccentric loading also has
been studied in detail, and design aids have been devised (Klppel and Schardt, 1958; Pfluger,
1961; Chajes and Winter, 1965; Chilver, 1967; Pekz, 1969; Pekz and Winter, 1969). The AISI
specification since 1980 has contained flexuraltorsional buckling provisions based on the work
of Chajes et al. (1966), Pekz (1969), and Pekz and Winter (1969).
 Fig. 13.4 Forces causing flexural-torsional buckling.

Differential equations of equilibrium for the general case of biaxial eccentricities have been
solved by Thurlimann (1953), Vlasov (1959), Dabrowski (1961), Prawel and Lee (1964), Culver
(1966), and Pekz and Winter (1969) using different procedures of solution. If the section is
singly symmetric, such as the sections shown in Fig. 13.5, and is acted on by an axial load not in
the plane of symmetry; or if the section is not symmetric, the solution of the differential
equations indicates that as the axial load increases the member continuously twists and deflects
biaxially. The principal axes, twist angle and deflections u and v are shown in Fig. 13.6.
Analogous to small deflection flexural beam-column theory, infinite deflections and rotation are
predicted for a certain value of the axial load.
However, if the section is singly symmetric and the axial load is applied through the
centroid, the behavior of the member is described by three homogeneous differential equations,
two of which are coupled. If the member is assumed to be hinged at both ends, namely, u = v =
= 0, the solution of the one uncoupled equation gives the critical load for buckling in the
direction of the symmetry axis (taken here as the x-axis):
2
Pye = K11 EI y (13.2)
L2
where Iy is the moment of inertia about the y-axis and L is the length of the column. K11 and other
K values determined by the Galerkin method for various boundary conditions are given by Pekz
(1969). The discussion here will be limited to hinged ends.
 Fig. 13.5 Some singly symmetric sections and coordinate axis orientation.

Fig. 13.6 Principal axes and deflection components.

The two coupled equations describing deformations v and result in a single buckling
load PTF for the flexuraltorsional mode. The same buckling mode also occurs in the more
general case of the load acting eccentrically in the plane of symmetry. Then the member
continuously deflects as a beam-column in the plane of symmetry (x-direction), but is subject to
flexuraltorsional buckling out of this plane under load PTF given in this case by Eq. 13.3. (The
solution for a concentric load is obtained by setting es = 0 in this equation.)
( P + P ) ( P + Pxe )
2
e xe e 4 Pxe Pe
PTF = (13.3)
2
where
 A
= 1 + ex 2 (13.4)
I0
A A
( x0 ex ) + ex 2 + 1 (13.5)
2
=
I0 I0
Pe = P e (13.6)

A 2 (13.7)
P e = w 2 + GJ
EC
I0 L
2 (13.8)
Pxe = EI x
L2
2 =
1
Iy
( x dA + xy dA) 2 x
A
3
A
3
0
(13.9)

and where
ex = eccentricity with respect to the center of gravity
X0 = x-coordinate of the shear center
Ix = moment of inertia about the x-axis
I0 = polar moment of inertia about the shear center
A = area of the cross section
Cw, J = warping and St.-Venant torsional constants for the cross section, respectively.
The parameter Pe has the physical meaning that it is the concentric torsional buckling load if the
displacements u and v are prevented, Pe is the corresponding value for eccentric loading, and
Pxe designates the load for buckling in the direction of the y-axis if displacements and u are
prevented. A simplified expression for PTF is employed in the AISI Specification.
TIMOSHENKO-THEORY OF ELASTIC STABILITY: DERIVATION
SEGUI-STEEL DESIGN
AISC SPECFICATION
16.134 FLEXURAL BUCKLING OF MEMBERS WITHOUT SLENDER ELEMENTS [Sect. E3.

User Note: The two inequalities for calculating the limits and applicability of
Sections E3(a) and E3(b), one based on KL/r and one based on Fy /Fe, provide the
same result.

E4. TORSIONAL AND FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF

MEMBERS WITHOUT SLENDER ELEMENTS
This section applies to singly symmetric and unsymmetric members and certain dou-
bly symmetric members, such as cruciform or built-up columns without slender
elements, as defined in Section B4.1 for elements in uniform compression. In addi-
tion, this section applies to all doubly symmetric members without slender elements
when the torsional unbraced length exceeds the lateral unbraced length. These pro-
visions are required for single angles with b/t > 20.

The nominal compressive strength, Pn, shall be determined based on the limit states
of torsional and flexural-torsional buckling, as follows:
Pn = Fcr Ag (E4-1)

The critical stress, Fcr, is determined as follows:

(a) For double angle and tee-shaped compression members:

Fcry + Fcrz 4 Fcry Fcrz H
Fcr = 1 1 (E4-2)
2H
( Fcry + Fcrz )2

where Fcry is taken as Fcr from Equation E3-2 or E3-3 for flexural buckling about
KL K y L
the y-axis of symmetry, and = for tee-shaped compression members,

( )
r ry
and KL = KL from Section E6 for double angle compression members, and
r r m
GJ
Fcrz = (E4-3)
Ag ro2

(b) For all other cases, Fcr shall be determined according to Equation E3-2 or E3-3,
using the torsional or flexural-torsional elastic buckling stress, Fe, determined as
follows:
(i) For doubly symmetric members:

2 ECw 1
Fe = + GJ (E4-4)
( K z L ) I x + I y
2

(ii) For singly symmetric members where y is the axis of symmetry:

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, June 22, 2010

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Sect. E4.] TORSIONAL AND FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF MEMBERS 16.135

Fey + Fez 4 Fey Fez H

Fe = 1 1 (E4-5)
2H ( Fey + Fez )2

(iii) For unsymmetric members, Fe is the lowest root of the cubic equation:
2 2
x y
( Fe Fex )( Fe Fey )( Fe Fez ) Fe2 ( Fe Fey ) o Fe2 ( Fe Fex ) o = 0 (E4-6)
ro ro

where
Ag = gross cross-sectional area of member, in.2 (mm2)
Cw = warping constant, in.6 (mm6)
2E
Fex = 2
(E4-7)
Kx L
r
x

2E
Fey = 2
(E4-8)
KyL
r
y

2 ECw 1
Fez = + GJ (E4-9)
(Kz L)
2 2
Ag ro

G = shear modulus of elasticity of steel = 11,200 ksi (77 200 MPa)

xo2 + yo2
H = 1 (E4-10)
ro2
Ix, Iy = moment of inertia about the principal axes, in.4 (mm4)
J = torsional constant, in.4 (mm4)
Kx = effective length factor for flexural buckling about x-axis
Ky = effective length factor for flexural buckling about y-axis
Kz = effective length factor for torsional buckling
ro = polar radius of gyration about the shear center, in. (mm)

Ix + Iy
ro2 = xo2 + yo2 + (E4-11)
Ag
rx = radius of gyration about x-axis, in. (mm)
ry = radius of gyration about y-axis, in. (mm)
xo, yo = coordinates of the shear center with respect to the centroid, in. (mm)

User Note: For doubly symmetric I-shaped sections, Cw may be taken as Iy ho2/4,
where ho is the distance between flange centroids, in lieu of a more precise analy-
sis. For tees and double angles, omit the term with Cw when computing Fez and
take xo as 0.

Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, June 22, 2010

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
 CUTWP
Thin-walled section properties
http://www.ce.jhu.edu/bschafer/cutwp
-Standalone or Matlab version
CUTWP-MATLAB
CUTWP-MATLAB
CUTWP-MATLAB
Global buckling for a channel section
Global buckling for a Z section
Global buckling for an angle section