Distortional Buckling of I-Beams

Abstract

An approximate finite element method is developed for analyzing the distortional buckling of doubly symmetric I-section beam-columns. The method allows an analysis to be made of elastic uniform members under various conditions of loading, end support, and restraint. A computer program based on this finite element method is described, and the convergence and accuracy of the buckling solutions are demonstrated. The method is then used to investigate the significance of different end conditions on the elastic buckling of I-beams under uniform moment.