Steel Structures - Chapter 4

Chapter 6 Lateral Torsional Buckling

6.1 Introduction
6.2 Elastic beams
6.2.1 Buckling of elastic beams

6.2.1.1 Simply supported beams with equal end

moments

6.2.1.2 Beams with unequal end moments

6.2.1.3 Beams with central concentrated loads

6.2.1.4 Other loading conditions

6.2.2 Bending and twisting of crooked beams

6.3 Real beams

6.4 Design against lateral torsional buckling

6.4.1 General

6.4.2 Elastic buckling moment

6.4.3 EC3 design buckling moment resistances

6.4.4 Torsional end restraints

6.4.5 Lateral buckling design procedures

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

6.1 Introduction

• In the discussion of the in-plane behaviour of beams,

it was assumed that when a beam is loaded in its
stiffer principal plane, it deflects only in that plane.

• If the beam does not have sufficient lateral stiffness or

lateral support to ensure that this is so, then it may
buckle out of the plane of loading, as shown in Figure
6.1 (discuss the special kind of buckling w/o NEd).

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• The load at which this buckling occurs may be

substantially less than the beam’s in-plane load
resistance, (Elastic buckling moment Mcr < My = yield
moment) as indicated in Figure 6.2.

• For an idealized perfectly straight elastic beam, there

are no out-of-plane deformations until the applied
moment M reaches the elastic buckling moment Mcr ,
when the beam buckles by deflecting laterally and
twisting, as shown in Figure 6.1.

Elastic buckling moment Mcr < My = yield

moment

3
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• These two deformations (lateral and twist) are

interdependent: when the beam deflects laterally,
the applied moment has a component which exerts a
torque about the deflected longitudinal axis which
causes the beam to twist

• This behaviour, which is important for long

unrestrained I-beams whose resistances to lateral
bending and torsion are low, is called elastic flexural–
torsional buckling, (referred to as elastic lateral–
torsional buckling in EC3).

• The failure of a perfectly straight slender beam is

initiated when the additional stresses induced by
elastic buckling cause the first yield. However, a
perfectly straight beam of intermediate slenderness
may yield before the elastic buckling moment is
reached, because of the combined effects of the in-
plane bending stresses and any residual stresses,
and may subsequently buckle inelastically, as
indicated in Figure 6.2 (Buckling load > My). For very
stocky beams, the inelastic buckling moment may be
higher than the in-plane plastic collapse moment Mp,
in which case the moment resistance of the beam is
not affected by lateral buckling.

• In this chapter, the behaviour and design of beams

which fail by lateral buckling and yielding are
discussed. It is assumed that local buckling of the
compression flange or of the web does not occur.

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

6.2 Elastic beams

6.2.1 Buckling of elastic beams

6.2.1.1 Simply supported beams with equal end

moments

• A perfectly straight elastic I-beam which is loaded by

equal and opposite end moments is shown in Figure
6.3. The beam is simply supported (fork support)
at its ends so that lateral deflection and twist
rotation are prevented, while the flange ends are free
to rotate in horizontal planes so that the beam ends
are free to warp.

compare with: At simple

support vz = 0 and vz’’ =
0. (vz is deflection in the
plane of loading)

5
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• The beam will buckle at a moment Mcr when a

deflected and twisted equilibrium position, such as
that shown in Figure 6.3, is possible (existence of
adjacent equilibrium). It is shown (refer Section
6.12.1.1) that this position is given by
M cr πx
ν= 2 φ = δ sin
π EI z / L2
L (6.2)
• where δ is the undetermined magnitude of the
central deflection, and that the elastic buckling
moment is given by
Mcr = Mzx, ( Designation: Mzx is the value of Mcr
for simply supported beam in
uniform bending)

• In the above:

 π 2 EI z  π 2 EI w 
M zx =  2
 GI t + 2

 L  L  (6.3)

• where EIz is the minor axis flexural rigidity, GIt is the

torsional rigidity (It ≡ Ip in units of L4), and EIw is the
warping rigidity of the beam (Iw in L6). Equation 6.3
shows that the resistance to buckling depends on
the geometric mean of the flexural stiffness EIz and
the torsional stiffness (GIt + π2EIw/L2).
6
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• Equations 6.2 and 6.3 apply to all beams which are

bent about an axis of symmetry, including equal
flanged channels and equal angles.

• In general, the elastic buckling moment Mcr of a

restrained beam with equal and opposite end
moments (βm = −1.0) can be expressed as:

(6.36)

in which

Lcr = kcrL (6.37)

is the effective length and kcr is an effective length
factor.

6.2.1.2 Beams with unequal end moments

• A simply supported beam with unequal major axis end

moments M and βmM is shown in Figure 6.4a. It is
shown (refer Section 6.12.1.2) that the value of the
end moment Mcr at elastic flexural–torsional buckling
can be expressed in the form of

Mcr = αmMzx, (6.4)

7
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

in which the moment modification factor αm which

accounts for the effect of the non-uniform distribution
of the major axis bending moment can be closely
approximated by

α m = 1.75 + 1.05β m + 0.3β m2 ≤ 2.56 (6.5)

Or by

1 / α m = 0.57 − 0.33β m + 0.10 β m2 ≤ 0.43 (6.6)

K is the beam parameter given by Eqn. 6.7 (see below).

Observe that the most critical loading for lateral-torsional
buckling is the uniform bending with β = -1.
8
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

6.2.1.3 Beams with central concentrated loads

• A simply supported beam with a central concentrated

load Q acting at a distance −zQ above the centroidal
axis of the beam is shown in Figure 6.5a.

T = Q × (vL/2 - zQφL/2)

→ RA = Q × (vL/2 - zQφL/2)/2
Z is +ve downwards
→ -zQ is positive

• When the beam buckles by deflecting laterally and

twisting, the line of action of the load moves with the
central cross-section, but remains vertical, as shown
in Figure 6.5c.

• The case when the load acts above the centroid is

more dangerous than that of centroidal loading
because of the additional torque −Q zQ φL/2 which
increases the twisting of the beam and decreases its resistance to buckling.
9
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• It is shown (refer Section 6.12.1.3) that the

2
dimensionless buckling load QL / ( EI z GI t ) varies as
shown in Figure 6.6 with the beam parameter
K = π 2 EI w / GI t L2 (6.7)

and the dimensionless height ε of the point of

application of the load given by

zQ EI z
ε=
L GI t (6.8)

Load on

Load on

df is the distance between flange centroids

10
Load on
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• For centroidal loading (ε = 0), the elastic buckling

load Q increases with the beam parameter K in much
the same way as does the buckling moment of beams
with equal and opposite end moments (see equation
6.3).

• The elastic buckling load

Qcr = 4Mcr/L (6.9)

can be approximated by using equation 6.4 with the

moment modification factor αm (which accounts for
the effect of the non-uniform distribution of major axis
bending moment) equal to 1.35.

• The elastic buckling load also varies with the load

height parameter ε, and although the resistance to
buckling is high when the load acts below the
centroidal axis, it decreases significantly as the point
of application rises, as shown in Figure 6.6.

• For equal flanged I-beams, the parameter ε can be

transformed into:

2 zQ π
= ε
df K (6.10)
where df is the distance between flange centroids.

11
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• The variation of the buckling load with 2zQ/df is shown

by the solid lines in Figure 6.6, and it can be seen that
the differences between top (2zQ/df = −1) and
bottom (2zQ/df = 1) flange loading increase with the
beam parameter K

• This effect is therefore more important for deep beam-

type sections of short span (higher beam parameter)
than for shallow column-type sections of long span
(lower beam parameter).

• Approximate expressions for the variations of the

moment modification factor αm with the beam
parameter K which account for the dimensionless
load height 2zQ/df for equal flanged I-beams are given
in the literature. (With αm given → determine Mcr from
Mzx)

• Alternatively, the maximum moment at elastic

buckling Mcr = QL/4 may be approximated by using:

  0.4α m zQ N cr , z  0.4α m zQ N cr , z
2

= α m 1 +  
M cr
 +
M zx   M zx  M zx  (6.11)
 

and αm ≈ 1.35, in which

12
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

π 2 EI z
N cr , z = (6.12)
L2
6.2.1.4 Other loading conditions

• The effect of the distribution of the applied load along

the length of a simply supported beam on its elastic
buckling strength has been investigated numerically
by many methods. A particularly powerful computer
method is the finite element method.

• Some approximate solutions for the maximum

moments Mcr at elastic buckling of simply supported
beams which are loaded along their centroidal axes
can be obtained from equation 6.4 by using the
moment modification factors αm given in Figure 6.7.

• It can be seen that the more dangerous loadings are

those which produce more nearly constant
distributions of major axis bending moment, and that
the worst case is that of equal and opposite end
moments for which αm = 1.0.

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• For other beam loadings than those shown in Figure

6.7, the moment modification factor αm may be
approximated by using:
1.75M max
αm = ≤ 2.5
(M + M + M )
2
2
2
3
2
4
(6.13)

• in which Mmax is the maximum moment, M2,M4 are the

moments at the quarter points, and M3 is the moment
at the mid-point of the beam.

• The effect of load height on the elastic buckling

moment Mcr may generally be approximated by using
14
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

equation 6.11 with αm obtained from Figure 6.7 or

equation 6.13

6.2.2 Bending and twisting of crooked beams

• Real beams are not perfectly straight, but have small

initial crookednesses and twists which cause them to
bend and twist at the beginning of loading. If a simply
supported beam with equal and opposite end
moments M has an initial crookedness (ν0) and twist
rotation (φ0) which are given by:

v0 φ0 πx
= = sin
δ 0 θ0 L (6.14)

in which the central initial crookedness δ0 and twist

rotation θ0 are related by:

δ0 M zx
= 2
φ 0 π EI z / L2 (6.15)

then the deformations of the beam are given by:

v φ πx
= = sin
δ θ L (6.16)

15
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

In which (see Section 6.12.2.), (NB δ and θ are central

deflections given by)

δ θ M / M zx
= =
δ 0 θ 0 1 − M / M zx (6.17)
• The variations of the dimensionless central deflection
δ/δ0 and twist rotation θ/θ0 are shown in Figure
6.8, and it can be seen that deformation begins at the
commencement of loading, and increases rapidly as
the elastic buckling moment Mzx is approached.

16
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• The simple load–deformation relationships of

equations 6.16 and 6.17 are of the same forms for
compression members with sinusoidal initial
crookedness. It follows that the Southwell plot
technique for extrapolating the elastic buckling loads
of compression members from experimental
measurements (refer Section 3.2.2) may also be used
for beams.

6.3 Real beams

• Real beams differ from the ideal beams analyzed in

Section 6.2.1 in much the same way as do real
compression members (see Section 3.4.1).

6.5 Design against lateral torsional buckling

6.5.1 General

• Design rules are often based on a simple analysis for

one type of equivalent imperfection which allows
approximately for all imperfections, or on
approximations of experimental results such as those
shown in Figure 6.12.

17
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• For the EC3 method of designing against lateral

buckling, the maximum moment in the beam at elastic
lateral buckling Mcr and the beam section resistance
Wyfy are used to define a generalized slenderness:

λ LT = (W y f y / M cr ) (6.25)

6.5.2 Elastic buckling moment

• The EC3 method for designing against lateral
buckling is an example of a more general approach to
the analysis and the design of structures whose
strengths are governed by the interaction between
yielding and buckling

18
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• The first step in the method of design by buckling

analysis is to determine the load at which the elastic
lateral buckling takes place, so that the elastic
buckling moment Mcr can be calculated. This varies
with the beam geometry, its loading, and its restraints,
but unfortunately there is no simple general method of
finding it.

• However, there are a number of general computer

programs which can be used for finding Mcr, which
can calculate the elastic buckling moment for any
beam or cantilever under any loading or restraint
conditions.

• Alternatively, many approximations for the elastic

buckling moments Mcr under a wide range of loading
conditions are available in the literature

6.5.3 EC3 design buckling moment resistances

• The EC3 design buckling moment resistance Mb,Rd is

defined by:

M b , Rd 1
=
Wy f y / γ M1 Φ LT + Φ 2
− βλ
2
(6.26)
LT LT

And

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

{ ( )
Φ LT = 0.5 1 + α LT λ LT − λ LT , 0 + β λ
2
LT } (6.27)

• in which γM1 is the partial factor for member instability

which has a recommended value of 1.0 in EC3, Wyfy
is the section moment resistance, λ LT is the non-
dimensional slenderness for lateral-torsional buckling
given by equation 6.25, and the values of αLT
(imperfection factor) , β and λ LT,0 depend on the type
of beam section

• The EC3 uniform bending design buckling resistances

Mb,Rd for β = 0.75, λ LT,0 = 0.4, and αLT = 0.49 (rolled I-
sections with h/b > 2) are compared with experimental
results for beams in near-uniform bending in Figure
6.12. For very slender beams with high values of the
λ LT , the design buckling moment resistance Mb,Rd
shown in Figure 6.12 approaches the elastic buckling
moment Mcr , while for stocky beams the moment
resistance Mb,Rd reaches the section resistance Wyfy,
and so is governed by yielding or local buckling

• For beams of intermediate slenderness, equations

6.25 to 6.27 provide a transition between these limits,
which is close to the lower bound of the experimental
results shown in Figure 6.12.

20
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• Also shown in Figure 6.12 are the EC3 design

buckling moment resistances for αLT = 0.76 (welded I-
sections with h/b > 2).

• The EC3 provides two methods of design, a simple

but conservative method which may be applied to any
type of beam section, and a less conservative limited
method.

• For the simple general method, β = 1.0, λ LT,0 = 0.2,

and the imperfection factor αLT depends on the type of
beam section, as set out in Tables 6.4 and 6.3 of
EC3.

• This method is conservative because it uses a very

low threshold modified slenderness of λ LT,0 = 0.2, and
because it ignores the increased inelastic buckling
resistances of beams in non-uniform bending shown
for example in Figure 6.10

• For the less conservative limited method for uniform

beams of rolled I-section, β = 0.75 and λ LT,0 = 0.4,
and a modified design buckling moment resistance

Mb,Rd,mod = Mb,Rd / f ≤ Mb,Rd (6.28)

is determined using
21
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

f = 1 − 0.5(1 – kc){1 – 2( λ LT − 0.8)2 } (6.29)

in which the values of the correction factor kc depend

on the bending moment distribution, and are given by
k c = 1 / C1 = 1 / α m (6.30)

in which αm is the moment modification factor

obtained from Figure 6.7 or equation 6.5, 6.6, or
6.13.

6.6.3.4 Torsional end restraints

• The end torques T0 which resist end twist rotations

also remain zero until elastic buckling occurs, and
then increase with the end twist rotations. It has been
assumed that the ends of all the beams discussed so
far are rigidly restrained against end twist rotations.

• When the end restraints are elastic instead of rigid,

some end twist rotation occurs during buckling and
the elastic buckling load is reduced. Analytical studies
of beams in uniform bending with elastic torsional end
restraints have shown that the reduced buckling
moment Mzx,r can be approximated by:

(6.54)

22
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

in which 1/R3 is the dimensionless stiffness of the

torsional end restraints given by:

(6.55)

in which αx is the ratio of the restraining torque T0 to

the end twist rotation (φ)0.

• Another situation for which end twist rotation is not

prevented is illustrated in Figure 6.19, where the
bottom flange of a beam is simply supported at its end
and prevented from twisting but the top flange is
unrestrained

23
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• In this case, beam buckling may be accentuated by

distortion of the cross-section which results in the web
bending shown in Figure 6.19

• Studies of the distortional buckling of beams such as

that shown in Figure 6.19 have suggested that the
reduction in the buckling capacity can be allowed for
approximately by using an effective length factor:

(6.56)
in which tf and tw are the flange and web thicknesses
and bf is the flange width.

• The preceding discussion has dealt with the effects of

each type of end restraint, but most beams in rigid-
jointed structures have all types of elastic restraint
acting simultaneously. Many such cases of combined
restraints have been analyzed, and tabular, graphical,
or approximate solutions are given in the literature.

6.5.4 Lateral buckling design procedures

• For the EC3 strength design of a beam against lateral

buckling, the distribution of the bending moment and
the value of the maximum moment MEd are
determined by an elastic analysis.

• In both the EC3 simple general and less conservative

methods of checking a uniform equal-flanged beam,

24
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

the section moment resistance Wyfy/γM0 is checked

first, the elastic buckling moment Mcr is determined,
and the non-dimensional slenderness λ LT is
calculated using equation 6.25.

• The appropriate EC3 values of αLT, β, and λ LT,0 (the

values of these differ according to which of the two
methods of design is used) are then selected and the
design buckling moment resistance Mb,Rd calculated
using equations 6.26 and 6.27. In the simple general
method, the beam is satisfactory when

MEd ≤ Mb,Rd ≤ Wyfy/γM0 (6.31)

• In the less conservative method, Mb,Rd in equation

6.31 is replaced by Mb,Rd,mod obtained using equations
6.28 to 6.30. The beam must also be checked for
shear, shear and bending, and bearing, and for
serviceability.

6.15 Worked examples

6.15.1 Example 1 – checking a beam supported at
both ends

• Problem. The 7.5 m long 610×229 UB 125 of S275

steel shown in Figure 6.30 is simply supported at both
ends where lateral deflections v are effectively
prevented and twist rotations φ are partially

25
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

restrained. Check the adequacy of the beam for a

central concentrated top flange load caused by an
unfactored dead load of 60 kN (which includes an
allowance for self-weight) and an unfactored imposed
load of 100 kN.

Design bending moment:

MEd = {(1.35 × 60) + (1.5 × 100)} × 7.5/4 = 433
kNm.

Section resistance:
fy = 265 N/mm2, the section is Class 1, and the design
section resistance is Mc,Rd = 3676×26500 Ncm = 974

26
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

kNm > 433 kNm = MEd and the section resistance is

adequate. (NB: Mc,Rd = design resistance for bending
about one principal, here major axis of a cross-section)

Elastic buckling moment:

Using equation 6.56 to allow for the partial torsional

end restraints, the effective length factor kcr is:

kcr = 1 + {(612.2 − 19.6)/(6 × 7500)}(19.6/11.9)3 ×

{1 + 229.0/(612.2 − 19.6)}/2 = 1.041

so that Lcr = 1.041 × 7500 = 7806 mm.

Using equation 6.12, Ncr,z = π2 × 210 000 × 3932 ×

104/75002 N = 1449 kN.

Using Figure 6.7, αm = 1.35

27
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

Adapting equation 6.11,

M cr = 1.35 × 569 ( (1 + (−0.421) 2

))
+ (−0.421) Nmm = 510kNm

Member resistance:

Using equation 6.25,

λ LT = 974 / 510 = 1.382

h/b = 612.2/229.0 = 2.67 > 2

Using the EC3 simple general method with β = 1.0,

λLT,0 = 0.2 (Clause 6.3.2.2) and αLT = 0.34 (Tables 6.4
and 6.3), and equation 6.27,

ΦLT = 0.5{1 + 0.34(1.382 − 0.2) + 1.0 × 1.3822} =

1.656

Using equation 6.26,

974
M b , Rd = kNm
1.656 + (1.656 − 1.382 )
2 2

28
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

= 379 kNm < 433 kNm = MEd

and the beam appears to be inadequate

Using the EC3 less conservative method with β =

0.75, λLT,0 = 0.4 (Clause 6.3.2.3) and αLT = 0.49
(Tables 6.5 and 6.3), and equation 6.27

ΦLT = 0.5{1 + 0.49(1.382 − 0.4) + 0.75 × 1.3822} =

1.457

Using equation 6.26,

974
M b , Rd = kNm
1.457 + (1.457 − 0.75 × 1.382 )
2 2

= 426 kNm < 433 kNm = MEd

and the design moment resistance still appears to be
inadequate.
The design moment resistance is further increased by
using equations 6.29, 6.30, and 6.28 to find

f = 1-0.5×(1-1/ 1.35 ){1-2×(1.382-0.8)2} = 0.978

Mb,Rd,mod = 426/0.978 = 436 kNm > 433 kNm = MEd

and the design moment resistance is adequate after

all.
29
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

3.7.5 Flexural–torsional buckling (Columns)

• In Chapters 1 and 2, attention was confined to
compression members which buckle by deflecting
laterally, either perpendicular to the section minor axis
at an elastic buckling load

(3.52)
or perpendicular to the major axis at

(3.53)
However, thin-walled open section compression
members may also buckle by twisting about a
longitudinal axis, as shown in Figure 3.24 for a
cruciform section, or by combined bending and
twisting.

30
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

A compression member of doubly symmetric cross-

section may buckle elastically by twisting at a
torsional buckling load (see Section 3.11) given by:

31
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

(3.54)
in which GIt and EIw are the torsional and warping
rigidities, Lcr,T is the distance between inflexion points
of the twisted shape, and

(3.55)
in which y0, z0 are the shear centre coordinates (which
are zero for doubly symmetric sections, see Section
5.4.3), and

(3.56)
is the polar radius of gyration.

For most rolled steel sections, the minor axis buckling

load Ncr,z is less than Ncr,T , and the possibility of
torsional buckling can be ignored.

However, short members which have low torsional

and warping rigidities (such as thin-walled cruciforms)
should be checked. Such members can be designed
by using Figure 3.23 (European buckling curves) with
the value of Ncr,T substituted for the elastic buckling
load Ncr .

32
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

Monosymmetric and asymmetric section members (such

as thin-walled tees and angles) may buckle in a combined
mode by twisting and deflecting.

For simply supported members, it is shown in the literature

that the (lowest) elastic buckling load Ncr is the lowest root
of the cubic equation

For example, the elastic buckling load Ncr for a pin-ended

unequal angle is shown in Figure 3.25, where it can be
seen that Ncr is less than any of Ncr,y, Ncr,z, or Ncr,T .

Once the buckling load Ncr has been determined, the

compression resistance Nb,Rd can be found from the
European Buckling Curves.

33
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

Horizontal?

7.3 Lateral–torsional buckling of isolated

beam-columns

• When a beam-column which is bent about its stronger

principal axis is not restrained laterally (as shown in
Figure 7.1b), it may buckle prematurely out of the
plane of bending by deflecting laterally and twisting.
This action is related to the lateral–torsional buckling
of beams discussed in Chapter 6.

34
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

Fig. 7.1

7.3.1 Elastic beam-columns

7.3.1.1 Beam-columns with equal end moments

• Consider a perfectly straight elastic beam-column

bent about its major axis (see Figure 7.1b) by equal
and opposite end moments M (so that βm =−1), and
loaded by an axial force N.

• The ends of the beam-column are assumed to be

simply supported and free to warp but end twist

35
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

rotations are prevented. It is also assumed that the

cross-section of the beam-column has two axes of
symmetry so that the shear centre and centroid
coincide.

• When the applied load and moments reach the elastic

buckling values Ncr,MN , Mcr,MN , a deflected and twisted
equilibrium position is possible. It is shown (refer
Section 7.6.1) that this position is given by:

(7.34)
in which δ is the undetermined magnitude of the
central deflection, and that the elastic buckling
combination Ncr,MN , Mcr,MN is given by:

(7.35)
in which i p = [( I y + I z )] / A is the polar radius
of gyration, and

36
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

(7.36)/ (7.37)
are the minor axis and torsional buckling loads of
an elastic axially loaded column.

• It can be seen that for the limiting case when Mcr,MN =

0, the beam-column buckles as a compression
member at the lower of Ncr, z and Ncr,T , and when
Ncr,MN = 0, it buckles as a beam at the elastic buckling
moment (see equation 6.3)(EXERCISE CHECK)

(7.38)
• Some more general solutions of equation 7.35 are
shown in Figure 7.14.

37
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

Fig. 7.14 Elastic buckling load combinations for beam-

columns with equal end moments (CHECK
EXERCISE)
• The derivation of equation 7.35 neglects the
approximate amplification by the axial load of the in-
plane moments to Mcr,MN /(1 − Ncr,MN /Ncr, y) (see
Section 7.2.1). When this is accounted for, equation
7.35 for the elastic buckling combination of Ncr,MN and
Mcr,MN changes to

38
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

(7.39)

• The maximum possible value of Ncr,MN is the lowest

value of Ncr, y, Ncr, z , and Ncr,T . For most sections this
is much less than Ncr, y and so equation 7.39 is usually
very close to equation 7.35.

• For most hot-rolled sections, Ncr, z is less than Ncr,T ,

so that (1−Ncr,MN /Ncr,T) > (1−Ncr,MN /Ncr, z)(1−Ncr,MN
/Ncr, y)(CHECK)

• In this case, equation 7.39 can be safely

approximated by the interaction equation

(7.40)

7.3.4 Design rules

• The design of beam-columns against out-of-plane

buckling will generally be governed by:

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

(7.60)
in which kzy is an interaction factor that may be
determined from Annex A or Annex B of EC3.

Equation 7.60 is similar to equation 7.32 for in-plane

major axis buckling resistance, except for the
allowance for lateral torsional buckling in the second
term and the use of the minor axis column buckling
resistance in the first term.

• For members with the intermediate lateral restraints

against minor axis buckling, failure by major axis
buckling with lateral torsional buckling between the
restraints becomes a possibility. This leads to
requirement:

(7.61)

which incorporates the major axis flexural buckling

resistance Nb,y,Rd and the lateral torsional buckling
resistance Mb,Rd.

• For members with no lateral restraints along the span,

equation 7.60 will always govern over equation 7.61.

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

7.7.4 Example 4 – checking the out-of-plane resistance

Problem. The 9m long simply supported beam-column

shown in Figure 7.19d has a factored design axial
compression force of 200 kN and a factored design
concentrated load of 20 kN (which includes an allowance
for self-weight) acting in the major principal plane at mid-
span. Lateral deflections v and twist rotations φ are
prevented at the ends and at mid-span. The beam-column
is the 254 × 146 UB 37 of S275 steel shown in Figure
7.19a. Check the adequacy of the beam-column.

41
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

• Design bending moment.

My,Ed = 45.0 kNm

• cross-section resistance.
tf = 10.9 mm, fy = 275 N/mm2 EN 10025-2
ε = (235/275)0.5 = 0.924 T5.2
cf /(tf ε) = ((146.4 − 6.3 − 2 × 7.6)/2)/(10.9 ×
0.924) = 6.20 < 9 T5.2
and the flange is Class 1.
cw = 256.0 − (2 × 10.9) − (2 × 7.6) = 219.0 mm.

The compression proportion of web is:

T.52

T.52
and the web is Class 1.

6.2.5(2)

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

6.2.1(7)

and the cross-section resistance is adequate.

• Beam-column member buckling resistance –

simplified approach (Annex B).

While the member major axis in-plane resistance

without lateral buckling was checked in Section 7.7.2,
the lateral buckling resistance between supports
should be used in place of the in-plane bending
resistance to check against equation 6.61 of EC3.

Mb,Rd = 121.4 kNm (member torsional buckling

resistance with length b/n intermediate
lateral support and end support)
Nb,y,Rd = 900 kN (major-axis axial buckling resistance),
kyy = 1.052, and My,Ed = 45.0 kNm.

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

and the member in-plane resistance is adequate.

For the member out-of-plane resistance (equation

6.62 of EC3),

From Section 7.7.3, Nb,z,Rd = 449 kN, χz = 0.346, λz =

1.490, λ max = 1.490, Ncr, z = 584.4 kN, and wz = 1.5.

ψ = 0, CmLT = 0.6 + 0.4ψ = 0.6 > 0.4 TB.3

TB.1

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

kzy = 0.873 TB.1

6.3.3(4)
and the member out-of-plane resistance is adequate.

• Beam-column member buckling resistance – more

exact approach (Annex A).

The member in-plane resistance was checked in

Section 7.7.2, but as for the simplified approach,
equation 6.61 should be checked by taking the lateral
buckling resistance in place of the in-plane major axis
bending resistance. The interaction factor kyy also
requires re-calculating due to the possibility of lateral
buckling.

λ y = 0.960, λ max = λ z = 1.490 TA.1

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

Using Mzx = 111.2 kNm from Section 6.15.2,

λ 0 = 132.8 / 111.2 = 1.093 TA.1

Since cross-section is doubly-symmetrical, using

equation 7.37 with

Using αm of equation 6.5 for C1 with βm = 0 leads to C1

= 1.75

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

TA.1

TA.1

TA.1

Using Ncr, y = 1417 kN from Section 7.7.2,

TA.2

47
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

TA.1

TA.1

TA.1

48
 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

TA.1
Using χy = 0.693 from Section 7.7.2,

TA.1

TA.1

6.3.3(4)
and the member in-plane resistance (with lateral
buckling between the lateral supports) is adequate.
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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

For the member out-of-plane resistance (equation

6.62 of EC3),

TA.1

Using χz = 0.346 from Section 7.7.3,

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 Steel Structures - Chapter 4

TA.1

and the member out-of-plane resistance is adequate.

51