STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

STEEL DESIGN 2 506.2.2 Lateral-Torsional Buckling

1. When 𝑳𝒃 ≤ 𝑳𝒑 the limit state of lateral-
FLEXURAL MEMBERS OR BEAMS buckling does not apply.

506.1 General Limitations 2. When 𝑳𝒑 ≤ 𝑳𝒃 ≤ 𝑳𝒓

The design flexural strength, 𝝓𝒃 𝑴𝒏 , and 𝑳𝒃 − 𝑳𝒑
𝑴𝒏 = 𝑪𝒃 [𝑴𝒑 − (𝑴𝒑 − 𝟎. 𝟕𝑭𝒚 𝑺𝒙 ) ( )] ≤ 𝑴𝒑
the allowable flexural strength, 𝑴𝒏 /𝛀𝒃 , 𝑳𝒓 − 𝑳𝒑
shall be determined as follows: (506.2-2)
1. For all provisions in this section 3. When 𝑳𝒃 > 𝑳𝒓
𝝓𝒃 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟎 (𝑳𝑹𝑭𝑫) 𝛀𝒃 = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟕 (𝑨𝑺𝑫)
and the nominal flexural strength, (506.2-3)
𝑴𝒏 = 𝑭𝒄𝒓 𝑺𝒙 ≤ 𝑴𝒑
𝑴𝒏 , shall be determined according
to Section 506.2 through Section where
506.12. 𝑳𝒃 – length between points that either
braced against lateral displacement of
2. The provisions in these sections compression flange or braced against
are based on the assumption that twist of the cross section, mm
points of support for beams and
girders are restrained against 𝑪𝒃 𝝅𝟐 𝑬 𝑱𝒄 𝑳𝒃 𝟐
𝑭𝒄𝒓 = √𝟏 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟕𝟖 ( )
rotation about their longitudinal 𝑳𝒃 𝟐 (506.2-4)
𝑺𝒙 𝒉𝒐 𝒓𝒕𝒔
axis. ( )
𝒓𝒕𝒔
*** 𝑬 – modulus of elasticity of steel,
506.2 Doubly Symmetric Compact I-Shaped 200,000 MPa
Members and Channels Bent about their
𝑱𝒄 – torsional constant, mm4
Major Axis
𝑺𝒙 – elastic section modulus taken about
the x-axis, mm3
This section applies to doubly symmetric
I-shaped members and channels bend about
User Note: The square root term in Eq.
their major axis having compact webs and
506.2-4 may be conservatively taken equal
compact flanges as defined in Section
to 1.0.
502.4.

The limiting length 𝑳𝒑 and 𝑳𝒓 are

The nominal flexural strength, 𝑴𝒏 , shall
determined as follows:
be the lower value obtained according to
the limit states of yielding (plastic 𝑬
𝑳𝒑 = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟔𝟕𝒓𝒚 √ (506.2-5)
moment) and lateral-torsional buckling. 𝑭𝒚

506.2.1 Yielding 𝑬 𝑱𝒄 √ 𝟎. 𝟕𝟎𝑭𝒚 𝑺𝒙 𝒉𝒐 𝟐

𝑴𝒏 = 𝑴𝒑 = 𝑭𝒚 𝒁𝒙 𝑳𝒓 = 𝟏. 𝟗𝟓𝒓𝒕𝒔 √ 𝟏 + √𝟏 + 𝟔. 𝟕𝟔 ( ∙ )
(506.2-1) 𝟎. 𝟕𝑭𝒚 𝑺𝒙 𝒉𝒐 𝑬 𝑱𝒄
where where (506.2-6)
𝑭𝒚 – specified minimum yield stress of the √𝑰𝒚 𝑪𝒘
type of steel being used, MPa 𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝟐 = (506.2-7)
𝑺𝒙
𝒁𝒙 – plastic section modulus about the x- And For a doubly symmetric I-shape:
axis, mm3 𝒄=𝟏 (506.2-8a)
𝒉𝒐 𝑰𝒚
For a channel: 𝒄 = √𝑪 (506.2-8b)
𝟐 𝒘
where
𝒉𝒐 – distance between the flange
centroids.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

User Note: If the square root term in Eq. 𝑹𝒎 – cross-section monosymmetric

506.2-4 is conservatively taken equal to parameter
1, Eq. 506.2-6 becomes = 𝟏. 𝟎, doubly symmetric members
𝑬 = 𝟏. 𝟎, singly symmetric members
𝑳𝒓 = 𝝅𝒓𝒕𝒔 √ subjected to single curvature bending
𝟎. 𝟕𝑭𝒚
Note that this approximation can be
In singly symmetric members subjected to
extremely conservative.
reverse curvature bending, the lateral-
torsional buckling strength shall be
For doubly symmetric I-shapes with
checked for both flanges. The available
𝑰𝒚 𝒉𝒐 𝟐
rectangular flanges, 𝑪𝒘 = and thus Eq. flexural strength shall be greater than
𝟒
506.2-7 becomes or equal to the maximum required moment
𝑰𝒚 𝒉𝒐 causing compression within the flange
𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝟐 = under considerations.
𝟐𝑺𝒙

𝒓𝒕𝒔 may be approximated accurately and 𝑪𝒃 is permitted to be conservatively taken

conservatively as the radius of gyration as 1.0 for all cases. For cantilevers or
of the compression flanges plus one-sixth overhangs where the free end is unbraced,
of the web: 𝑪𝒃 = 𝟏. 𝟎.
𝒃𝒇
𝒓𝒕𝒔 = User Note: For doubly symmetric members
𝟏 𝒉𝒕 with no transverse loading between brace
√𝟏𝟐(𝟏 + 𝟔 ∙ 𝒃 𝒕𝒘
𝒇 𝒇 points, Eq. 506.1-1 reduces to 2.27 for
the case of equal end moments of opposite
506.1 General Limitations sign and to 1.67 when one end moment
*** equals zero.
The following terms are common to the
equations in this section except where 1. For the built-up shape shown,
noted: determine (a) the elastic section modulus
𝑪𝒃 – lateral-torsional buckling and the yield moment and (b) the plastic
modification factor for nonuniform moment section modulus and the plastic moment
diagrams when both ends of the Mp. Bending is about the x-axis, and the
unsupported are braced. steel is A572 Grade 50.

𝟏𝟐. 𝟓𝑴𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝑪𝒃 = 𝑹 ≤ 𝟑. 𝟎
𝟐. 𝟓𝑴𝒎𝒂𝒙 + 𝟑𝑴𝑨 + 𝟒𝑴𝑩 + 𝟑𝑴𝑪 𝒎
(506.1-1)

where
𝑴𝒎𝒂𝒙 – absolute value of maximum moment
in the unbraced segment, N-mm
𝑴𝑨 – absolute value of maximum moment at
quarter point of the unbraced segment, N-
mm
𝑴𝑩 – absolute value of maximum moment at
centerline of the unbraced segment, N-mm
𝑴𝑪 – absolute value of maximum moment at
three-quarter point of the unbraced
segment, N-mm
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

2. Determine the plastic moment capacity of ECCENTRIC CONNECTIONS

the section. Use A36. All units are in mm.
4. A bracket shown in Figure SD1 consists of
two plates riveted to a column by 5-20 mm
rivets which is subjected to an eccentric load
140 KN.
140 kN

200 mm

100 mm

100 mm
3. Determine the flexural strength of a
W357×101 of A242 steel subject to:
a. Continuous lateral support.
75mm 75mm
b. An unbraced length of 6m with
Cb = 1.0.
c. An unbraced length of 9m with a. Which of the following gives the shearing
Cb = 1.0. stress due to the axial load only? 44.56
MPa
b. Which of the following gives the shearing
stress due to moment alone? 89.13 MPa
c. Which of the following gives the total
shearing stress on the most stressed rivet?
121.23 MPa

5. The gusset is riveted to a larger plate by

four 22mm rivets arranged and loaded as shown
in the figure.

a. Which of the following most nearly gives

the direct load on each rivet in kN? 10 kN
b. Which of the following gives the force in
kN on the heavily loaded rivet? 18.03 kN
c. Which of the following gives the force on
the light loaded rivet? 11.18 kN
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

6. A riveted bracket shown is subjected to a 8. In the connection shown in the figure, a

load P acting at an angle ϴ from the vertical. load transmits 40 kN load acting at an
There are 8-28mm ᴓ rivets 4 on each side of eccentricity of 200 mm. The load is
the column flange. transmitted to the column by the plates and
12mm weld. The plates are adequate to transmit
the load to the weld. The connection can be
analyzed by replacing the given load with an
equivalent loading composed of a vertical
force alone acting through the centroid of the
rivets and a moment.

a. Which of the following gives the max shear

stress if P= 100kN, ϴ=45˚, e=250mm,
b=150mm, a=200mm. 135.69 MPa
b. Which of the following gives the max value
of P if e=250mm and the allowable shear d. Which of the following nearly gives the
stress is 120MPa? 88.43kN maximum shear stress in the welds in MPa
c. Which of the following gives the minimum for equivalent vertical force alone acting
eccentricity when P=100kN if the allowable on the centroid? 11.79 MPa
shearing stress is 120MPa? 204.16mm e. Which of the following most nearly gives
the maximum shear stress in the weld in MPa
for the equivalent moment alone? 25 MPa
7. For the welded connection shown in the f. Which of the following most nearly gives
figure, the plate is adequate to resist load. the maximum shear stress in the weld in
MPa? 34.4 MPa

a. Which of the following gives the location

of the center of gravity of the weld from
A? 112.5 mm
b. Which of the following gives the twisting
moment to be resisted by the weld in kN-m?
23.625 kN-m
c. Which of the following gives the maximum
load on the most stressed weld in N/mm?
529.45 N/mm