Flexural-Torsional Buckling

FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL
BUCKLING
Bashar Behnam, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
Philadelphia University
2
Flexural-Torsional Buckling
• This type of failure is caused by a combination of flexural
buckling and torsional buckling.
• This type of failure can occur only with unsymmetrical cross
sections with one axis of symmetry (Singly Symmetrical
shapes).
y
x x
S.C.
C.G.
Structural Tee American Standard Channel

WT, ST and MT
y
3
Flexural-Torsional Buckling
For singly symmetrical shapes:
y-axis is the axis of symmetry (regardless of the orientation of
the member).
x-axis is the axis of no symmetry.
x-axis is subjected to flexural buckling only.
y-axis is subjected to 2 buckling actions: flexural buckling and
torsional buckling. That’s why we call this failure mode
“flexural-torsional buckling”.
Since there are two actions in flexural-torsional buckling, then
the source of strength is a combination of flexural and torsional
action.
4
Flexural-Torsional
Flexural Buckling Buckling
z
How to
Quantify
these two
behaviors? x
Bending is
y associated
with
twisting
Axis of no symmetry Original

Position
Original Axis of Symmetry
Position
Symmetry
of
Axis
5
Example 4.16
Compute the compressive strength of a C15  50 of A36 steel.
The effective lengths with respect to the x, y, and z axes are
each 13 feet. Use LRFD method.
6
Example 14.6 (cont.)

 Compute the flexural buckling strength about
x-axis (axis of no symmetry).
K x L 13 12
  180.3 (Slenderness ratio)
rx 0.865
 2E  2 29000
Fe    8.805 ksi (elastic stress)
KL r  2
180.32
E 29,000
4.71  4.71  133.7 Determine whether the flexural buckling falls
within the elastic range or inealstic range
Fy 36
KxL E
since  4.71  Elastic buckling and AISC Equation E3-3 applies
rx Fy
7
Fcr  0.877Fe  0.877(8.805)  7.722 ksi
note that 0.877 is a reduction factor to account for the effects of initial
crookness.
The nominal strength is
Pn  Fcr Ag  7.72214.7  113.5 kips
Fcr Critical stress (ksi)

Ag Gross cross-sectional Area (in2)
8

 Compute the flexural-torsional buckling strength
about the y-axis (axis of symmetry)
K y L 13  12
ry 5.24
E
Remember 4.71  133.7
Fy
since KyL E
 4.71  Inelastic buckling and AISC Equation E3-2 applies
ry Fy
  Fy
How to calculate the elastic stress?
Fcr  0.658  Fy
 Fe It is a 3-step process
 
9

 2 29,000
G shear modulus of elasticity, ksi.
2 E
Fey    323 ksi
KL ry  1.0  13  12 5.24
2 2 J torsional constant, in4.
Cw warping constant, in4.
AISC equation E4-8 polar radius of gyration about
ro
the shear center, in.
  2 EC w  1
Fez    GJ  AISC equation E4-9
 K z L 
2 2
 A ro z
Warping Torsional resistance St. Venant Torsional resistance
 2 29,000492 
Fez    11, 2002.65
1
 80.06 ksi
 13  12  14.7 5.49
2 2
x
y
10
Warping Constant
11

 Fey  Fez  4 Fey Fez H 
Fe   1  1   AISC Equation E4-5
 2H  Fey  Fez  
2
 403.1   4323.080.060.937 
Fe    1  1    78.46 ksi (elastic stress)
 20.937   403.12

 Fy
  36

Fcr  0.658  Fy  0.65878.46 36  29.71 ksi
Fe
   
Pn  Fcr Ag  29.7114.7   436.7 kips

the smaller value controls, then flexural buckling strength controls and the nominal
strength is 113.5 kips
12

The design strength (factored) using LRFD method:
c Pn  0.9113.5  102 kips c : resistance factor

13
Example 4.15
Compute the compressive strength of a WT12  81 of A992 steel.
The effective lengths with respect to the x-axis is 25 ft 6 inches,
the effective lengths with respect to y, and z axes are each 20 feet.
Use LRFD method.
y
x x
S.C.
C.G.
y
14

 Compute the flexural buckling strength about
x-axis (axis of no symmetry).
K x L 25.5  12
rx 3.5
2 E  2 29000
KL r 2
87.43 2
E 29,000
4.71  4.71  113 Determine whether the flexural buckling falls
within the elastic range or inealstic range
Fy 50
KxL E
since  4.71  Inelastic buckling and AISC Equation E3-2
rx Fy applies
15

 Fy
  50

Fcr  0.658  Fy  0.658
Fe 37.44
  50  28.59 ksi
   
Fcr Critical stress (ksi)
The nominal strength is Ag Gross cross-sectional Area (in2)
Pn  Fcr Ag  28.5923.9  683.3 kips
 Compute the flexural-torsional buckling strength

about the y-axis (axis of symmetry)
Compute Fcry
KyL 20  12
ry 3.05
16

E
Remember 4.71  113
Fy
since KyL E
 4.71  Inelastic buckling and AISC Equation E3-2 applies
ry Fy
y
2 E  2 29000
KL r 2
78.69 2
x x
S.C.
 Fy
  50

C.G.
Fcry  0.658 Fe  Fy  0.658 46.22

  50  31.79 ksi
   
Because the shear center of a tee is located at the intersection of the
centerlines of the flange and the stem,
y
xO  0
17

tf 1.22
yO  y   2.70   2.090 in
2 2
I  Iy 293  221
rO2  xO2  yO2  x  0  2.090   25.87 in 2
2
Ag 23.9
GI 11,2009.22
Fcrz    167.0 ksi
Ag rO2
23.925.87
Fcry  Fcrz  31.79  167.0  198.8 ksi
xO2  yO2 0  2.090

2
H 1 2
 1   0.8312
rO 25.87
 Fcry  Fcrz   4 Fcry Fcrz H 

Fcr    1  1  2 
 2 H   Fcry  Fcrz  
198.8  431.79167.00.8312 
 1  1    30.63 ksi
20.8312  198.8 2

18
Pn  Fcr Ag  30.6323.9  732.1 kips
the smaller value controls, then flexural buckling strength controls and the nominal
strength is 683.3 kips
Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional 2021
Author: File: L T B.rtd
Address: Project: L T B
Members - Definition
Member Name Components Code group Section Type Ly (ft)
1 FTB_1 1 (N/A) C 15x50 FTB 13.00

2 t_2 2 (N/A) WT 12x81 t 25.50
Member Lz (ft)
1 13.00
2 20.00
Steel Member Verification
STEEL DESIGN
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CODE: ANSI/AISC 360-16 An American National Standard, July 7, 2016
ANALYSIS TYPE: Member Verification
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CODE GROUP:
MEMBER: 1 FTB_1 POINT: 1 COORDINATE: x = 0.00 L = 0.00 ft
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOADS:
Governing Load Case: 1 DL1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MATERIAL:
STEEL A36 Fy = 36.00 ksi Fu = 58.00 ksi E = 29000.00 ksi
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION PARAMETERS: C 15x50

d=15.00 in Ay=4.836 in2 Az=10.740 in2 Ax=14.700 in2
bf=3.72 in Iy=404.000 in4 Iz=11.000 in4 J=2.650 in4
tw=0.72 in Sy=53.867 in3 Sz=3.766 in3
tf=0.65 in Zy=68.500 in3 Zz=8.140 in3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEMBER PARAMETERS:
Ly = 13.00 ft Lz = 13.00 ft
Lcy = 13.00 ft Lcz = 13.00 ft
Lcy/ry = 29.76 Lcz/rz = 180.34
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNAL FORCES: DESIGN STRENGTHS
Pr = 50.00 kip Fic*Pn = 102.11 kip
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAFETY FACTORS
Fic = 0.90
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION ELEMENTS:
Flange = Nonslender Web = Nonslender
Date : 03/05/20 Page : 2

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VERIFICATION FORMULAS:
Pr/(Fic*Pn) = 0.49 < 1.00 LRFD (H1-1a) Verified
Lcy/ry = 29.76 < (Lc/r),max = 210.00 Lcz/rz = 180.34 < (Lc/r),max = 210.00 STABLE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section OK !!!
Date : 03/05/20 Page : 3

Symbol Values Unit Symbol description Section
MEMBER: 1 FTB_1 ; COORDINATE: x = 0.00 L = 0.00 ft
Cross-section properties: C 15x50
Ax 14.700 in2 Cross-section area

Ay 4.836 in2 Shear area - Y-axis
Az 10.740 in2 Shear area - Z-axis
J 2.650 in4 Torsional constant
Iy 404.000 in4 Moment of inertia of a section about the Y-axis
Iz 11.000 in4 Moment of inertia of a section about the Z-axis
Zy 68.500 in3 Plastic section modulus about the Y (major) axis
Sy 53.867 in3 Elastic section modulus about the Y-axis
Zz 8.140 in3 Plastic section modulus about the Z (minor) axis
Sz 3.766 in3 Elastic section modulus about the Z-axis
d 15.00 in Height of cross-section
bf 3.72 in Width of cross-section
tf 0.65 in Flange thickness
tw 0.72 in Web thickness
ry 5.24 in Radius of gyration - Y-axis
rz 0.87 in Radius of gyration - Z-axis
Material:
Name STEEL A36

Fy 36.00 ksi Specified minimum yield strength of material
Fu 58.00 ksi Specified minimum tensile strength
E 29000.00 ksi Longitudinal elasticity coefficient
Partial factor method LRFD
Fic 0.90 Resistance factor for compression [E1]
Local buckling
Lamf 5.72 Width-To-Thickness ratio for a flange [Table B4.1a,b]

Lamw 17.74 Width-To-Thickness ratio for a web [Table B4.1a,b]
Section class for simple compression
Lamf_r_N 15.89 Limiting slenderness for nonslender flange [Table B4.1a]
ClassF_N Nonslender Flange class [Table B4.1a]
Lamw_r_N 42.29 Limiting slenderness for nonslender web [Table B4.1a]
ClassW_N Nonslender Web class [Table B4.1a]
Parameters of buckling analysis:
About the Y axis of cross-section

Ly 13.00 ft Laterally unbraced buckling length [E2]
Ky 1.00 Effective buckling length coefficient [E2]
Lcy 13.00 ft Effective buckling length [E2]
Lcy/ry 29.76 Buckling slenderness of a member [E2]
Fey 323.23 ksi Elastic critical buckling stress [E3]
Fcry 34.36 ksi Critical flexural buckling stress [E3]
Date : 03/05/20 Page : 1


Pny 505.10 kip Nominal compressive strength of a member [E3]
About the Z axis of cross-section
Lz 13.00 ft Laterally unbraced buckling length [E2]
Kz 1.00 Effective buckling length coefficient [E2]
Lcz 13.00 ft Effective buckling length [E2]
Lcz/rz 180.34 Buckling slenderness of a member [E2]
Fez 8.80 ksi Elastic critical buckling stress [E3]
Fcrz 7.72 ksi Critical flexural buckling stress [E3]
Pnz 113.46 kip Nominal compressive strength of a member [E3]
Flexural-torsional buckling
Lt 13.00 ft Laterally unbraced buckling length [E4]
Kt 1.00 Effective buckling length coefficient [E4]
Kt*Lt/r0 28.29 Buckling slenderness of a member [E4]
Fex 2386.56 ksi Torsional elastic buckling stress [E4]
Fe 319.68 ksi Flexural-torsional elastic buckling stress [E4]
Fcrt 34.34 ksi Critical stress for flexural-torsional buckling [E3]
Pnt 504.84 kip Nominal compressive strength of a member [E4]
Other:
Cw 612.58 in6 Warping constant [E,F]
Internal forces
Pr 50.00 kip Required compressive strength
Nominal strengths:
Pn 113.46 kip Nominal compressive strength [E3]
Design strengths:
Fic*Pn 102.11 kip Design compressive strength [E3]
Verification formulas:
UF[Lc/r] 0.86 Max(Lcy/ry/(Lc/r),max ; Lcz/rz/(Lc/r),max) stable

UF(H1_1a) 0.49 Pr/(Fic*Pn) Verified
Ratio:
RAT 0.49 Efficiency ratio Section OK
Date : 03/05/20 Page : 2

STEEL DESIGN
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CODE: ANSI/AISC 360-16 An American National Standard, July 7, 2016
ANALYSIS TYPE: Member Verification
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CODE GROUP:
MEMBER: 2 t_2 POINT: 1 COORDINATE: x = 0.00 L = 0.00 ft
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOADS:
Governing Load Case: 1 DL1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MATERIAL:
STEEL A992-50 Fy = 50.00 ksi Fu = 65.00 ksi E = 29000.00 ksi
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION PARAMETERS: WT 12x81

d=12.50 in Ay=15.860 in2 Az=8.813 in2 Ax=23.900 in2
bf=13.00 in Iy=293.000 in4 Iz=221.000 in4 J=9.220 in4
tw=0.70 in Sy=29.898 in3 Sz=34.000 in3
tf=1.22 in Zy=53.300 in3 Zz=52.600 in3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEMBER PARAMETERS:
Ly = 25.50 ft Lz = 20.00 ft
Lcy = 25.50 ft Lcz = 20.00 ft
Lcy/ry = 87.39 Lcz/rz = 78.92
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNAL FORCES: DESIGN STRENGTHS
Pr = 50.00 kip Fic*Pn = 615.28 kip
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAFETY FACTORS
Fic = 0.90
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION ELEMENTS:
Flange = Nonslender Web = Nonslender
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VERIFICATION FORMULAS:
Pr/(Fic*Pn) = 0.08 < 1.00 LRFD (H1-1a) Verified
Lcy/ry = 87.39 < (Lc/r),max = 210.00 Lcz/rz = 78.92 < (Lc/r),max = 210.00 STABLE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section OK !!!
Steel Code Group Verification
Steel Code Group Design
Date : 03/05/20 Page : 4

MEMBER: 2 t_2 ; COORDINATE: x = 0.00 L = 0.00 ft
Cross-section properties: WT 12x81
Ax 23.900 in2 Cross-section area

Ay 15.860 in2 Shear area - Y-axis
Az 8.813 in2 Shear area - Z-axis
J 9.220 in4 Torsional constant
Iy 293.000 in4 Moment of inertia of a section about the Y-axis
Iz 221.000 in4 Moment of inertia of a section about the Z-axis
Zy 53.300 in3 Plastic section modulus about the Y (major) axis
Sy 29.898 in3 Elastic section modulus about the Y-axis
Zz 52.600 in3 Plastic section modulus about the Z (minor) axis
Sz 34.000 in3 Elastic section modulus about the Z-axis
d 12.50 in Height of cross-section
bf 13.00 in Width of cross-section
tf 1.22 in Flange thickness
tw 0.70 in Web thickness
ry 3.50 in Radius of gyration - Y-axis
rz 3.04 in Radius of gyration - Z-axis
Material:
Name STEEL A992-50

Fy 50.00 ksi Specified minimum yield strength of material
Fu 65.00 ksi Specified minimum tensile strength
E 29000.00 ksi Longitudinal elasticity coefficient
Partial factor method LRFD
Fic 0.90 Resistance factor for compression [E1]
Local buckling
Lamf 5.33 Width-To-Thickness ratio for a flange [Table B4.1a,b]

Lamw 17.73 Width-To-Thickness ratio for a web [Table B4.1a,b]
Section class for simple compression
Lamf_r_N 13.49 Limiting slenderness for nonslender flange [Table B4.1a]
ClassF_N Nonslender Flange class [Table B4.1a]
Lamw_r_N 18.06 Limiting slenderness for nonslender web [Table B4.1a]
ClassW_N Nonslender Web class [Table B4.1a]
Parameters of buckling analysis:
About the Y axis of cross-section

Ly 25.50 ft Laterally unbraced buckling length [E2]
Ky 1.00 Effective buckling length coefficient [E2]
Lcy 25.50 ft Effective buckling length [E2]
Lcy/ry 87.39 Buckling slenderness of a member [E2]
Fey 37.47 ksi Elastic critical buckling stress [E3]
Fcry 28.60 ksi Critical flexural buckling stress [E3]
Date : 03/05/20 Page : 1


Pny 683.65 kip Nominal compressive strength of a member [E3]
About the Z axis of cross-section
Lz 20.00 ft Laterally unbraced buckling length [E2]
Kz 1.00 Effective buckling length coefficient [E2]
Lcz 20.00 ft Effective buckling length [E2]
Lcz/rz 78.92 Buckling slenderness of a member [E2]
Fez 45.95 ksi Elastic critical buckling stress [E3]
Fcrz 31.71 ksi Critical flexural buckling stress [E3]
Pnz 757.82 kip Nominal compressive strength of a member [E3]
Flexural-torsional buckling
Lt 20.00 ft Laterally unbraced buckling length [E4]
Kt 1.00 Effective buckling length coefficient [E4]
Kt*Lt/r0 47.18 Buckling slenderness of a member [E4]
Fex 166.30 ksi Torsional elastic buckling stress [E4]
Fe 43.37 ksi Flexural-torsional elastic buckling stress [E4]
Fcrt 30.86 ksi Critical stress for flexural-torsional buckling [E3]
Pnt 737.54 kip Nominal compressive strength of a member [E4]
Other:
Internal forces
Pr 50.00 kip Required compressive strength
Nominal strengths:
Pn 683.65 kip Nominal compressive strength [E3]
Design strengths:
Fic*Pn 615.28 kip Design compressive strength [E3]
Verification formulas:
UF[Lc/r] 0.42 Max(Lcy/ry/(Lc/r),max ; Lcz/rz/(Lc/r),max) stable

UF(H1_1a) 0.08 Pr/(Fic*Pn) Verified
Ratio:
RAT 0.08 Efficiency ratio Section OK
Date : 03/05/20 Page : 2

Flexural-Torsional Buckling

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Flexural-Torsional Buckling

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FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL

Structural Tee American Standard Channel

Axis of no symmetry Original

Example 14.6 (cont.)

Example 14.6 (cont.)

Fcr  0.877Fe  0.877(8.805)  7.722 ksi

The nominal strength is

Pn  Fcr Ag  7.72214.7  113.5 kips

Fcr Critical stress (ksi)

Example 14.6 (cont.)

Example 14.6 (cont.)

Warping Torsional resistance St. Venant Torsional resistance

Example 14.6 (cont.)

The nominal strength is

Pn  Fcr Ag  29.7114.7   436.7 kips

Example 14.6 (cont.)

c Pn  0.9113.5  102 kips c : resistance factor

Example 14.5 (cont.)

Example 14.5 (cont.)

Pn  Fcr Ag  28.5923.9  683.3 kips

 Compute the flexural-torsional buckling strength

Example 14.5 (cont.)

Fcry  0.658 Fe  Fy  0.658 46.22

Example 14.5 (cont.)

xO2  yO2 0  2.090

 Fcry  Fcrz   4 Fcry Fcrz H 

Example 14.5 (cont.)

The nominal strength is

Pn  Fcr Ag  30.6323.9  732.1 kips

Member Name Components Code group Section Type Ly (ft)

1 FTB_1 1 (N/A) C 15x50 FTB 13.00

Steel Member Verification

SECTION PARAMETERS: C 15x50

Date : 03/05/20 Page : 2

Date : 03/05/20 Page : 3

Symbol Values Unit Symbol description Section

MEMBER: 1 FTB_1 ; COORDINATE: x = 0.00 L = 0.00 ft

Cross-section properties: C 15x50

Ax 14.700 in2 Cross-section area

Name STEEL A36

Partial factor method LRFD

Fic 0.90 Resistance factor for compression [E1]

Lamf 5.72 Width-To-Thickness ratio for a flange [Table B4.1a,b]

Parameters of buckling analysis:

About the Y axis of cross-section

Date : 03/05/20 Page : 1

Symbol Values Unit Symbol description Section

Cw 612.58 in6 Warping constant [E,F]

Pr 50.00 kip Required compressive strength

Pn 113.46 kip Nominal compressive strength [E3]

Fic*Pn 102.11 kip Design compressive strength [E3]

UF[Lc/r] 0.86 Max(Lcy/ry/(Lc/r),max ; Lcz/rz/(Lc/r),max) stable

RAT 0.49 Efficiency ratio Section OK

Date : 03/05/20 Page : 2

SECTION PARAMETERS: WT 12x81

Steel Code Group Verification

Steel Code Group Design

Date : 03/05/20 Page : 4

Symbol Values Unit Symbol description Section

MEMBER: 2 t_2 ; COORDINATE: x = 0.00 L = 0.00 ft

Cross-section properties: WT 12x81

Ax 23.900 in2 Cross-section area

Name STEEL A992-50

Partial factor method LRFD