NCCI: Critical axial load for torsional and flexural torsional buckling modes

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NCCI: Critical axial load for torsional and flexural torsional buckling modes
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NCCI: Critical axial load for torsional and flexural torsional

buckling modes
and

This NCCI gives the expressions for the critical axial load for the torsional buckling mode
and the flexural-torsional buckling mode.
terms

Contents
the

1. General 2
to

2. Torsional buckling 2
subject

3. Flexural-torsional buckling 3

4. References 4
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NCCI: Critical axial load for torsional and flexural torsional buckling modes

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NCCI: Critical axial load for torsional and flexural torsional buckling modes
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1. General
and

For the following common cases, torsional and flexural torsional buckling will not give a
lower mode than flexural buckling :
terms

‰ Doubly symmetric I and H sections (provided that both flanges are restrained at positions
of lateral restraint)
‰ Hollow sections
the

However, in some particular cases, the torsional buckling mode or the flexural-torsional
buckling mode of an axially loaded member may correspond to a critical load lower than the
to

one corresponding to the flexural buckling mode, especially for open sections. This document
gives rules to determine the critical load for such cases.
subject

This document deals with uniform members only and for which the conditions of restraint at
each end of the member are at least :
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‰ restrained against lateral movement

‰ restrained against rotation about the longitudinal axis
document

2. Torsional buckling
this

The critical axial load Ncr.T for torsional buckling mode may be calculated from :

1⎛ π 2 EI w ⎞
of

N cr, T = ⎜ GI + ⎟⎟
io2 ⎜⎝
t (1)
lT2 ⎠
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with:
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io2 = iy2 + iz2 + yo2 + z o2 (2)

where:
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is the Young modulus (E = 210000 N/mm2)

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E
G is the shear modulus (G = 80770 N/mm2)
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It is the torsion constant

Iw is the warping constant
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lT is the buckling length regarding the torsional buckling mode. In general, lT should be
taken as the system length, except when a special device prevents the warping at the
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ends of the member.

Wednesday,

yo and zo are the coordinates of the shear centre with respect to the centroid (see Figure 2.1).
For a doubly symmetric cross-section, the shear centre coincides with the centroid;
is

then yo = 0 and zo = 0
iy is the radius of gyration of the cross-section about the strong axis
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iz is the radius of gyration of the cross-section about the weak axis

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NCCI: Critical axial load for torsional and flexural torsional buckling modes

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NCCI: Critical axial load for torsional and flexural torsional buckling modes
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conditions

S
yo
zo
and

G
y
terms
the
to

Figure 2.1 Coordinates of the shear centre S with respect to the centroid G
subject

3. Flexural-torsional buckling
is

The flexural-torsional buckling mode should be considered only when the shear centre does
document

not coincide with the centroid.

The critical axial load Ncr.TF for the flexural-torsional buckling mode is the smallest root of the
following cubic equation in N :
this

io2 (N − N cr, y )(N − N cr, z )(N − N cr, T ) − N 2 yo2 (N − N cr, z ) − N 2 zo2 (N − N cr, y ) = 0 (3)
of

where
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Ncr,y and Ncr,z are the critical axial loads for flexural buckling about yy and zz axes
respectively
reserved.

Ncr.T is the critical axial load for torsional buckling mode, see § 2.
The equation may also be written as follows :
⎛ iy2 + iz2 ⎞ 3 ⎡ 1 ⎤
( )
⎜ 2 ⎟ N + ⎢ 2 N cr, y zo2 + N cr, z yo2 − (N cr, y + N cr, z + N cr, T )⎥ N 2
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⎜ i ⎟
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⎝ o ⎠ ⎣ io ⎦ (4)

+ (N cr,y N cr,z + N cr,z N cr,T + N cr,T N cr,y )N − N cr,y N cr,z N cr,T = 0

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When the cross-section is symmetric about the y-y-axis (see Figure 3.1), the critical axial load
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may be obtained from :

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⎛ iy2 + iz2 ⎞⎟
N cr,TF =
io2 ⎜N + N − (N + N cr,T ) − 4 N cr,y N cr,T
2

( 2 ⎜
) io2 ⎟
(5)
Wednesday,

2 i y + iz
2 cr, y cr,T cr, y
⎝ ⎠
is

When the cross-section is symmetric about the z-z-axis, Ncr.y should be replaced by Ncr.z in the
above expression.
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NCCI: Critical axial load for torsional and flexural torsional buckling modes

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NCCI: Critical axial load for torsional and flexural torsional buckling modes
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yo
z
and

y S G y
terms
the

z
to
subject

Figure 3.1 Cross-section symmetric about y-y-axis

is

4. References
document

1 Timoshenko, S.P. and Gere, J.M.

Theory of elastic stability. 2nd Edition. Mc Graw-Hill. 1961.
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NCCI: Critical axial load for torsional and flexural torsional buckling modes
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RESOURCE TITLE NCCI: Critical axial load for torsional and flexural torsional buckling
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Created by A. BUREAU CTICM 02/02/05

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Technical content checked by Y. GALEA CTICM 02/02/05

Editorial content checked by D C Iles SCI 2/3/05

Technical content endorsed by the

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following STEEL Partners:

1. UK G W Owens SCI 1/3/05

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2. France A Bureau CTICM 1/3/05

3. Sweden A Olsson SBI 1/3/05

4. Germany C Mueller RWTH 1/3/05

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5. Spain J Chica Labein 1/3/05

Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 21/04/06

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