Principles of Steel

Design
FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING
 FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL
BUCKLING
Flexural-Torsional Buckling is a mixture of torsion or twisting along
the longitudinal axis of the member, and flexure or bending.

This failure happens when the cross section of the member is

singly-symmetric (such as structural tees, channel sections, equal
leg single angles, and double-angles), or unsymmetric (such as
unequal-leg single angles).

However, for doubly-symmetric cross sections, torsional buckling

formula will be used (Eq. 505.4-4 of NSCP 2015)
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FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL
BUCKLING

▪Flexural-torsional
buckling, as seen in
the figure, is simply a
combination of
flexural buckling and
torsional buckling

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NSCP 2015 505.4
The goal in testing a compression member for flexural-
torsional buckling failure is to determine its compressive
strength using Section 505.4 of NSCP 2015.

Note that flexural-torsional buckling rarely governs as a

compression member failure. That is why we still need to
test the compression strength of the member against
flexural buckling and local buckling (if slender elements
exist).

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NSCP 2015 505.4
The nominal compressive strength, Pn, shall be
determined based on the limit states of flexural-
torsional buckling and torsional buckling, as
follows:

Pn = FcrAg (Eq. 505.4-1)

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Fcr calculations:

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 For 505.4-5
FOR STRUCTURAL TEES, only use
505.4-5 if the STRUCTURAL TEE has a
Fe calculations: SLENDER ELEMENT.

FOR SECTIONS WITH AXES OF

SYMMETRY LOCATED AT THE X-AXIS
(e.g. Channels), use Fex instead of Fey

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Additional Formulas and
Definitions:

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More calculations:

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More calculations:

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A WT230x88.5 compression member is axially loaded
and pin-supported at its ends. Determine the a) Design
strength of the member; b) Allowable Strength of the
Example
member
Properties of WT230x88.5:
Ag = 11,400 mm^2
bf/2tf = 5.31
d/tw = 14.5
rx = 66 mm
ry = 68.3 mm
Fy = 250 MPa
Fu = 400 MPa
E = 200,000 MPa
L = 4.5 m
y = 51.6 mm
tf = 26.9 mm
Ix = 49,500,000 mm^4
Iy = 52,400,000 mm^4
ro = 102 mm
G = 77,200 MPa
J = 2,210,000 mm^4
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