Torsional and Flexural-Torsional Buckling 321

d2
dmz !stds 2 u y0 ! yf&y0 ! y
dz
d2
stds 2 v ! x0 ! xf&x0 ! x
dz
Integrating over the entire cross-sectional area and realizing that
Z Z Z Z
s tds P; xtds ytds 0; y2 tds Ix ;
A A A A
Z
x2 tds Iy ; I0 Ix Iy Ax20 y20
A

one obtains
Z
mz dmz Px0 v00 ! y0 u00 ! r02 Pf00 (6.4.10)
A

where r02 I0 =A.

Substituting Eq. (6.4.10) into Eq. (5.8.23) yields

EIw fiv ! GKT ! r02 f00 ! x0 Pv00 y0 Pu00 0 (6.4.11)

Equations (6.4.8), (6.4.9), and (6.4.11) are the three simultaneous differ-
ential equations for torsional, flexural-torsional buckling of columns with
arbitrary thin-walled cross sections. They are identical to Eq. (6.3.16)
derived in the previous section as expected, except the signs of x0 and y0 are
reversed as they are measured from the opposite reference point.

6.4.3. Torsional and Flexural-Torsional Buckling under

Thrust and End Moments
Consider the case when the column is subjected to bending moments Mx
and My applied at the ends in addition to the concentric load P. The bending
moments Mx and My are taken positive when they produce positive
curvatures in the plane of bending. It is assumed that the effect of P on the
bending stresses can be neglected and the initial deflection of the column
due to the moments is considered to be small. Under this assumption, the
normal stress at any point on the cross section of the column is independent
of z and is given by
P Mx y My x
s ! ! ! (6.4.12)
A Ix Iy
322 Chai Yoo

As is customarily done in the elastic buckling analysis, any prebuckling

deformations are not considered in the adjacent equilibrium condition.
Additional deflections u and v of the shear center and rotation f with respect
to the shear center axis are produced during buckling, and examination is
being conducted on this new slightly deformed configuration. Thus, the
components of deflection of any longitudinal fiber of the column are
u y0 " yf and v " x0 " xf. Hence, the fictitious lateral loads and
distributed twisting moment resulting from the initial compressive force in
the fibers acting on their slightly bent and rotated cross sections are obtained
in a manner used earlier.
d2
Z
qx " stds 2 u y0 " yf&
A dz

d2
Z
qy " stds v " x0 " xf&
A dz2

d2
Z
mz " stds 2 u y0 " yf&y0 " y
A dz

d2
Z
stds 2 v " x0 " xf&x0 " x
A dz

Substituting Eq. (6.4.12) into the above equations and integrating yields

d2u d2 f
qx "P " Py0 " Mx
dz2 dz2

d2v d2 f
qy "P Px0 " My
dz2 dz2

d2 u d2 v d2 f
mz "Py0 " Mx 2 Px0 " My 2 " Mx bx My by r02 P 2
dz dz dz

where the following new cross-sectional properties are introduced:

!Z Z "
1
bx y3 dA x2 ydA " 2y0 (6.4.13
Ix A A
!Z Z "
1 3 2
by x dA xy dA " 2x0
Iy A A
 Torsional and Flexural-Torsional Buckling 323

The three equations for bending and torsion of the column are

EIy uiv Pu00 Py0 # Mx f00 0 (6.4.14)

EIx viv Pv00 # Px0 # My f00 0 (6.4.15)

EIw fiv # GKT # Mx bx # My by # r02 Pf00 Py0 # Mx u00

# Px0 # My v00 0 6:4:16

These are three simultaneous differential equations with constant coeffi-

cients. Hence, the critical values of the external forces can be computed for
any combinations of end conditions.
If the load P is applied eccentrically with the coordinate of the point of
application of P by ex and ey measured from the centroid, the end moments
become Mx Pey and My Pex. Equations (6.4.14) through (6.4.16) take
the form

EIy uiv Pu00 Py0 # ey f00 0 (6.4.17)

EIx viv Pv00 # Px0 # ex f00 0 (6.4.18)

EIw fiv # GKT # Pey bx # Pex by # r02 Pf00 Py0 # ey u00

# Px0 # ex v00 0 6:4:19

If the thrust P acts along the shear center axis (x0 ex and y0 ey), Eqs.
(6.4.17) through (6.4.19) become very simple as they become independent
of each other. The first two equations yield the Euler loads, and the third
equation gives the critical load corresponding to pure torsional buckling of
the column.
If the thrust becomes zero, one obtains the case of pure bending of
a beam by couples Mx and My at the ends. Equations (6.4.17) through
(6.4.19) take the form

EIy uiv # Mx f00 0 (6.4.20)

EIx viv My f00 0 (6.4.21)

EIw fiv # GKT # Mx bx # My by f00 # Mx u00 My v00 0 (6.4.22)

324 Chai Yoo

Assume the x-axis is the strong axis. If My 0, then the critical lateral-
torsional buckling moment can be computed from

EIy uiv ! Mx f00 0 (6.4.23)

EIw fiv ! GKT ! Mx bx f00 ! Mx u00 0 (6.4.24)

If the ends of the beam are simply supported, the displacement functions
for u and f can be taken in the form
pz pz
u A sin f B sin

Substituting derivatives of the displacement functions, one obtains the
following characteristic polynomial for the critical moment:

p2 EIy p2
!
GKT EIw 2 ! Mx bx ! Mx2 0 (6.4.25)
2

Incorporating the following notations

p2 EIy p2
!
1
Py ; Pf 2 GKT EIw 2
2 r0
Eq. (6.4.25) becomes

Mx2 Py bx Mx ! r02 Py Pf 0 (6.4.26)

The roots of Eq. (6.4.26) are

s

Py bx 2
!
Py b
Mxcr ! x& r02 Py Pf (6.4.27)
2 2

If the beam has two axes of symmetry, bx vanishes and the critical moment
becomes
s
EIy p2 1 p2
q !
Mxcr & r02 Py Pf & r02 2 2 GKT EIw 2
r0
s

p2
!
p
& EIy GKT EIw 2 (6.4.28)

 Torsional and Flexural-Torsional Buckling 325

where sign in Eq. (6.4.28) implies that a pair of end moments equal in
magnitude but opposite in direction can cause lateral-torsional buckling of
a doubly symmetrical beam.
In this discussion, considerations have been given for the bending of
a beam by couples applied at the ends so that the normal stresses caused by
these moments remain constant, thereby maintaining the governing
differential equations with constant coefficients. If a beam is subjected to
lateral loads, the bending stresses vary with z and the resulting differential
equations will have variable coefficients, for which there are no general
closed-form solutions available and a variety of numerical integration
schemes are used. The computation of critical loads of lateral-torsional
buckling is discussed in the next chapter.

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