Elastic Buckling Behavior of Beams

CE579 - Structural Stability and Design

ELASTIC BUCKLING OF BEAMS

Going back to the original three second-order
differential equations:
Therefore,
1

z
z

E I x v P v P x0 M BY M TY M BY M BX M TX M BX
L
L

z
z

E I y u P u P y0 M BX (M
M BY

M TX
M BX
M TYTX+M

(M

)
BY
TY+M
BY)

BX
L
L

z
E I w (G KT K ) u ( M BX ( M BX M TX ) P y0 )
L
z
v
u
v ( M BY ( M BY M TY ) P x0 ) ( M TY M BY ) ( M TX M BX ) 0
L
L
L

ELASTIC BUCKLING OF BEAMS

Consider the case of a beam subjected to uniaxial bending only:
because most steel structures have beams in uniaxial bending
Beams under biaxial bending do not undergo elastic buckling
P=0;
MTY=MBY=0
The three equations simplify to:

z
M TX M BX
L
z
E I y u M BX M TX M BX
L
z
u

E I w (G KT K ) u M BX ( M BX M TX ) ( M TX M BX ) 0
L
L

E I x v M BX

Equation (1) is an uncoupled differential equation describing inplane bending behavior caused by MTX and MBX

ELASTIC BUCKLING OF BEAMS

Equations (2) and (3) are coupled equations in u and
that describe the lateral bending and torsional behavior of
the beam. In fact they define the lateral torsional buckling
of the beam.
The beam must satisfy all three equations (1, 2, and 3).
Hence, beam in-plane bending will occur UNTIL the lateral
torsional buckling moment is reached, when it will take
over.
Consider the case of uniform moment (Mo) causing
compression in the top flange. This will mean that
-MBX = MTX = Mo

Uniform Moment Case

For this case, the differential equations (2 and 3) will become:

E I y u M o 0
E I w (G KT K ) u M o 0
where :
K Wagner ' s effect due to warping caused by torsion
K a 2 dA
A

Mo
But ,
y neglecting higher order terms
Ix
Mo
y ( xo x) 2 ( yo y ) 2 dA
Ix
A

K
K

Mo
Ix

M
K o
Ix

2
2
2
2

y
x

2
xx

y
2 yy0 dA
o
0
o

x y dA y x y dA x0 2xy dA y y dA 2 yo y dA
A
A
A
A
A

2
o

2
o

ELASTIC BUCKLING OF BEAMS

Mo
K

Ix

y
A

2
2

dA
y
x

K Mo

K M ox

x y dA 2 yo I x

Ix

2 yo

where, x

2
2

dA
y
x

y

A

Ix

2 yo

x is a new sec tional property

The beam buckling differential equations become :

(2) E I y u M o 0
(3) E I w (G KT M o x ) u M o 0

ELASTIC BUCKLING OF BEAMS

Equation (2) gives u

Mo

E Iy

Substituting u from Equation (2) in (3) gives :

2
M
E I w iv (G KT M o x ) o 0
E Iy

For doubly symmetric sec tion : x 0

2
M
G
K
T
iv
2 o 0
E Iw
E I y Iw

G KT
Let , 1
E Iw

and

M o2
2 2
E I y Iw

iv 1 2 0 becomes the combined d .e. of LTB

ELASTIC BUCKLING OF BEAMS

Assume solution is of the form e z

4 1 2 2 e z 0
4 1 2 2 0

1 12 42

2
2

1 12 42

2
Let , 1 , and

12 42 1
,
2
1 12 42
, i
2
i 2

Above are the four roots for

C1e1z C2e 1 z C3ei 2 z C4e i 2 z
collecting real and imaginary terms
G1 cosh(1 z ) G2 sinh(1 z ) G3 sin( 2 z ) G4 cos( 2 z )

ELASTIC BUCKLING OF BEAMS

Assume simply supported boundary conditions for the
beam:
(0) (0) ( L) ( L) 0
Solution for must satisfy all four b.c.

G 1
2

G 2
2

0
cos(

L
)
G3
2

2
G

4
2 cos( 2 L)
For buckling coefficient matrix must be sin gular :
1
12
cosh(1 L)
12 cosh(1 L)

0
0
sinh(1 L)
12 sinh(1 L)

0
0
sin( 2 L)
22 sin( 2 L)

det er min ant of matrix 0

12 22 sinh(1 L) sinh( 2 L) 0
Of these :
only sinh( 2 L) 0
2 L n

ELASTIC BUCKLING OF BEAMS

2

n
L

12 42 1

2
L
2 2
2
1 42 1 2
L
2

2 2

2 2
2 2
2
21
2 1 1
2
2
L
L
L

4
4
2
2
2 2 1 2
L
L
2 G KT 2
M o2
2 2
2

E I y Iw L
E I w L2
Mo

I y Iw

2 G KT 2
2
2
L
E
I
w L

2E I y
Mo
L2

2E Iw

G KT

2
L

Uniform Moment Case

The critical moment for the uniform moment case is
given by the simple equations shown below.
2

EIy
o
M cr
L2

2 EIw

GKT
2
L

M cro Py P ro2

The AISC code massages these equations into

different forms, which just look different.

Fundamentally
the equations are the same.
The critical moment for a span with distance Lb between
lateral - torsional braces.
Py is the column buckling load about the minor axis.
P is the column buckling load about the torsional zaxis.

Non-uniform moment
The only case for which the differential equations can
be solved analytically is the uniform moment.
For almost all other cases, we will have to resort to
numerical methods to solve the differential equations.
Of course, you can also solve the uniform moment
case using numerical methods
z
M TX M BX
L
z
E I y u M BX M TX M BX
L
z
u

E I w (G KT K ) u M BX ( M BX M TX ) ( M TX M BX ) 0
L
L

E I x v M BX

What numerical method to use

What we have is a problem where the governing differential

equations are known.
The solution and some of its derivatives are known at the
boundary.
This is an ordinary differential equation and a boundary value
problem.
We will solve it using the finite difference method.
The FDM converts the differential equation into algebraic
equations.
Develop an FDM mesh or grid (as it is more correctly called)
in the structure.
Write the algebraic form of the d.e. at each point within the
grid.
Write the algebraic form of the boundary conditions.
Solve all the algebraic equations simultaneously.

Finite Difference Method

f
Backward difference

Forward difference

f(x)
Central difference

f(x)

f(x-h)

f(x+h)

h2
h3
h 4 iv
f ( x h) f ( x) hf( x)
f( x) f( x)
f ( x)K
2!
3!
4!
f ( x h) f ( x) h
h2
h 3 iv
f( x)
f( x) f( x)
f ( x)K
h
2!
3!
4!
f ( x h) f ( x)
f( x)
O(h)
Forward difference equation
h

Finite Difference Method

h2
h3
h 4 iv
f ( x h) f ( x) hf( x)
f( x) f( x)
f ( x)K
2!
3!
4!
f ( x) f ( x h) h
h2
h 3 iv
f( x)
f( x) f( x)
f ( x)K
h
2!
3!
4!
f ( x) f ( x h)
f( x)
O(h)
Backward difference equation
h

h2
h3
h 4 iv
f ( x h) f ( x) hf( x)
f( x) f( x)
f ( x)K
2!
3!
4!
h2
h3
h 4 iv
f ( x h) f ( x) hf( x)
f( x) f( x)
f ( x)K
2!
3!
4!
f ( x h) f ( x h) 2h 2
f( x)

f( x)K
2h
3!
f ( x h) f ( x h)
f( x)
O(h 2 )
Central difference equation
2h

Finite Difference Method

The central difference equations are better than the
forward or backward difference because the error will
be of the order of h-square rather than h.
Similar equations can be derived for higher order
derivatives of the function f(x).
If the domain x is divided into several equal parts,
each of length h.
h

i-2

i-1

i+1

i+2

At each of the nodes or section points or domain

points the differential equations are still valid.

Finite Difference Method

Central difference approximations for higher order
derivatives:
Notation

yi
y i1 y i1
2h
1

y i 2 y i1 2y i y i1
h
1

y i 3 y i2 2y i1 2y i1 y i2
2h

1
iv
y i 4 y i2 4 y i1 6y i 4 y i1 y i2
h

y f ( x)
y i f ( x i)
y i f( x i)
y i f( x i) and so on L

FDM - Beam on Elastic Foundation

Consider an interesting problemn --> beam on elastic
foundation
w(x)=w

EI y iv k y( x) w( x )
Fixed end

K=elastic fdn.

Pin support

Convert the problem into a finite difference problem.

1

iv

EI y i k y i w

h =0.2 l

Discrete form of differential equation

FDM - Beam on Elastic Foundation

EI y i iv k y i w
EI
4 y i2 4 y i1 6y i 4 y i1 y i2 ky i w
h
write 4 equations for i 2, 3, 4, 5
0

h =0.2 l

Need two imaginary nodes that lie within the boundary

Hmm. These are needed to only solve the problem
They dont mean anything.

FDM - Beam on Elastic Foundation

625EI
y 0 4 y1 6y 2 4 y 3 y 4 ky 2 w
L4
625EI
At i 3 :
y1 4 y 2 6y 3 4 y 4 y 5 ky 3 w
4
L
625EI
At i 4 :
y 2 4 y 3 6y 4 4 y 5 y 6 ky 4 w
4
L
625EI
At i 5 :
y 3 4 y41 6y 5 4 y 6 y 7 ky 5 w
L4
At i 2 :

Lets consider the boundary conditions:

y (0) 0

y1 0

(1)

y ( L) 0

y6 0

(2)

M ( L) 0

(0) 0

(3)

y(0) 0

(4)

FDM - Beam on Elastic Foundation

y (0) 0

y1 0

(1)

y ( L) 0

y6 0

(2)

M ( L) 0
EI y( L) 0

(3)
y6 0

1
y 2 y6 y 7 0
2 5
h
y7 y5
(0) 0
y(0) 0
y6

1
y2 y0 0
2h
y 2 y0

(3 )
(4)

y1

(4)

FDM - Beam on Elastic Foundation

Substituting the boundary conditions:
At i 2 :
At i 3 :
At i 4 :
At i 5 :

kL4
wL4
y2
7y 2 4 y 3 y 4
625EI
625EI
kL4
wL4
y3
4 y 2 6y 3 4 y 4 y 5
625EI
625EI
kL4
wL4
y4
y 2 4 y 3 6y 4 4 y 5
625EI
625EI
kL4
wL4
y5
y 3 4 y1 5y 5
625EI
625EI

Let a = kl4/625EI
7 a 4
1
0

1
4 6 a 4

1
4 6 a 4

1
4 5 a
0

y 2 1

y 3 1 wL4

y 4 1 625EI
y 5 1

FDM - Column Euler Buckling

w
P
x
L

Buckling problem: Find axial load

P for which the nontrivial
Solution exists.

Ordinary Differential Equation

y iv ( x)

P
w
y( x)
EI
EI

Finite difference solution. Consider case

Where w=0, and there are 5 stations

x
h=0.25L

P 6

FDM - Euler Column Buckling

Finite difference method
P
yiiv
yi 0
EI
At stations i 2, 3, 4
1
P 1
y

4
y

6
y

4
y

2 yi 1 2 yi yi 1 0

i 2
i 1
i
i 1
i2
4
h
EI h
Boundary conditions
y1 0
(1)
y5 0

(2)

y1 0

1
y 2 y0 0
2h
y0 y2

(3)

M5 0
EI y5 0
( y6 2 y5 y4 ) 0
y6 y4

(4)

FDM - Column Euler Buckling

Final Equations
1
P 1
7y

4
y

(2y 2 y 3 ) 0

2
3
4
h4
EI h 2
1
P 1
4 y 2 6y 3 4 y 4
( y 2 2y 3 y 4 ) 0
4
h
EI h 2
1
P 1
(
y

4
y

5y
)

( y 3 2y 4 ) 0
2
3
4
h4
EI h 2
Matrix Form
7 4 1 y 2
2 1 0 y 2 0
2

PL

4
6
4
y

1
2
1

y 3 0

16EI
1 4 5 y 4
0 1 2 y 4 0

FDM - Euler Buckling Problem

[A]{y}+[B]{y}={0}
How to find P? Solve the eigenvalue problem.

Standard Eigenvalue Problem

[A]{y}={y}
Where, = eigenvalue and {y} = eigenvector

Can be simplified to [A-I]{y}={0}

Nontrivial solution for {y} exists if and only if
| A-I|=0
One way to solve the problem is to obtain the
characteristic polynomial from expanding | A-I|=0
Solving the polynomial will give the value of
Substitute the value of to get the eigenvector {y}
This is not the best way to solve the problem, and will
not work for more than 4or 5th order polynomial

FDM - Euler Buckling Problem

For solving Buckling Eigenvalue Problem

[A]{y} + [B]{y}={0}
[A+ B]{y}={0}
Therefore, det |A+ B|=0 can be used to solve for
7 4 1

A 4 6 4
1 4 5

2 1 0

B 1 2 1
0 1 2

PL2
and
16EI
7 2 4
1
4 6 2 4 0
1
4 5 2
1.11075

PL2

1.11075
16EI
EI
Pcr 17.772 2
L
Exact solution is 20.14

EI
L2

FDM - Euler Buckling Problem

11% error in solution from FDM
{y}= {0.4184 1.0 0.8896}T
0

2
x

P 6

FDM Euler Buckling Problem

Inverse Power Method: Numerical Technique to Find
Least Dominant Eigenvalue and its Eigenvector
Based on an initial guess for eigenvector and iterations

Algorithm

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Compute [E]=-[A]-1[B]
Assume initial eigenvector guess {y}0
Set iteration counter i=0
Solve for new eigenvector {y}i+1=[E]{y}i
Normalize new eigenvector {y}i+1={y}i+1/max(yji+1)

6) Calculate eigenvalue = 1/max(yji+1)

7) Evaluate convergence: i+1-i < tol
8) If no convergence, then go to step 4
9) If yes convergence, then = i+1 and {y}= {y}i+1

Inverse Iteration Method

Different Boundary Conditions

Beams with Non-Uniform Loading

Let Mocr be the lateral-torsional buckling moment for
the case of uniform moment.
If the applied moments are non-uniform (but varying
linearly, i.e., there are no loads along the length)
Numerically solve the differential equation using FDM
and the Inverse Iteration process for eigenvalues
Alternately, researchers have already done these
numerical solution for a variety of linear moment
diagrams
The results from the numerical analyses were used to
develop a simple equation that was calibrated to give
reasonable results.

Beams with Non-uniform Loading

Salvadori in the 1970s developed the equation below
based on the regression analysis of numerical results
with a simple equation
Mcr = Cb Mocr
Critical moment for non-uniform loading = Cb x critical
moment for uniform moment.

Beams with Non-uniform Loading

Beams with Non-uniform Loading

Beams with Non-Uniform Loading

In case that the moment diagram is not linear over
the length of the beam, i.e., there are transverse
loads producing a non-linear moment diagram
The value of Cb is a little more involved

Beams with non-simple end conditions

Mocr = (Py P ro2)0.5
PY with Kb
Pwith Kt

Beam Inelastic Buckling Behavior

Uniform moment case

Beam Inelastic Buckling Behavior

Non-uniform moment

Beam In-plane Behavior

Section capacity Mp
Section M- behavior

Beam Design Provisions

CHAPTER F in AISC Specifications