LATERAL TORSIONAL

BUCKLING
 Lateral Torsional Buckling
• Up until now, we haven’t considered
global stability issue on beams
• For compact sections that are
continuously braced (𝐿𝑏 = 0), the
maximum moment capacity will be 𝑀𝑝
• What if 𝐿𝑏 ≠ 0 or 𝐿𝑏 is not adequate
enough for lateral support?
 Lateral Torsional Buckling
• Lateral Torsional Buckling is a beam buckling
phenomenon
• Consider the following beam:
• Simply supported beam subjected to uniform
bending
• The compression flange wants to buckle
• The tension flange wants to remain straight

• At a critical point, the beam will kick-out and

twist. This phenomenon is called the Lateral
Torsional Buckling (LTB)
 Lateral Torsional Buckling
• Buckling can be described as a
path of least type of resistance
phenomenon
• Therefore:
• For columns, there is a 𝑷𝒄𝒓 ,
that will cause buckling. In
beams, there is an 𝑴𝒄𝒓 , that
will cause LTB
Lateral Torsional Buckling
Lateral Torsional Buckling
Lateral Torsional Buckling
Lateral Torsional Buckling
• As shown in the previous slides, beam buckle by way of a torsional response
• Unlike circular shafts, I beams respond to torsion in two fashions:

St. Venant Torsion = Pure Torsion

Warping Torsion = (Non Circular Torsion)
Lateral Torsional Buckling
• Recall, the differential equation for torsion in an I section is as follows:

• From this differential equation, we can derive the 𝑀𝑐𝑟 for an I section
 Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• For this derivation, we’ll consider a beam
subjected to uniform moment:
• Supports at the ends prevent warping
• Consider the moments that will cause the
following deflection:
• Vertical deflection (yz plane)
• Lateral deflection (xz plane)
• Twisting (along z axis)
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• For the yz plane (vertical deflection)

(1)
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• For the xz plane (lateral deflection)

(2)
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• For the twisting moment (already derived)

(3)
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• Combining derived terms,
• The slope of the beam, θ, and the lateral deflection can be related:

(4)
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• Setting equation 3 and 4 equal to each other:

(3) (4)

Torsion Lateral Deflection

Lateral Torsional Buckling

Expression
If we take the derivative again:
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• From equation 2: Therefore:

(2)

4TH Order Homogeneous Differential Equation

Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• To obtain a solution for the differential equation given below, divide the
expression by 𝐸𝐶𝑤 ,

• Let,
𝐺𝐽 𝑀0 2
2α = and β =
𝐸𝐶𝑤 𝐸 2 𝐶𝑤 𝐼𝑦

• The DE then simplifies to,

𝜕4ϕ 𝜕2ϕ
4
− 2α 2 − βϕ = 0
𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
𝜕4ϕ 𝜕2ϕ
4
− 2α 2 − βϕ = 0
𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
• Assume a solution of the form,
ϕ = 𝐴𝑒 𝑚𝑧
𝜕2ϕ 2 𝑒 𝑚𝑧
= 𝐴𝑚
𝜕𝑧2
𝜕4ϕ 4 𝑒 𝑚𝑧
= 𝐴𝑚
𝜕𝑧4
Substitution of the equations above to the DE gives,
𝐴𝑒 𝑚𝑧 𝑚4 − 2α𝑚2 − β = 0
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• Since 𝑒 𝑚𝑧 cannot be zero and A can be zero if no buckling occurred
(trivial solution) therefore,
𝑚4 − 2α𝑚2 − β = 0
which will yield the following solution,
𝑚2 = α ± β + α2

𝑚 = ± α + β + α2

• m will consist of two real and two complex roots because,

β + α2 > α
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• Let
𝑛2 = α + β + α2 (both real roots)
𝑞 2 = −α + β + α2 (real part of complex roots)
Using the four values for m, the expression for ϕ becomes,

ϕ = 𝐴1 𝑒 𝑛𝑧 + 𝐴2 𝑒 −𝑛𝑧 + 𝐴3 𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑧 + 𝐴4 𝑒 −𝑖𝑞𝑧 or

ϕ = 𝐴1 𝑒 𝑛𝑧 + 𝐴2 𝑒 −𝑛𝑧 + 𝐴3 cos 𝑞𝑧 + 𝐴4 sin 𝑞𝑧

The constants are determined by applying the boundary conditions

Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• Boundary conditions, for the case of torsional simple support, the beam ends may
not twist, but are free to warp so the end conditions can be expressed as,

𝜕2ϕ
ϕ = 0; = 0 at z=0 and z=L
𝜕𝑧2

For ϕ=0 at z=0,

0 = 𝐴1 + 𝐴2 + 𝐴3 (1)

𝜕2ϕ
For 𝜕𝑧2 = 0 at z=0,
0 = 𝐴1 𝑛2 + 𝐴2 𝑛2 − 𝐴3 𝑞 2 (2)
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• Multiplying equation 1 by 𝑛2 and subtracting from equation 2,
0 = 𝐴3 𝑞2 + 𝑛2 , therefore 𝐴3 = 0
Moreover,
𝐴1 = −𝐴2
Therefore,
ϕ = 2𝐴1 sinh 𝑛𝑧 + 𝐴4 sin 𝑞𝑧
At z=L, ϕ = 0,
0 = 2𝐴1 sinh 𝑛𝑧 + 𝐴4 sin 𝑞𝑙 (3)
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
𝜕2ϕ
• At z=L,
𝜕𝑧2
=0
0 = 2𝐴1 𝑛2 sinh 𝑛𝐿 − 𝐴4 𝑞2 sin 𝑞𝐿(4)
Multiplying eqn 3 by 𝑞2 and adding to eqn 4 gives,
2𝐴1 𝑛2 + 𝑞2 sinh 𝑛𝐿 = 0

Since 𝑛2 + 𝑞2 cannot be zero and sinh nL is only zero when n=0,

therefore 𝐴1 = 0 = −𝐴2 . The angle of twist, ϕ, simplifies to
ϕ = 𝐴4 sin 𝑞𝐿 = 0
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• If lateral torsional buckling occurs, 𝐴4 cannot be zero,
sin 𝑞𝐿 = 0

𝑞𝐿 = 𝑁π where N is any integer

The elastic buckling condition is defined by,
𝑁π
𝑞= which for the fundamental buckling mode, N=1
𝐿
The moment that will satisfy the fundamental buckling mode is called the critical
moment, 𝑀0
π
𝑞= −α + β + α2 =
𝐿
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• Substituting the previous equation to the differential equation,
2
𝐺𝐽 𝑀0 2 𝐺𝐽 π2
− + + = 2
2𝐸𝐶𝑊 𝐸 2 𝐶𝑤 𝐼𝑦 2𝐸𝐶𝑊 𝐿
Solving for 𝑀0 = 𝑀𝑐𝑟 gives,
2 2
π2 𝐺𝐽 𝐺𝐽
𝑀𝑐𝑟 2 = 𝐸 2 𝐶𝑊 𝐼𝑦 2
+ −
𝐿 2𝐸𝐶𝑤 2𝐸𝐶𝑤

π2 𝐸𝐼𝑦 𝐺𝐽 π4 𝐸 2
𝑀𝑐𝑟 = 2
+ 4 𝐼𝑦 𝐶𝑤
𝐿 𝐿
 Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
Factoring πΤ𝐿 from inside the root sign gives
2
π π𝐸
𝑀𝑐𝑟 = 𝐸𝐼𝑦 𝐺𝐽 + 𝐼𝑦 𝐶𝑤
𝐿 𝐿
Which is the elastic lateral torsional buckling strength for an I shaped section under the action
of constant moment in the plane of the web over the laterally unbraced length L.
To adjust for moment gradient, the equation above may be multiplied by a factor 𝐶𝑏 ,
2
π π𝐸
𝑀𝑐𝑟 = 𝐶𝑏 𝐸𝐼𝑦 𝐺𝐽 + 𝐼𝑦 𝐶𝑤
𝐿 𝐿
The elastic lateral torsional buckling stress can be expressed as,
2
𝑀𝑐𝑟 𝐶𝑏 π π𝐸
𝐹𝑐𝑟 = = 𝐸𝐼𝑦 𝐺𝐽 + 𝐼𝑦 𝐶𝑤
𝑆𝑥 𝐿𝑆𝑥 𝐿
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
As per AISC:
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling
• As per AISC,

The “c” factor adjusts the equation for C-shapes.

What about the Cb factor?

Moment Gradient Modifier, 𝐶𝑏
• When we performed our derivation, we assumed that bending moment is
constant.
• This allowed us to factor the moment term (𝑀0 )
• If the 𝑀0 was variable, that would have made the derivation very
difficult

• 𝐶𝑏 is called the moment gradient modifier

• It accounts for non-uniform moments in an unbraced length
Moment Gradient Modifier, 𝐶𝑏
Moment Gradient Modifier, 𝐶𝑏
• When we assume that moment is constant in a beam, we’re saying that every
point in the beam must be expected to reach 𝑀𝑐𝑟
• However, when we are analyzing beams like this, we only need to develop 𝑀𝑐𝑟 at
midspan
Moment Gradient Modifier, 𝐶𝑏
• AISC recommends the following expression (empirical formula) to compute 𝐶𝑏 :
12.5 𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐶𝑏 =
2.5 𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 3𝑀𝑎 + 4𝑀𝐵 + 3𝑀𝑐

Within a given unbraced length (take note of this)

𝑀𝐴 , 𝑀𝐵 , 𝑀𝑐 = quarter point moments

𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 = maximum moment

All moments taken as absolute values

Common Values of 𝐶𝑏
LRFD LTB
LRFD LTB
LRFD LTB
LRFD- LTB (COMPACT)
LRFD- LTB (COMPACT)
LRFD- LTB (COMPACT)
LRFD- LTB (COMPACT)
LRFD- LTB (COMPACT)
• Cb is a modification factor, >=1.0, to adjust for moment gradient.

• Note that in Equations F2-2 and F2-3, the nominal strength (Mn) cannot
exceed the plastic moment (Mp), regardless of the value for Cb.

• E, J, and Sx are section properties summarized in Manual Part 1.

• h0 = distance between the flange centroids

LRFD- LTB (COMPACT)
• Lp and Lr are tabulated in the “Zx Table 3-2” for W-Shapes of Fy = 50 ksi
steel.

• Iy, r y, and Cw are section properties summarized in Manual Part 1.

• Fy is a material property, as defined by ASTM specifications.

• E and G are material properties, constant for all structural steels.

𝑀𝑛 as affected by 𝐶𝑏
𝑀𝑛 for Compact Shapes
In the Inelastic Range: (𝐿𝑝 < 𝐿𝑏 =< 𝐿𝑟 )
LRFD- LTB (NON COMPACT)
𝑀𝑛 as affected by 𝐶𝑏
I sections bent about the weak axis
I sections bent about the weak axis