Elastic instability of steel I-section members has been investigated with regard to axial compression, major axis bending as well as compression and major axis bending, based on the Vlasov theory of thin-walled members. Investigations presented in this paper deal with the energy method applied to the flexural-torsional buckling (FTB) problems of any complex loading case that for convenience of predictions is treated as a superposition of symmetric and antisymmetric components. Firstly, the review of energy equation formulations is presented for the elastic lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) of beams, then the most accurate beam energy equation, so-called the classical energy equation formulated for bisymmetric I-section beams is extended to cover also the beam-column out-of-plane stability problems, referred hereafter to FTB problems. Secondly, for the simple end boundary conditions, the shape functions of twist rotation and minor axis displacement are chosen such that they cover both symmetric and antisymmetric lateral-torsional buckling modes in relation to two lowest eigenvalues of the beam LTB in major axis bending. Finally, the explicit form of the general solution is presented being dependent upon the dimensionless bending moment equations for symmetric and antisymmetric components, and the load factor where the lower k index identifies the load case.

Elastic lateral-torsional buckling of double-tee section structural steelworks has been widely investigated with regard to the major axis bending of single structural elements as a result of certain loading conditions. No specific attention has been paid to the general formulation in which an arbitrary span load pattern was associated with unequal end moments as a result of the moment distribution between structural members of the load bearing system.Anumber of analytical solutionswere developed on the basis of the Vlasov theory of thin-walled members. Since the accurate closed-form solutions of lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) of beams may only be obtained for simple loading and boundary conditions, more complex situations are treated nowadays by using numerical finite element methods (FEM). Analytical and numerical methods are frequently combined for the purpose of: a) verification of approximate analytical formulae or b) presentation the results in the form of multiple curve nomograms to be used in design practice. Investigations presented in this paper deal with the energy method applied to LTB of any complex loading condition of elements of simple end boundary conditions, bent about the major axis. Firstly, a brief summary of the second-order based energy equation dealt with in this paper is presented and followed by its approximate solution using the so-called refined energy method that in the case of LTB coincides with the Timoshenko’s energy refinement. As a result, the LTB energy equation shape functions of twist rotation and minor axis displacement are chosen such that they cover both the symmetric and antisymmetric lateral-torsional buckling modes. The latter modes are chosen in relation to two lowest LTB eigenmodes of beams under uniform major axis bending. Finally, the explicit form of the general solution is presented as being dependent upon the dimensionless bending moment equations for symmetric and antisymmetric components, and the in-span loads. Solutions based on the present investigations are compared for selected loading conditions with those obtained in the previous studies and verified with use of the LTBeam software. Conclusions are drawn with regard to the application of obtained closed-form solutions in engineering practice.

Steel prismatic elements of equal flanges double-tee section subject to major axis bending and compression, unrestrained in the out-of-plane direction between the supports, are vulnerable to buckling modes associated with minor axis flexural and torsional deformations. When end bending moments are acting alone on the quasi-straight member, the sensitivity to lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) is very much dependent upon the ratio of section minor axis to major axis moments of inertia, and additionally visibly dependent upon the major axis moment gradient ratio. In the case of major axis bending with the presence of a compressive axial force, even of rather small value in relation to the section squash resistance, there is a drastic reduction of structural elements in their realistic lengths to maintain a tendency to fail in the out-of-plane mode, governed by the large twist rotation. Increasing the load effects ratio of dimensionless axial force to dimensionless maximum major axis bending moment, the buckling mode goes away from that of lateral-torsional one, starting to become that closer to the minor axis flexural buckling (FBZ) mode. Different aspects of the flexural-torsional buckling (FTB) resistance of the typical rolled H-section beam-column with regard to the General Method (GM) formulation, developed by the authors elsewhere and based on the parametric finite element analysis, are dealt with in this paper. Investigations are concerned with different member slender ratio, different moment gradient ratios and different load effects ratio. Final conclusions are related to practical applications of the proposed format of General Method in relation to the effect of large displacements on the FTB resistance reduction factor described through the dimensionless measure of action effects and the FTB relative slenderness ratio of quasi-straight beam-columns.

In investigations constituting Part I of this paper, the effect of approximations in the flexural-torsional buckling analysis of beam-columns was studied. The starting point was the formulation of displacement field relationships built straightforward in the deflected configuration. It was shown that the second-order rotation matrix obtained with keeping the trigonometric functions of the mean twist rotation was sufficiently accurate for the flexural-torsional stability analysis. Furthermore, Part I was devoted to the formulation of a general energy equation for FTB being expressed in terms of prebuckling stress resultants and in-plane deflections through the factor k ₁. The energy equation developed there was presented in several variants dependent upon simplified assumptions one may adopt for the buckling analysis, i.e. the classical form of linear eigenproblem analysis (LEA), the form of quadratic eigenproblem analysis (QEA) and refined (non-classical) forms of nonlinear eigenproblem analysis (NEA), all of them used for solving the flexural-torsional buckling problems of elastic beamcolumns. The accuracy of obtained analytical solutions based on different approximations in the elastic flexural–torsional stability analysis of thin-walled beam-columns is examined and discussed in reference to those of earlier studies. The comparison is made for closed form solutions obtained in a companion paper, with a scatter of results evaluated for k ₁ = 1 in the solutions of LEA and QEA, as well as for all the options corresponding to NEA. The most reliable analytical solution is recommended for further investigations. The solutions for selected asymmetric loading cases of the left support moment and the half-length uniformly distributed span load of a slender unrestrained beam-column are discussed in detail in Part II. Moreover, the paper constituting Part II investigates how the buckling criterion obtained for the beam-column laterally and torsionally unrestrained between the end sections might be applied for the member with discrete restraints. The recommended analytical solutions are verified with use of numerical finite element method results, considering beam-columns with a mid-section restraint. A variant of the analytical form of solutions recommended in these investigations may be used in practical application in the Eurocode’s General Method of modern design procedures for steelwork.

Closed form solutions for the flexural-torsional buckling of elastic beam-columns may only be obtained for simple end boundary conditions, and the case of uniform bending and compression. Moment gradient cases need approximate analytical or numerical methods to be used. Investigations presented in this paper deal with the analytical energy method applied for any asymmetric transverse loading case that produces a moment gradient. Part I of this paper is devoted entirely to the theoretical investigations into the energy based out-of-plane stability formulation and its general solution. For the convenience of calculations, the load and the resulting moment diagram are presented as a superposition of two components, namely the symmetric and antisymmetric ones. The basic form of a non-classical energy equation is developed. It appears to be a function dependent upon the products of the prebuckling displacements (knowfrom the prebuckling analysis) and the postbuckling deformation state components (unknowns enabling the formulation of the stability eigenproblem according to the linear buckling analysis). Firstly, the buckling state solution is sought by presenting the basic form of the non-classical energy equation in several variants being dependent upon the approximation of the major axis stress resultant M_�� and the buckling minor axis stress resultant M_z. The following are considered: the classical energy equation leading to the linear eigenproblem analysis (LEA), its variant leading to the quadratic eigenproblem analysis (QEA) and the other non-classical energy equation forms leading to nonlinear eigenproblem analyses (NEA). The novel forms are those for which the stability equation becomes dependent only upon the twist rotation and its derivatives. Such a refinement is allowed for by using the second order out-of-plane bending differential equation through which the minor axis curvature shape is directly related to the twist rotation shape. Secondly, the effect of coupling of the in-plane and out-of-plane buckling forms is taken into consideration by introducing approximate second order bending relationships. The accuracy of the classical energy method of solving FTB problems is expected to be improved for both H- and I-section beam-columns. The outcomes of research presented in this part are utilized in Part II.

The research focuses on the properties of foam glass, popular insulation material used in various industries and applications, including construction, chemistry and defence, after several years of use under varying load, thermal and humidity conditions. The material used as an insulating sub-base underneath industrial steel tank, which had failed with a threat of leakage of the stored high-temperature medium (200°C), was tested. After macroscopic and material evaluation of the foam glass samples, their compressive strength, water absorption, and behaviour under complex conditions including loading, high temperature, and moisture were examined experimentally. Absorption of water considerably affects reducing the foam glass performance. Investigations show that the foam glass generally does not reach the declared compressive strength. If this surface is additionally heated to high temperature, the foam glass undergoes destruction by chipping or crushing just at stresses several times lower than the limits for this material, and even with no applied load. The test results show that foam glass exposed to simultaneous action of water and high temperature undergoes progressive deterioration, resulting in a decrease in declared parameters and losing its usability. Therefore, effective and durable protection from water is of critical importance to ensure reliability of foam glass exposed to high temperatures.