Strength and stability requirements of lateral bracing for compression flange in I-shaped beams
by Hany Esam Shabana, Sherif Abdel-Basset Ibrahim, Abdelrahim Khalil Dessouki
International Journal of Structural Engineering (IJSTRUCTE), Vol. 2, No. 3, 2011

Abstract: Lateral-torsional buckling is a limit state that can reduce the full benefit of beam capacity, especially for long elastic beams according to the big lateral deflection and cross-section twist of un-braced compression flange. Lateral-torsional buckling can be avoided by proper designed braces. These braces require not only adequate stiffness but sufficient strength as well. In this paper three dimensional, 3-D, finite element models, for I-shaped girders, are developed using a finite element programme and utilising it to investigate braces requirements and the geometrical parameters that may affect these requirements. These parameters are outstanding flange width-to-thickness ratio 'c_fl/t_fl', web height-to-thickness ratio 'h_w/t_w', flange width-to-web height ratio 'b_fl/h_w', multiple braces 'n' and un-supported length-to-beam span 'L_u/L_t'. Using the available finite element analysis results of the studied parameters, some design equations are proposed for the design of lateral braces of simply supported I-shaped beams subjected to any type of loading and restrained laterally by any number of braces.

Online publication date: Tue, 30-Sep-2014

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