Abstract:
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The stability design of beams and columns is generally treated in international design
codes, such as Eurocode-3, by using –for all buckling cases- the same curves used for
column buckling. One prominent example is the use of the European column buckling
curves for the design of steel members against Lateral-Torsional Buckling. During the
national implementation of Eurocode-3, the code provisions for the design of steel
members against LT-Buckling have once again come under scrutiny by the scientific
community. The work presented in this thesis is to be seen in the context of this scrutiny.
Expanding on recent findings of the Institute for Steel Structures and Shell Structures at
Graz University of Technology on the LT-Buckling strength of bi-symmetric I- & Hsections,
this thesis aims at providing the numerical basis for the development of a
Eurocode-conform design formulation for monosymmetric steel cross-sections
subjected to bending loads that is mechanically more consistent and accurate than the
current regulations. For this purpose, the following steps will be taken:
1) Review of existing design concepts: literature study, code comparison.
2) Development of appropriate numerical (FEM) models using the software package
ABAQUS and a tool that automates the numerical processes.
3) Numerical parametric study of the global buckling mode, both in terms of elastic
critical buckling loads and of realistic GMNIA elasto-plastic buckling loads. The
parametric study will clarify the differences in behaviour of mono- and bi-symmetric
cross-sections, and highlight the discrepancies between the actual behaviour and the
code regulations.
4) Development of specific Lateral-Torsional Buckling curves for monosymmetric steel
cross-sections for possible implementation in design codes and recommendations |