Md. Imran Kabir
Concordia University
Canada
Title: Finite Element Modeling to Evaluate the Existing Lateral Torsional Buckling Equations for Welded Wide Flange Shape
Biography
Biography: Md. Imran Kabir
Abstract
Lateral Torsional Buckling (LTB) can be defined as a combination of lateral displacement and twisting due to an application of load on an unsupported beam. Design specifications in North America (AISC 2010 and CSA S16-09) provide solutions for LTB of welded and rolled beams that were derived for constant moment situation. Same equations have been used over the years for design of rolled and welded shape beams. A recent study has shown that the current code equations might overestimate the capacity of the welded wide shape beams, which make them unsafe to use. Thus a detailed study is required to evaluate the existing LTB equations for welded wide flange shapes. This paper evaluates the performance of current equations in providing LTB capacities of WWF shape beams. A nonlinear finite element model is developed using the commercial finite element software ABAQUS. In total of 15 WWF shape beams are analyzed. For the FE analysis, the beams are considered simply supported beams with uniform moments applied at the ends. Initial residual stresses in the WWF shapes that are reported in the literature are also included in the FE model.