8.3.

5 Moment resistance to lateral-torsional buckling

8.3.5.1 Limiting slenderness
Lateral-torsional buckling need not be checked in the following cases:
Bending about the minor axis;
CHS, SHS or circular or square solid sections;
RHS with LE/ry for relevant value of D/B ratio not exceeding the values in Table 8.2;
I -, H -, channel or box sections with LT not exceeding values in the bottom row of
Table 8.3.

Table 8.2 - limiting value of LE/ry for RHS

Ratio Limiting value of Ratio Limiting value of Ratio Limiting value of

D/B LE/ry D/B LE/ry D/B LE/ry

1.25 770 2 1.50 515 2 2.0 340 2

1.33 670 2 1.67 435 2 2.5 275 2
1.40 580 2 1.75 410 2 3.0 225 2
1.44 550 2 1.80 395 2 4.0 170 2
Key:
B is the width of the section;
D is the depth of the section;
LE is the effective length for lateral-torsional buckling from clause 8.3.4;
py is the design strength in section 3;
ry is the radius of gyration of the section about its minor axis;
  275 py

The following design procedure should be followed for the design of prismatic and I-, H-
and channel sections with equal flanges and of slenderness ratio larger than the limiting
slenderness ratio in the bottom rows of Tables 8.3a to 8.3c. For other sections with
unequal flanges, varying sections along their length, substantial opening at various
locations and unsymmetrical cross-sections, reference should be made to other
recognized literature. Alternatively, a buckling analysis may be carried out allowing
various factors such as load height, boundary conditions and material properties can be
used for computation of critical bending moment Mcr and equivalent slenderness as,

M p 2E
LT  (8.17)
Mcr py

where Mp is the plastic moment of the section

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8.3.5.2 Buckling resistance moment
In each segment of a beam, the buckling resistance moment Mb should satisfy the
following.
mLT M x  M b and (8.18)
M x  M cx (8.19)
where
mLT is the equivalent uniform moment factor for lateral-torsional buckling of simple
beams from Table 8.4. Conservatively it can be taken as unity. For cantilevers, mLT is
equal to 1.
M x = Maximum bending moment along the beam

For Class 1 plastic and Class 2 compact sections:

M b  pb S x (8.20)
For Class 3 semi-compact sections:
Mb  pb Z x or (8.21)

M b  pbSeff (8.22)
For Class 4 slender sections:
M b  pb Z x,eff or (8.23)

p yr
M b  pb Zx (8.24)
py

Seff is the effective plastic modulus of the section using the effective width method;

Z y,eff is the effective elastic modulus of the section using the effective width method and

p yr is the design strength allowing for local plate buckling in the effective stress
method.
pb is the buckling strength of the beam, determined from Table 8.3a for hot-rolled
sections and Table 8.3b for welded sections using a suitable equivalent
slenderness LT in clause 8.3.5.3 and relevant design strength py .

Alternatively, formulae in Appendix 8.1 may be used to compute pb .

83
 Table 8.3a - Bending strength pb (N/mm2) for rolled sections
Steel grade and design strength py (N/mm2)
 LT S275 S355 S460
235 245 255 265 275 315 325 335 345 355 400 410 430 440 460
25 235 245 255 265 275 315 325 335 345 355 400 410 430 440 460
30 235 245 255 265 275 315 325 335 345 355 395 403 421 429 446
35 235 245 255 265 273 307 316 324 332 341 378 386 402 410 426
40 229 238 246 254 262 294 302 309 317 325 359 367 382 389 404
45 219 227 235 242 250 280 287 294 302 309 340 347 361 367 381

50 210 217 224 231 238 265 272 279 285 292 320 326 338 344 356
55 199 206 213 219 226 251 257 263 268 274 299 305 315 320 330
60 189 195 201 207 213 236 241 246 251 257 278 283 292 296 304
65 179 185 190 196 201 221 225 230 234 239 257 261 269 272 279
70 169 174 179 184 188 206 210 214 218 222 237 241 247 250 256

75 159 164 168 172 176 192 195 199 202 205 219 221 226 229 234
80 150 154 158 161 165 178 181 184 187 190 201 203 208 210 214
85 140 144 147 151 154 165 168 170 173 175 185 187 190 192 195
90 132 135 138 141 144 153 156 158 160 162 170 172 175 176 179
95 124 126 129 131 134 143 144 146 148 150 157 158 161 162 164

100 116 118 121 123 125 132 134 136 137 139 145 146 148 149 151
105 109 111 113 115 117 123 125 126 128 129 134 135 137 138 140
110 102 104 106 107 109 115 116 117 119 120 124 125 127 128 129
115 96 97 99 101 102 107 108 109 110 111 115 116 118 118 120
120 90 91 93 94 96 100 101 102 103 104 107 108 109 110 111

125 85 86 87 89 90 94 95 96 96 97 100 101 102 103 104

130 80 81 82 83 84 88 89 90 90 91 94 94 95 96 97
135 75 76 77 78 79 83 83 84 85 85 88 88 89 90 90
140 71 72 73 74 75 78 78 79 80 80 82 83 84 84 85
145 67 68 69 70 71 73 74 74 75 75 77 78 79 79 80

150 64 64 65 66 67 69 70 70 71 71 73 73 74 74 75
155 60 61 62 62 63 65 66 66 67 67 69 69 70 70 71
160 57 58 59 59 60 62 62 63 63 63 65 65 66 66 67
165 54 55 56 56 57 59 59 59 60 60 61 62 62 62 63
170 52 52 53 53 54 56 56 56 57 57 58 58 59 59 60

175 49 50 50 51 51 53 53 53 54 54 55 55 56 56 56
180 47 47 48 48 49 50 51 51 51 51 52 53 53 53 54
185 45 45 46 46 46 48 48 48 49 49 50 50 50 51 51
190 43 43 44 44 44 46 46 46 46 47 48 48 48 48 48
195 41 41 42 42 42 43 44 44 44 44 45 45 46 46 46

200 39 39 40 40 40 42 42 42 42 42 43 43 44 44 44
210 36 36 37 37 37 38 38 38 39 39 39 40 40 40 40
220 33 33 34 34 34 35 35 35 35 36 36 36 37 37 37
230 31 31 31 31 31 32 32 33 33 33 33 33 34 34 34
240 28 29 29 29 29 30 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 31 31

250 26 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 28 29 29 29 29 29
 L0 37.1 36.3 35.6 35.0 34.3 32.1 31.6 31.1 30.6 30.2 28.4 28.1 27.4 27.1 26.5

L0 is the maximum slenderness ratio of the member having negligible buckling effect.

84
 Table 8.3b - Bending strength pb (N/mm2) for welded sections
Steel grade and design strength py (N/mm2)
 LT S275 S355 S460
235 245 255 265 275 315 325 335 345 355 400 410 430 440 460
25 235 245 255 265 275 315 325 335 345 355 400 410 430 440 460
30 235 245 255 265 275 315 325 335 345 355 390 397 412 419 434
35 235 245 255 265 272 300 307 314 321 328 358 365 378 385 398
40 224 231 237 244 250 276 282 288 295 301 328 334 346 352 364
45 206 212 218 224 230 253 259 265 270 276 300 306 316 321 332

50 190 196 201 207 212 233 238 243 248 253 275 279 288 293 302
55 175 180 185 190 195 214 219 223 227 232 251 255 263 269 281
60 162 167 171 176 180 197 201 205 209 212 237 242 253 258 269
65 150 154 158 162 166 183 188 194 199 204 227 232 242 247 256
70 139 142 146 150 155 177 182 187 192 196 217 222 230 234 242

75 130 135 140 145 151 170 175 179 184 188 207 210 218 221 228
80 126 131 136 141 146 163 168 172 176 179 196 199 205 208 214
85 122 127 131 136 140 156 160 164 167 171 185 187 190 192 195
90 118 123 127 131 135 149 152 156 159 162 170 172 175 176 179
95 114 118 122 125 129 142 144 146 148 150 157 158 161 162 164

100 110 113 117 120 123 132 134 136 137 139 145 146 148 149 151
105 106 109 112 115 117 123 125 126 128 129 134 135 137 138 140
110 101 104 106 107 109 115 116 117 119 120 124 125 127 128 129
115 96 97 99 101 102 107 108 109 110 111 115 116 118 118 120
120 90 91 93 94 96 100 101 102 103 104 107 108 109 110 111

125 85 86 87 89 90 94 95 96 96 97 100 101 102 103 104

130 80 81 82 83 84 88 89 90 90 91 94 94 95 96 97
135 75 76 77 78 79 83 83 84 85 85 88 88 89 90 90
140 71 72 73 74 75 78 78 79 80 80 82 83 84 84 85
145 67 68 69 70 71 73 74 74 75 75 77 78 79 79 80

150 64 64 65 66 67 69 70 70 71 71 73 73 74 74 75
155 60 61 62 62 63 65 66 66 67 67 69 69 70 70 71
160 57 58 59 59 60 62 62 63 63 63 65 65 66 66 67
165 54 55 56 56 57 59 59 59 60 60 61 62 62 62 63
170 52 52 53 53 54 56 56 56 57 57 58 58 59 59 60

175 49 50 50 51 51 53 53 53 54 54 55 55 56 56 56
180 47 47 48 48 49 50 51 51 51 51 52 53 53 53 54
185 45 45 46 46 46 48 48 48 49 49 50 50 50 51 51
190 43 43 44 44 44 46 46 46 46 47 48 48 48 48 48
195 41 41 42 42 42 43 44 44 44 44 45 45 46 46 46

200 39 39 40 40 40 42 42 42 42 42 43 43 44 44 44
210 36 36 37 37 37 38 38 38 39 39 39 40 40 40 40
220 33 33 34 34 34 35 35 35 35 36 36 36 37 37 37
230 31 31 31 31 31 32 32 33 33 33 33 33 34 34 34
240 28 29 29 29 29 30 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 31 31

250 26 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 28 29 29 29 29 29
 L0 37.1 36.3 35.6 35.0 34.3 32.1 31.6 31.1 30.6 30.2 28.4 28.1 27.4 27.1 26.5

L0 is the maximum slenderness ratio of the member having negligible buckling effect.

85
 Table 8.3c - Bending strength pb (N/mm2) for other steel source
Bending strength for rolled sections Bending strength for welded sections
Steel grade and design strength (N/mm²) Steel grade and design strength (N/mm²)
LT Q235 Q345 Q390 Q420 LT Q235 Q345 Q390 Q420
215 310 350 380 215 310 350 380
25 215 310 350 380 25 215 310 350 380
30 215 310 350 377 30 215 310 350 374
35 215 303 336 361 35 215 296 324 344
40 212 289 321 344 40 210 272 297 316
45 203 276 305 326 45 194 250 273 289

50 194 262 288 307 50 178 230 250 265

55 185 247 271 288 55 165 211 229 242
60 176 232 254 268 60 152 194 210 225
65 167 218 236 249 65 141 179 201 217
70 158 203 219 230 70 131 173 194 208

75 149 189 203 212 75 121 167 185 198

80 141 176 188 196 80 115 161 177 188
85 133 164 174 180 85 112 154 168 178
90 125 152 161 166 90 109 147 160 166
95 117 141 149 153 95 105 140 149 153

100 110 131 138 142 100 102 131 138 142
105 103 122 128 131 105 98 122 128 131
110 97 114 119 122 110 95 114 119 122
115 91 106 110 113 115 91 106 110 113
120 86 99 103 105 120 86 99 103 105

125 81 93 96 98 125 81 93 96 98
130 77 87 90 92 130 77 87 90 92
135 72 82 84 86 135 72 82 84 86
140 68 77 79 81 140 68 77 79 81
145 65 72 75 76 145 65 72 75 76

150 61 68 70 72 150 61 68 70 72
155 58 65 66 68 155 58 65 66 68
160 55 61 63 64 160 55 61 63 64
165 52 58 59 60 165 52 58 59 60
170 50 55 56 57 170 50 55 56 57

175 47 52 53 54 175 47 52 53 54
180 45 50 51 51 180 45 50 51 51
185 43 47 48 49 185 43 47 48 49
190 41 45 46 47 190 41 45 46 47
195 39 43 44 44 195 39 43 44 44

200 38 41 42 42 200 38 41 42 42
210 35 37 38 39 210 35 37 38 39
220 32 34 35 35 220 32 34 35 35
230 29 32 32 33 230 29 32 32 33
240 27 29 30 30 240 27 29 30 30

250 25 27 28 28 250 25 27 28 28
L0 38.8 32.3 30.4 29.2 L0 38.8 32.3 30.4 29.2

L0 is the maximum slenderness ratio of the member having negligible buckling effect.

86
Table 8.4a - Equivalent uniform moment factor mLT for lateral-torsional buckling of beams
under end moments and typical loads
Segment with end moment only (values of m LT from the formula for the general case)  m LT
1.0 1.00
 positive 0.9 0.96
0.8 0.92
0.7 0.88
x x x x 0.6 0.84
0.5 0.80
M M M 0.4 0.76
M 0.3 0.72
LLT LLT 0.2 0.68
0.1 0.64
X lateral restraint
 negative 0.0 0.60
x x x x -0.1 0.56
-0.2 0.52
x x x x -0.3 0.48
M -0.4 0.46
M -0.5 0.44
M -0.6 0.44
M -0.7 0.44
LLT LLT -0.8 0.44
-0.9 0.44
-1.0 0.44
Special case (no intermediate lateral restraint)
= = x x
x x LLT
LLT

mLT = 0.93
mLT = 0.85
= = = = = =
x x x x
LLT LLT

mLT = 0.93 mLT = 0.74

87
 Table 8.4b - Equivalent uniform moment factor mLT for lateral-torsional buckling of beams
under non-typical loads
General case (segment between intermediate lateral restraint)
M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 Mmax

M1 M2 M3
M4 M5
Mmax

0.15M 2  0.5M 3  0.15M 4

For beams: m LT  0.2  but m LT  0.44
M max
All moment are taken as positive. The moment M2 and M4 are the values at the quarter points,
M3 is the value at mid-length and Mmax is the maximum moment in the segment.
For cantilevers without intermediate lateral restraint, mLT = 1.00

8.3.5.3 Equivalent slenderness for flexural-torsional buckling LT

The equivalent slenderness LT should be obtained as follows.
LT  u v  w (8.25)
where
LE
 (8.26)
ry
LE is the effective length for lateral-torsional buckling from clause 8.3.4
ry is the radius of gyration about the minor y-axis
u is the buckling parameter from Appendix 8.2 or conservatively equal to 0.9 for hot-
rolled sections and 1.0 for welded sections
v is the slenderness factor given by,
1
v (8.27)

1  0.05( / x)2
0.25

x is the torsional index from Appendix 8.2 or conservatively as D/T
D is the depth of the section
T is the thickness of the flange
 w is the ratio defined as,
 w  1.0 for Class 1 plastic section and Class 2 compact section,
Zx S
w  or x,eff for Class 3 semi-compact sections and (8.28)
Sx Sx
Z x,eff
w  for Class 4 slender sections (8.29)
Sx

Lateral-torsional buckling design of channels can be based on clause 8.3.5.3, provided

that the loads pass through the shear centre and that boundary conditions apply at the
shear centre.

88