experimental investigation into distortional buckling behavior of web-tapered I-section steel beams under point load

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Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Urmia University, Iran

10.22034/ceej.2025.64119.2391

Abstract

The paper investigates the distortional buckling capacity of steel beams with variable web height under concentrated loads through both experimental and numerical methods. Distortional buckling, a complex interaction between local and lateral-torsional buckling, can significantly affect the stability of thin-walled beams. Three non-prismatic steel beam specimens were fabricated and tested, demonstrating that increasing web height leads to reduced buckling capacity. Numerical simulations using ABAQUS further confirmed the experimental results, highlighting the critical role of geometric imperfections in buckling behavior. The study identified that in beams with variable web height, the stress distribution becomes highly non-uniform, increasing the likelihood of distortional buckling, especially near the regions of maximum web height. The research also proposed parametric design equations to better predict distortional buckling capacity, addressing the limitations of current design standards like AISC, which may not fully account for these complex interactions. The findings underline the importance of incorporating geometric and loading variations in design equations to improve accuracy. Ultimately, the study provides valuable insights into distortional buckling mechanisms, contributing to enhanced safety and reliability in the design of steel structures, particularly in industrial applications where non-prismatic beams are frequently used.

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Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 05 May 2025

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