Dimensionless Analytical Solution and New Design Formula for Lateral-Torsional Buckling of I-Beams under Linear Distributed Moment via Linear Stability Theory

Even for the doubly symmetric I-beams under linear distributed moment, the design formulas given by codes of different countries are quite different. This paper will derive a dimensionless analytical solution via linear stability theory and propose a new design formula of the critical moment of the lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) of the simply supported I-beams under linear distributed moment. Firstly, the assumptions of linear stability theory are reviewed, the dispute concerning the LTB energy equation is introduced, and then the thinking of Plate-Beam Theory, which can be used to fully resolve the challenge presented by Ojalvo, is presented briefly; secondly, by introducing the new dimensionless coefficient of lateral deflection, the new dimensionless critical moment and Wagner’s coefficient are derived naturally from the total potential energy. With these independent parameters, the new dimensionless analytical buckling equation is obtained; thirdly, the convergence performance of the dimensionless analytical solution is discussed by numerical solutions and its correctness is verified by the numerical results given by ANSYS; finally, a new trilinear mathematical model is proposed as the benchmark of formulating the design formula and, with the help of 1stOpt software, the four coefficients used in the proposed dimensionless design formula are determined.