A Study on Lateral-Torsional Buckling Strength Equation of Compact T-Beam Subjected to Pure Bending

This study investigates elastic lateral-torsional buckling(LTB) of T-beams subjected to pure bending using finite element analysis(FEA). The results from the FEA are compared with those from the current American Institute of Steel Council(AISC) Load and Resistance Factor Design(LRFD) Specifications. The comparison indicates that AISC-LRFD provide unsafe values for T-beam subjected to pure bending. Therefore, a new design equation are presented using results from the FEA. The new equation could be easily used to calculate the elastic lateral-torsional buckling moment resistance of T-beam for beam design and to expand the new equation for developing LTB equations of T-beam subjected to general loading conditions such as a concentrated load, distributed load, or a seres of concentrated load.