Buckling of Suspended I‐Beams

Abstract

This paper investigates the elastic flexural‐torsional buckling of I‐beams supported (suspended) symmetrically by cables or chains, as might be encountered in practice in a lifting operation. The governing differential equations of minor axis flexure and torsion are derived for suspended I‐beams subject to symmetrical concentrated loads and/or uniformly distributed load. The boundary conditions corresonding to symmetrical and antisymmetrical buckling mode shapes are fully examined. Parameters influencing the buckling behavior of suspended I‐beams are identified. The solution procedure using the finite integral method is briefly described. Theoretical predictions of elastic buckling loads compare very well to results from a series of small‐scale aluminium I‐beam experiments. A theoretical study to illustrate the influence of some of the many variables affecting the buckling behavior of suspended beams is presented.