Technical
Use of LTBeamN
Calculating Ncr and Mcr by hand for use in Eurocode design can be challenging for anything but
the simple cases. LTBeamN, a free software tool, can readily calculate these values, including
complex situations such as tapered beams and unusual restraint arrangements. Constantinos
Kyprianou, Engineer at the Steel Construction Institute, offers an overview on the use of
LTBeamN and compares its results with some standard cases.
Introduction position in the web, at the flange or above the flange. Users can
LTBeamN was developed by CTICM and is a considerable upgrade define the behaviour for each restraint with four different degrees
to its predecessor LTBeam. The latest version has improved of freedom. To create a lateral restraint, the lateral displacement
interfaces, improved graphics and the capability to analyse is set to fixed. For torsional restraints, the degree of freedom
complex scenarios, including tapered members. The N indicates (which is twisting) is additionally set to fixed. Some effort needs
that the scope of the latest version includes the effect of axial to be invested in appreciating the opportunities for unorthodox
compression. restraint conditions, such as spring supports.
Buckling resistance Applied actions
Under pure compression, BS EN 1993-1-1 requires the elastic LTBeamN has a number of different ways to define applied
critical force Ncr to be calculated. Although this is straightforward actions. Firstly, External Loading may be used to define point
for flexural buckling, it is not straightforward for torsional or loads and distributed loads along the length and the depth of the
torsional-flexural buckling, especially if the section is not bi- member. Self weight may be included as an option. Alternatively,
symmetric, or has intermediate restraints to one flange. In these the Internal Loading option may be used to define the bending
situations, LTBeamN can provide a convenient solution. moment diagram and axial load directly.
For unrestrained beams, the Eurocode requires that the elastic
critical moment Mcr is determined. Although closed expressions Special features
may be used to calculate Mcr for orthodox cases, the calculation LTBeamN has the facility to calculate solutions for up to 10
becomes effectively impossible without software for more buckling modes, as illustrated in Figure 2, which is educational,
complex scenarios. even if not directly used in design, since in design the first
buckling mode with the lowest value of Ncr and Mcr is of most
Using LTBeamN interest.
The aim of this article is to describe some of the most important
features of LTBeamN and to demonstrate the verification of some
standard cases.
Users can define almost any common open section, either
by choosing it from a pre-defined catalogue, or by defining
dimensions for a common forms of cross sections, or by section
properties for unorthodox sections. The program restricts
sections to mono-symmetric.
Member definition
Users can vary the depth of the section along its length, in order
to allow the analysis of haunched and tapered sections, and
assemble members from different upper and lower sections.
Figure 1, below, shows a member with a haunched section at
one end and a tapered section at the other, demonstrating the
versatility of the software.
Figure 2: Various buckling modes
Restraints
LTBeamN allows flexibility when defining restraints, in terms of Analysis results
position in both dimensions. Restraints can be defined at any LTBeamN provides numerical results and a graphical output. The
Figure 1: Member with a haunched and tapered section
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Technical
visual representation of the buckled form can be particularly Elastic critical force for flexural buckling
useful when checking that the buckled form recognises the The elastic critical flexural buckling force can be calculated using
restraint conditions anticipated by the user. As with all software, Eulers equation:
it is beneficial to have an expectation of the results and buckled
form before using the program. 2EIz 2 210000 11400 104
The results may be filtered by blocking to provide the values Ncr,E = = 10-3 = 19288 kN
L2 35002
for Mcr or Ncr in isolation. For Mcr alone, the option N Blocked is
selected, and vice versa if Ncr is required. The combined effect of Using LTBeamN, a compressive forces is applied at either end
Mcr and Ncr can be calculated if required. of the section. Torsional restraints are modelled at each end
of the section, at the shear centre. As shown by Figure 3, Ncr
Verification from LTBeamN was calculated as -19290 kN. The difference is
In this article, the use of LTbeamN is compared to a series of not significant and is due to the slight difference between the
standard situations, using a 610305 179 universal beam. section properties given in the software library and in the Blue
Book. The negative sign simply reflects the convention used in
modelling.
Elastic critical force for torsional buckling
The equation presented in BS EN 1993-1-1 Annex BB.3.3.1
evaluates the elastic critical torsional buckling force of an
I-section between torsional restraints with intermediate lateral
restraints to the tension flange:
Ncr,T =
1
is 2 ( 2 E Iza2
Lt 2
+
2 E Iw
Lt2
+ GIt
)
where:
is2 = iy2 + iz2 + a2
a is the distance between the centroid of the member and
the centroid of a restraining member, such as purlins. In this
example, the restraining member is taken as 180 mm deep.
Figure 3: Ncr,E from LTBeamN
Therefore:
a = 180/2 + h/2 = 90 + 620.2/2 = 400.1 mm
is2 = 2592 + 70.72 + 400.12 = 232159.5 mm2
Ncr,T =
1
232159.5 ( )
3.091012 + 1.7261012 + 2.7461011 10-3 = 21927 kN
In LTBeamN, three intermediate lateral restraints at equal
distances along the length acting 400.1mm vertically from
the shear centre were introduced, as shown in Figure 4. The
calculated elastic critical force is 21861 kN. The buckled form is
shown in Figure 5.
If a continuous restraint is modelled at 400.1 mm below the
Figure 4: Ncr,T from LTBeamN - intermediate restraints to one flange shear centre (as an alternative to three discreet restraints), Ncr =
21861 kN, as previous. This demonstrates that in this case, the
effect of the intermediate restraints is equivalent to a continuous
restraint.
Elastic critical moment, Mcr
For an unrestrained beam with a uniform bending moment
diagram, C1 = 1 and Mcr is given by:
2EIz Iw L2GIt
Mcr = C1 2 + 2
L Iz EIz
= 1 19.3 10 6 89.4103 + 14.2103 10-6
= 6212 kNm
Figure 5: Ncr,T from LTBeamN buckled form
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Technical
With a uniform moment, modelled with an equal moment at
each end of the member, LTBeamN calculates Mcr as 6176 kNm.
The difference in values is insignificant.
Tension flange restraint
For simple cases of tension flange restraint, closed expressions
are available. Assuming continuous lateral restraint along the
tension flange, Mcr,T for a uniform bending moment diagram is
given by:
is2 232159.5
Mcr,T = Ncr,T = 21927 10-3 = 6362 kNm
2 2 400.1
A continuous restraint may be modelled in LTBeamN. In this case
the restraint is at 400.1 mm from the shear centre. The results
from LTBeamN are shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6: Continuous restraint outside the tension flange
The calculated value of Mcr is 6331.7 kNm; the difference is
small enough to be ignored and probably follows from the use of
rounded values in the closed expression and the slightly different
section properties used in the software library.
Complex situations
Although the verifications presented here are all for common
cases, where closed solutions are available, software is almost
essential in unorthodox cases. Figure 7 shows:
A haunched section, tapering in elevation and width
An intermediate restraint to one flange only
Point loads, varying distributed loads and bending moments
applied (the distributed load is applied as a destabilising load,
above the flange)
In this (admittedly obscure) situation, software is the only
feasible approach. Mcr can be calculated and the buckled form
examined (Figure 8).
Conclusion
Figure 7: Unorthodox member, restraints and loading LTBeamN facilitates the efficient calculation of Ncr and Mcr, being
particularly useful in complex situations not covered by standard
expressions. Some effort must be expended in becoming familiar
with the tool and understanding all the options available. Before
using the software, some expectation of the result is important,
not to verify the inner workings of the software, but to ensure
the data has been input correctly.
Figure 8: Buckled form of an unorthodox member
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