A DIRECT ONE-DIMENSIONAL BEAM MODEL FOR THE FLEXURAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF THIN-WALLED BEAMS

In this paper, the direct one-dimensional beam model introduced by one of the authors is refined to take into account nonsymmetrical beam cross-sections. Two different beam axes are considered, and the strain is described with respect to both. Two inner constraints are assumed: a vanishing shearing strain between the cross-section and one of the two axes, and a linear relationship between the warping and twisting of the cross-section. Considering a grade one mechanical theory and nonlinear hyperelastic constitutive relations, the balance of power, and standard localization and static perturbation procedures lead to field equations suitable to describe the flexural-torsional buckling. Some examples are given to determine the critical load for initially compressed beams and to evaluate their post-buckling behavior.