Elastic Lateral-Torsional Buckling of Simply Supported Hot-Rolled Steel I-Beams with Random Imperfections

The paper deals with the problem of lateral beam buckling of simply supported hot-rolled I-beams under major axis bending. The bending stability problem is analysed by consideration the minor axis bending and torsion equations. Both perfect straight beams and beams with initial imperfections are considered. The mathematical solutions are derived, based on a non-linear stability model. The attention is paid to virtual computer experiments of beams with initial random imperfections. Realizations of initial imperfections are simulated, applying the numerical simulation method Latin Hypercube Sampling. Statistical characteristics of the majority of imperfections were found by experimental research. The influence of the beam length on the mean value and standard deviation of load carrying capacity is analysed. The screening based sensitivity analysis method is applied. The principal imperfections affecting lateral beam buckling strength are discussed.