Elastic buckling of I-beams under linear moment gradient

This paper investigates the elastic lateral–torsional buckling of I-beams under linear moment gradient that very precisely incorporates the effects of moment gradient and various end restraints. The elastic critical buckling moments are obtained independently by using: (1) the Bubnov–Galerkin method and (2) the finite element method. The present formula of the moment gradient correction factor cannot satisfactorily predict the buckling capacities of doubly symmetric and monosymmetric Ibeams with various end restraints. We propose alternative equations for evaluating the moment gradient correction factor, considering end restraint conditions.