Beams are structural elements subjected to bending loads transverse to their longitudinal axis. For steel beams, which compressed flange is not laterally restrained, checking loss of overall stability is often authoritative in determining their section. In engineering practice are known various approaches to verify the assurance of the steel beam against lateral-torsional buckling. In this article the attention is focused to the methods and their characteristics, described in actual version of the European standard EN1993-1-1.
Keywords: lateral-torsional buckling, steel beams, critical bending force, FEA