Optimization of geometry for lateral buckling

process of a cantilever beam in the elastic region

Radovan Drazumeric
*
, Franc Kosel
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Askerceva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Received 3 September 2003; accepted 26 July 2004
Abstract
Using the large displacement theory (theory of the third order according to Chwalla), the paper
deals with lateral buckling process of a slender, elastic cantilever beam with a changeable cross-
sectional area and represents it with a system of nonlinear differential equations. Based on a
mathematical model of the lateral buckling process which considers the geometric and boundary
conditions, an optimal geometry of a cantilever beam is obtained using the calculus of variation. A
comparison between the properties of the beam with optimized geometry and those of a referential
beam with a constant cross section is shown. The main feature of the optimized geometry beam is a
constant maximal reference stress, obtained by the deformation energy theory, along the whole
length of the beam in a deected form which means that in terms of stability the material is
completely exploited. The result of this feature is, besides higher critical load, also higher carrying
capacity of the optimal geometry beam in the postbuckling region.
q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Elastic stability; Lateral buckling; Design; Cantilever beam; Geometry optimization; Calculus of
variation; Large displacement theory
1. Introduction
Lateral buckling of a bent cantilever beam is a stability problem, where a small lateral
disturbance in an unstable equilibrium state produces a spatial deection of the beam,
0263-8231/$ - see front matter q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.tws.2004.07.011
Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529
www.elsevier.com/locate/tws
* Corresponding author. Tel.: C386 1 4771 517; fax: C386 1 2518 567.
E-mail address: radovan.drazumeric@fs.uni-lj.si (R. Drazumeric).
and as a result a combination of bending and torsional load appears. This transition
causes an additional load of the beam, so in the design process it should be ensured
that the load does not exceed its critical value. That is the reason why, in cases of
slender elements where the stability limit is the main criterion, the load carrying
capacity of the material is poorly exploited. One possible way of increasing the
stability limit and better exploit the load carrying capacity of the element is to
optimize its geometry.
Some theoretical studies of the lateral buckling process of beams, considering
certain conditions, were previously presented in contributions [3,4]. The purpose of this
paper is to represent an analytical method of geometry optimization of a bent cantilever
beam that can be further applied to problems of buckling of one-dimensional elastic
elements for various conditions and loads. The optimization is based on a nonlinear
mathematical model, which describes the lateral buckling process with the large
displacement theory.
2. Mathematical model of the lateral buckling process of a cantilever beam
The model of the lateral buckling process of a slender cantilever beam with a
rectangular cross section is obtained using the large displacement theory, and is based on
the assumption that stress in the loaded beam lies in the elastic region of the material.
Fig. 1 shows a buckled cantilever beam. The spatial deformation state of the beam is
determined with three functions:
the lateral deection of the neutral axis v(x),
the vertical deection of the neutral axis w(x),
the rotation of the cross section w(x).
Fig. 1. An elastic curve of a cantilever beam in the deected form.
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 516
Quantities (x,v,w), which are used to describe the position of the elastic curve in space,
are given per unit of the length of the elastic curve l, so they are nondimensional. The
position of the cross section in space is given with the unit vectors, which represent the
orthonormal basis of the subsidiary coordinate system:
the tangent vector of the elastic curve ~e
x
(x),
the vector of the symmetry axis of the cross section in the thickness direction ~e
h
(x),
the vector of the symmetry axis of the cross section in the height direction ~e
z
(x).
With the superposition of the spatial bending and torsion [2], the relation between
primal and subsidiary coordinate system is obtained:
~e
x
Z(e
x1
; e
x2
; e
x3
); e
x1
Z
1

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
;
e
x2
Z
v
/

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
; e
x3
Z
w
/

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
:
(1)
~e
h
Z(e
h1
; e
h2
; e
h3
);
e
h1
ZK
v
/

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
cos wK
w
/

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
sin w;
e
h2
Z
v
/2
Cw
/2

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2

(v
/2
Cw
/2
)

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
cos wC
v
/
w
/
(1 K

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2

)
(v
/2
Cw
/2
)

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
sin w;
e
h3
Z
v
/
w
/
(1 K

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2

)
(v
/2
Cw
/2
)

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
cos wC
w
/2
Cv
/2

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2

(v
/2
Cw
/2
)

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
sin w:
~e
z
Z(e
z1
; e
z2
; e
z3
); e
z1
ZK
w
/

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
cos wC
v
/

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
sin w;
e
z2
Z
v
/
w
/
(1 K

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2

)
(v
/2
Cw
/2
)

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
cos wK
v
/2
Cw
/2

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2

(v
/2
Cw
/2
)

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
sin w;
e
z3
Z
w
/2
Cv
/2

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2

(v
/2
Cw
/2
)

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
cos wK
v
/
w
/
(1 K

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2

)
(v
/2
Cw
/2
)

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
sin w:
By describing the stressstrain state, the effects of the inner moments in the cantilever
beam are considered. We can write the components of the inner moment vector in the
subsidiary coordinate system for the discussed cantilever beam, loaded on the free end
with the load F (Fig. 1):
M
x
ZFl[(v
p
Kv)e
x1
K(x
*
Kx)e
x2
];
M
h
ZFl[(v
p
Kv)e
h1
K(x
*
Kx)e
h2
]; M
z
ZFl[(v
p
Kv)e
z1
K(x
*
Kx)e
z2
];
(2)
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 517
where x* is value of the independent variable x on the free end and v
p
is value of the lateral
deection of the neutral axis on the free endv
p
Zv(x*).
The results of the presence of the inner moments are expressed with the following
deformational quantities:
1. Torsional deformation is given with the derivative of the rotation of the cross section to
the arc length parameter s:
dw
ds
Z
w
/

1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
: (3)
2. Bending deformation is given with the curvature of the elastic curve of the beam. The
expression for the curvature of the projection of the elastic curve on the plane, which is
determined with the normal vector ~e
h
is:
1
r
h
Z
v
//
e
z2
Cw
//
e
z3
1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
: (4)
The expression for the curvature of the projection of the elastic curve on the plane,
which is determined with the normal vector ~e
z
is:
1
r
z
Z
v
//
e
h2
Cw
//
e
h3
1 Cv
/2
Cw
/2
: (5)
The mathematical model is based on the relation between loads and deformations
which appear in the lateral buckling process:
dw
ds
(x) Z
M
x
(x)l
GI
t
(x)
;
1
r
h
(x) Z0;
1
r
z
(x) Z
M
z
(x)l
EI
z
(x)
; 0%x%x
*
(6)
where G is shear modulus of the material, E is Youngs modulus of elasticity of the
material, I
t
is torsional moment of inertia of the cross section and I
z
is moment of inertia of
the cross section, which corresponds to the axis determined with the unit vector ~e
z
. For the
elastic material the following relation is valid:
G Z
E
2(1 Cn)
; (7)
where n is Poissons coefcient of the material. Eq. (6) show that the derivative of the
rotation of the cross section to the arc length parameter is proportional to the torque
and curvature of the elastic curve in a certain plane is proportional to
the corresponding bending moment. Since the cantilever beam is slender, a relation
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 518
I
h
(x)[I
z
(x) is valid, so bending in the plane determined with the unit vector ~e
h
can
be neglected.
The results of the lateral buckling of the beam with optimized geometry will be
compared with the results of lateral buckling of the referential beam with a constant
cross section. For this purpose we dene appropriate nondimensional parameters which
will be used for the analysis of the lateral buckling process relatively with respect to
properties of the referential beam.
Relative height of the cross section

h(x) Zh(x)=h
0
; (8)
where h(x) is height of the cross section in point x, and h
0
is height of the cross
section of the referential beam.
Relative thickness of the cross section

t(x) Zt(x)=t
0
; (9)
where t(x) is thickness of the cross section in point x, and t
0
is thickness of the
cross section of the referential beam.
Relative cross-sectional area
a(x) ZA(x)=A
0
Z

h(x)

t(x); (10)
where A(x) is cross-sectional area in point x, and A
0
is cross-sectional area of the
referential beam.
Relative volume of the beam

V ZV=V
0
Z

1
0
a(x) dx; (11)
where V is volume of the optimized beam, and V
0
is volume of the referential
beam.
Relative moment of inertia of the rectangular cross section

I(x) ZI
t
(x)=I
t0
ZI
z
(x)=I
z0
Z

h(x)

t
3
(x); (12)
where the following relations are valid for a slender rectangular cross section:
I
t
(x)Zh(x)t
3
(x)/3, I
t0
Zh
0
t
3
0
=3 and I
z
(x)Zh(x)t
3
(x)/12, I
z0
Zh
0
t
3
0
=12.
Relative load
f ZF=F
0
; (13)
where F is a load on the free end of the beam, and F
0
is the critical buckling load
of the referential beam. Critical buckling load F
0
is given with the expression [1]:
F
0
Z
4:013
l
2

EGI
z0
I
t0

: (14)
We introduce the expressions for the inner moments, corresponding deformational
quantities, properties of the material and the dened nondimensional parameters into
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 519
the system of Eq. (6). After appropriate transformation we can write a system of
nonlinear differential equations in the nal nondimensional form:
w
/
=
f 4:013

1-n
2

[(v
p
Kv)e
x1
K(x
*
Kx)e
x2
]

1-v
/2
-w
/2

;
v
//
=
f 4:013

2
1-n

[(v
p
Kv)e
z1
K(x
*
Kx)e
z2
]

1-v
/2
-w
/2

3
e
z3
; 0%x%x
*
w
//
=
f 4:013

2
1-n

[(v
p
Kv)e
z1
K(x
*
Kx)e
z2
]

1-v
/2
-w
/2

3
e
z2
:
(15)
Using the large displacement theory, we have obtained the mathematical model of
the lateral buckling process of a slender elastic cantilever beam with a rectangular
cross section. The value of the independent variable on the free end x* is determined
with the expression for the elastic curve length in the normal form:

x
*
0

1-v
/2
-w
/2

dx =1: (16)
Boundary conditions for the system of differential Eq. (15):
w(0) Z0; v(0) Z0; w(0) Z0; v
/
(0) Z0; w
/
(0) Z0: (17)
3. Geometry optimization
Denition of the geometry optimization problem: for a slender cantilever beam with a
rectangular cross section and xed length we are trying to nd an appropriate longitudinal
shape of the beam that would give maximal critical buckling load under the condition that
the volume of optimized beam is equal to the volume of the referential beam with a
constant cross section.
3.1. Linearization
The unstable state, which appears when load reaches its critical value f
c
, represents a
limit state of the buckling process where a small disturbance causes transformation of an
element from an unstable to a new stable form. So in this limit state we can substitute
functions used in the model of the lateral buckling process with their differentialswe
linearize the mathematical model (15) in the limit state. The linearized model is written
using a new variable uZ1Kx, (x*z10u*z0):
w/
=K
f
c
4:013

1 - n
2

(v
p
Kv - uv
/
);
v
//
=
f
c
4:013

2
1 - n

uw; 0%u%1
w
//
= 0:
(18)
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 520
3.2. Variational problem
With the derivation of the rst equation in the system of differential Eq. (18), we can
transform the system into an ordinary differential equation of the second order for the
function w(u):

I
2
w
//
- II
/
w
/
- f
2
c
4:013
2
u
2
w = 0: (19)
For the differential Eq. (19) the prescribed boundary conditions are:
M
x
(uZ0)ZGI
t
(0)w
/
(0)Z0, w(1)Z0. The rst boundary condition is fullled in two
cases: I
t
(0)Z00

I(0)Z0 or w
/
(0)Z0. It turns out that in the case of optimal geometry the
following boundary conditions are valid:

I(0) Z0 (w
/
(0) s0); w(1) Z0: (20)
The solution of the dened homogeneous problem is one parametric family of curves,
so we normalize function w(u) with an additional condition: w(0)Z1 (this condition does
not affect the eigenvalue of the problem f
c
).
The optimization is based on the geometric condition of unchanging volume of the
cantilever beam, which is expressed with an equation:

V Z

1
0
a(u) du Z1: (21)
Below is shown the procedure of geometry optimization for the cantilever beam with a
rectangular cross section for particular examples where the following relation is valid:

I(u) Z
a
i
(u)
(f
c
u)
j
: (22)
Some additional conditions and corresponding values of exponents i and j in particular
cases are given in Table 1.
As a special case of the optimization, we represent the case where maximal bending
stress of the cross section s
c
, which appears before the buckling process, is constant along
the beam:
s
c
(u) Z
s
c
(u)
s
0
Z
f
c
u

h
2
(u)

t(u)
h1; (23)
where s
c
is relative maximal bending stress of the cross section and s
0
is maximal bending
stress of the referential cantilever beam before the buckling process:
s
0
Z
F
0
l6
h
2
0
t
0
: (24)
Eq. (19) can be represented in two ways: as linear differential equation of the second
order for the function w(u) or as differential equation of the rst order for the function

I(u).
We can solve the differential equation for the function

I(u) and using relation (22) obtain
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 521
the function a(u):
a(u) Z(f
jC1
c
4:013

)
1=i
Ku
2j

u
0
y
2
ww
/
dy
w
/
2

1=2i
: (25)
This expression is now introduced into condition (21), so the relative critical load could
be written in the following form:
f
c
Z
1
(4:013

)
1=(jC1)
[J
ij
(w)]
i=(jC1)
; (26)
where J
ij
(w) represents a functional:
J
ij
(w) Z

1
0
Ku
2j

u
0
y
2
ww
/
dy
w
/
2

1=2i
du: (27)
Expression (26) is further used in relation (25) from which we get the nal form of
solution of optimization problem:
a(u) Z
Ku
2j

u
0
y
2
ww
/
dy
w
/
2

1=2i
J
ij
(w)
: (28)
The relative critical load f
c
will be maximal if the value of functional J
ij
(w) is minimal.
So we dene the variational problem as follows: among all function w(u) which are in the
interval [0,1] continuous and continuously differentiable, we are looking for the one that
would give a minimum value to functional J
ij
(w).
In the discussed geometry optimization problem we are looking for a shape of the
beam that will withstand a maximal critical buckling load at the condition that the
volume of the beam does not change. In other words, we are looking for a shape of
the beam which would have a minimal volume at the condition that critical buckling
load is constant. It turns out that both denitions correspond to the same variational
problem and consequently the same solution w(u). Given this, the relation between the
maximal relative critical load f
c,max
and minimal relative volume of the beam

V
min
can be expressed by:

V
min
Zf
c;max
: (29)
Table 1
Additional conditions of optimization
Condition i j
Constant thickness of the cross section

t(u) h1 1 0
Constant height to thickness ratio of the cross section

h(u)=

t(u) h1 2 0
Constant height of the cross section

h(u) h1 3 0
Constant maximal bending stress of the cross section s
c
(u) h1 5 2
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 522
The variational problem is solved using the expression for function w(u) in the
form of a series that fulls the prescribed boundary conditions:
w Z1 Ku C

kZn
kZ1
a
k
(u
k
Ku
kC1
): (30)
Using this expression, we transform the functional (27) into a function of n-variables:
J
ij
(w)Zg
ij
(a
1
; a
2
;/; a
n
). The necessary condition for the minimum of function of n-real
variables is represented with the system of n-nonlinear equations [8]:
vg
ij
va
k
Z0; k Z1; 2;/; n: (31)
The nonlinear system of equations is solved numerically by Ref. [7]
approximation of integrals with the Simpsons formula,
solving a nonlinear system of equations with the Newtons method.
The number of parameters n is being increased until the following condition of
convergence is fullled:
g
(nC1)
ij
Kg
(n)
ij
!3; n Z1; 2; 3;/ (32)
where 3 is a chosen positive real number.
3.3. Results of geometry optimization
A mathematical model of the lateral buckling process of a slender, elastic cantilever
beam, which was the subject of the geometry optimization procedure, is represented in
nondimensional form. Therefore the results of the optimization, which are given relative to
properties of the referential beam with a constant cross section and full the prescribed
conditions, have a general validity.
The results are shown in Table 2 and in Figs. 25. The best results are obtained in the
case of constant maximal bending stress before the buckling process (iZ5, jZ2). If we
exclude this special case, the highest value of the relative critical load is reached in
the case of constant height of the cross section (iZ3, jZ0) and the lowest value of
the relative volume of the beam in the case of constant thickness of the cross section (iZ1,
jZ0).
In the root of the solution of the variational problem (uZ0) singularity appears, cross-
sectional area is equal to zero. This means, that shear stress, which is present before
Table 2
The results of geometry optimization

t(u) h1

h(u)=

t(u) h1

h(u) h1
s
c
(u) h1
f
c;max
(

VZ1) 1.235 1.366 1.450 1.856

V
min
(f
c
Z1) 0.810 0.856 0.884 0.690
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 523
the lateral buckling of a beam, is not limited in the point of singularity. Beside this, in the
case of constant thickness (iZ1, jZ0) an assumption of a slender beam is violated around
the singularity point. For practical use of the results, a shear stress constraint should be
included in the optimization procedure and appropriate values of geometry and material
parameters of the referential beam would ensure that all assumptions that were made in the
mathematical model of the lateral buckling process, are fullled.
3.4. Property of a cantilever beam with optimal geometry
In this subsection we will analyse the stress state of a cantilever beam with optimized
geometry in an unstable state of the lateral buckling process. Let us dene a
nondimensional bending moment m
u
and a nondimensional torque m
t
, which appear in
the unstable state:
m
u
Zf
c
4:013uw;
m
t
Zf
c
4:013(v
p
Kv Cuv
/
):
(33)
As a result of the presence of the inner moments, bending and torsional stress appear in
the beam. We evaluate their common effect with a maximal reference stress s
p
, which we
can write in a nondimensional form as a combination of the nondimensional bending stress
s
u
and the nondimensional torsional stress t
t
, obtained by the deformation energy theory
Fig. 2. Solution of variational problem w(u).
Fig. 3. Relative cross-sectional area a(u).
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 524
(Beltrami) [9]:
s
p
Z

s
2
u
C2(1 Cn)t
2
t

m
2
u
C
1 Cn
2
m
2
t

I
; (34)
Analogically with expression for the reference stress, we dene a nondimensional
reference moment m
p
:
m
p
Z

m
2
u
C
1 Cn
2
m
2
t

: (35)
Considering relation (22), we write an expression for the maximal reference stress in
the following form:
s
p
Z
m
p
(f
c
u)
j=2
a
(iC1)=2
: (36)
In the differential Eq. (19), which is fundamental for the optimization procedure, we
substitute function w with the reference moment m
p
:

I u
m
/
p
m
p

/
C2u
m
/
p
m
p

2
K
m
/
p
m
p

C2f
c
4:013

u
3
m
/
p
m
p
1Ku
m
/
p
m
p

Z0: (37)
For the differential Eq. (37) the following boundary conditions are valid: m
p
(0)Z0,
m
/
p
(1)Z0. For the purposes of further analysis, we introduce a new function mZm
/
p
/m
p
.
Then we dene the variational problem by the previously discussed procedure, where we
Fig. 4. Height of a cantilever beam.
Fig. 5. Thickness of a cantilever beam.
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 525
are looking for the minimum of functional K
ij
(m):
K
ij
(m) Z

1
0
u
2jC3
m(1Kum)
(mK2um
2
Kum
/
)
2

1=2i
duZ

1
0
F
ij
(u; m; m
/
) du: (38)
Considering the geometry condition of constant volume (21), we express the solution of
the optimization problem as:
a(u) Z
F
ij
(u; m; m
/
)
K
ij
(m)
: (39)
Function m(u) is also the solution of the Eulers differential equation [5], which
represents the necessary condition for the solution of the variational problem (38):
vF
ij
vm
K
d
du
vF
ij
vm
/
Z0: (40)
After transformation of the Eulers differential equation [6], we get a relation:
mC
j
2u
K
i C1
2
dF
ij
du
F
ij
Z0: (41)
Now, we introduce functions m
p
and a into the differential equation (41) and with
integration of it, the following property of the solution of the variational problem is
obtained:
m
p
u
j=2
a
(iC1)=2
hC; (42)
where C is a constant value. A comparison between expressions (36) and (42) shows that
the maximal reference stress of the cross section in the unstable state is constant along the
beam with optimal geometry. Thus, it can be stated that the load carrying capacity of the
optimized beam, considering the prescribed conditions, is completely exploited.
4. Results for postbuckling region
In the geometry optimization procedure we discuss the behaviour of the beam in the
unstable state of the lateral buckling process. To represent now the behaviour of the
cantilever beam in the postbuckling region, we should nd a solution of the system of
nonlinear differential Eq. (15) which represents the mathematical model of the lateral
buckling process by the large displacement theory. The system of Eq. (15) is solved
numerically with the RungeKutta method [2,7].
In the unstable state of the lateral buckling process, the lateral displacement (Fig. 6) and
the rotation of the free end of a cantilever beam (Fig. 7) rapidly increase. With higher
values of the relative load, the vertical displacement (Fig. 8) is increasing, while the lateral
displacement and the rotation are converging to the nite values. Fig. 9 shows the maximal
nondimensional reference stress on the xed end s
max
(by the deformation energy theory),
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 526
which is given with the following expression:
s
max
Z
s
*
max
l
t
0

E
Zf
4:013v
p
2

t(x Z0)

I(x Z0)
; (43)
where s
*
max
is actual maximal reference stress. In cases of optimal geometry, maximal
reference stress in the postbuckling region increases more slowly, despite higher critical
buckling loads. Values of the actual reference stress s
*
max
are determined with the
appropriate selection of the geometry and material parameters of the referential beam.
Fig. 6. Lateral displacement of the free end.
Fig. 7. Rotation of the free end.
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 527
5. Conclusions
The contribution presents an analytical approach to geometry optimization of
lateral buckling process of a slender, elastic cantilever beam. With the solution of
the system of nonlinear differential equations, representing the mathematical model
of the lateral buckling process by the large displacement theory, the stressstrain state
of the beam has been quantied. The solution of optimization problem and the
solution of the system of nonlinear differential equations are, considering certain
conditions, valid in general, regardless of properties of the referential beam with
constant cross section.
Fig. 8. Vertical displacement of the free end.
Fig. 9. Maximal reference stress on the built-in end.
R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 528
Summary of the results of geometry optimization for the lateral buckling process of a
cantilever beam:
Maximal reference stress of cross section (according to the deformation energy theory)
in unstable state is constant along the beam with optimal geometry, so in terms of
stability, the load carrying capacity of the material is completely exploited.
Critical buckling load and material savings are maximal in case of constant maximal
bending stress of the cross section before the buckling process.
With the appropriate selection of values of the referential beam parameters, the
optimized beam shows certain carrying capacity also in the postbuckling region,
despite higher critical buckling load.
In the solution, point of singularity appears, which could be eliminated by dening and
solving the optimization problem with a shear stress constraint. In addition, with an
appropriate selection of the properties of the referential beam it should be ensured that
stresses in the beam lie in elastic region, and that other assumtions made in the
mathematical model of the lateral buckling process are fullled.
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R. Drazumeric, F. Kosel / Thin-Walled Structures 43 (2005) 515529 529