Lateral-torsional buckling resistance of non-prismatic and prismatic mono-symmetric I-section steel beams based on stress utilization

The lateral-torsional resistance of prismatic double-symmetric I-section beams is accurately predicted using a mechanically consistent Ayrton-Perry approach, combined with a calibrated generalized imperfection. The corresponding design formulation was recently adopted in the revised version of Eurocode 3. However, for prismatic mono-symmetric I-section beams, the General Case shall be used while for non-prismatic beams only the General Method is available. Both methods present a very large scatter and highly underestimate the lateral-torsional buckling resistance. This paper proposes an extension to the General Formulation for non-prismatic beams with arbitrary boundary conditions, partial lateral restraints, and arbitrary loading for mono-symmetric I-sections. Using an advanced numerical model calibrated with experimental test results, a large parametric study is undertaken, and its results are used to assess the available design methodologies and the proposed method. It is concluded that the General Formulation provides excellent safe-sided estimates of the LTB resistance, and it is confirmed the very poor performance of the General Case and the General Method.