Stabilizing effects of discrete deviators on LTB of mono-symmetric thin-walled beams pre-stressed by rectilinear tendon cables

Abstract

A lateral–torsional buckling theory of mono-symmetric thin-walled beams pre-stressed by rectilinear tendon cables was proposed considering bonded/un-bonded deviators. It was assumed that simple/cantilever steel beams would be subjected to a combined compressive force and bending moment caused by double tendon cables, rigidly connected to discrete deviators. As a result, total potential energies of the pre-stressed (PS) system were newly derived depending on the number of deviators. Buckled equilibrium equations were analytically solved and compared with FE solutions by Abaqus. Through buckling analysis, stabilizing effects of deviators were demonstrated on lateral–torsional buckling (LTB) strength of mono-symmetric PS steel beams pre-stressed by tendon cables. In addition, it was found that LTB loads of mono-symmetric simple beams pre-stressed by single tendon with deviators were identical to those of PS cantilever beams under warping free conditions.