Design rules for distortional lateral buckling in continuous composite beams

In the Eurocodes, the rules for checking distortional lateral buckling of a steel flange of a composite beam appear as equations in which interaction of the parameters is obscure. The relevant theories are summarized. Graphs that give values for the elastic critical buckling resistance, the forces applied to lateral restraints and the effect of non-stiff end supports are derived from the equations and shown to be in good agreement with theory. Their use could speed Lip the iterative stage of the design of lateral restraints