Exact and approximate solutions for the flexural buckling of columns with oblique rotational end restraints

This paper is concerned with the elastic flexural buckling of doubly symmetric columns with oblique restraints under concentric loading. Oblique restraints cause coupling between the principal axis deflections and rotations, and the flexural buckling mode involves simultaneous bending about both principal axes. The paper discusses the nature of oblique restraints, and presents exact and approximate solutions for the buckling loads of columns with rigid or elastic restraints against rotations at the ends. The exact solutions are obtained by solving the governing differential equations and boundary conditions, while the approximate solutions are based on energy solutions with assumed buckling displacements. The approximate solutions are sufficiently simple that they can be used in design, and are shown to be within 1% of the exact solutions. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.