Stability of Monosymmetric Beams and Cantilevers

There is a shortage of information on the elastic flexural-torsional buckling of monosymmetric cantilevers, while some differences of opinion exist on the effects of monosymmetry. The buckling of beams and cantilevers is studied in this paper, and theoretical critical loads are tabulated for a wide range of sections. The loadings considered include central concentrated loads on beams, end concentrated loads on cantilevers, and uniformly distributed loads, and these are applied at various distances above or below the shear center axis. It is shown that while the effects of monosymmetry and of height of the point of application of the load above the shear center on the critical loads of simply supported beams are additive, the reverse is true for cantilevers. The differences of opinion as to the effects of monosymmetry are resolved by an experimental investigation, the results of which support the most common expression for the monosymemtry section property.