ABSTRACT
Non–uniform stepped and tapered members are often used because of the economies produced by reducing the cross-section in the low moment regions. The effects of reducing the cross-section of a member depend on the crosssection dimension reduced, and the location of the reduced cross-section along the member. Optimizations with respect to member buckling are distributing the material along the length of the member so as to maximize its buckling resistance. The elastic buckling of monosymmetric I-beams for simply supported beams with central concentrated load and which tapered from midspan to the supports. Elastic local buckling of a very thin compression flange will significantly reduce the resistance of a beam in uniform bending to flexural-torsional buckling. When the elastic local buckling load of the compression flange is close to the elastic flexural-torsional buckling load, the actual strength may be reduced by imperfection sensitivity effects.
