The Lateral Stability of Equal-flanged Aluminum-alloy I-beams Subjected to Pure Bending

Equal-flange beams of a special extruded I-section of 27ST aluminum alloy were tested in pure bending. Complete end fixity was not attained. Loading was continued until a definite maximum value had been reached. Tensile tests were made on specimens cut from the flanges and the web of each beam. Compressive stress-strain characteristics were determined by pack compression tests on specimens cut from the flanges. Values computed from an equation previously suggested by one of the authors for the critical stress at which such beams become unstable were found to be in good agreement with values computed from experimentally determined critically bending moments.