Autodidact
Well-Known Member
Question for the structural gurus; if you have a length of column that constitutes the cap or flange of a beam (spar), it may want to buckle laterally (normal to the web), so how much (normal) force is required to keep it from buckling laterally? A simplified solution would be the handiest answer, such as, if you applied a concentrated force laterally at the midpoint of the flange, what magnitude of that concentrated force would stop it from buckling due to the compression force and drive it to either buckle at each half or cripple depending on the fineness ratio. I know this can get complicated, but there is a force than can cause the flange/cap to buckle at the halves rather than the whole length - does anyone know where to find the formula for this situation as well as for it's extension to the distributed force case?