Beam bracing is applied to prevent the relative displacement of the top and bottom flanges or to effectively control the twisting of the section, and the lateral stability of the beams are provided by lateral bracing, torsional bracing or a combination of both. Modular steel I-girders are laterally interconnected by torsional bracings that are installed to increase the resistance to lateral torsional buckling. In this paper, numerical parametric study was carried out by varying the crossbeam web height to examine the effects of the web torsional stiffness. Three-dimensional finite-element analysis using the commercial finite element software ABAQUS was obtained for the parametric numerical analyses of a series of feasible two-girder models, and the failure mode, lateral-torsional buckling strength and the moment-displacement behavior of the main girders was determined.

Using closed-section ribs as longitudinal stiffeners have been proven to be an effective system for axially compressed members, however, studies on the application of these on laminated composite shell are insufficient. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the buckling behavior of the laminated composite shell when closed-section ribs were applied as longitudinal stiffeners. The effect of the rotational stiffness of the closed-section ribs on the buckling modes and strengths will be determined in this paper. The three-dimensional finite element modeling were set up using ABAQUS and a series of eigenvalue analysis were conducted, applying eight layers of the layup [(0°)4]s, [(45°/-45°)2]s and [(0°/90°)2]s on the orthotropic plates. Through the parametric studies, the increasing effect on the elastic buckling strengths due to the rotational stiffness are numerically verified, and the buckling strength of a longitudinally stiffened shell with a laminated composite material were compared with that of the isotropic material.