Lateral buckling of beams analysed as elastically supported columns subject to a varying axial force

The stability problem for an elasticallu supported column subject to a varying axial force has been solved by means of a general numerical procedure based on Galerkin's method. Apart from the intrinsic value of the solution itself, its possible value modelling some complex stability problems in the area of restrained lateral-torsional stability problems is demonstrated and specific numerical solutions are applied to the case of lateral buckling of the free flange of a composite girder. The results obtained are discussed and suggestions for additional investigations are presented.