Load-carrying capacity of cold-formed beams subjected to overall lateral-torsional buckling and local plate buckling

Abstract Cold-formed beams loaded by transverse loads and moments acting in the plane of greatest stiffness may fail before reaching their full plastic moment. Several different stability failure modes may occur of which a combination of lateral-torsional buckling and local plate buckling is the most complicated. In order to treat this problem, five alternative design procedures are considered. However, particularly in the case of complicated theoretical problems, a design procedure must also be checked against test results. These procedures are therefore evaluated in comparison with available test data on cold-formed sections. Comparisons are made which show the applicability and limitations of the design methods investigated.