Local Buckling Behavior of Plate Elements

In the elastic post-local buckling range, the stress distribution across the width of compression elements of light gauge steel shapes is nonlinear. For code implementations, these stress distributions are approximated by semi-empirical effective width equations. The effective with equation of Winter for stiffened elements subjected to uniform compression serves as a basis for the development of effective width equations for other compression elements. The definitions for an existing set of effective width criteria for edge stiffened compression flanges are clarified. For locally unstable beam webs, effective depth equations are developed from calibrations to experimental data.