Modelling of load transfer to laterally restrained thin-walled beams with open cross-section

Load-bearing system consisting of thin-walled Z-section beams laterally restrained along the flange by trapezoidal thin steel sheeting is studied. Theoretical study of behavior of a thin-walled beam with open cross-section with lateral restrain is carried out for two variants of gravity load transfer from trapezoidal steel sheeting to thin-walled beam. The first variant of load transfer is defined in Eurocode 3 while the second variant of the load transfer is based on the analysis of deformations of the thin-walled Z-section beam. The results of theoretical studies have been compared with the results of experimental investigations.