Effect of local stiffeners and warping constraints on the buckling of symmetric open thin-walled beams with high warping stiffness

Abstract Local stiffeners affect the behaviour of thin-walled beams (TWBs). An in-house code based on a one-dimensional model proved effective in several instances of compressive buckling of TWBs but gave counterintuitive results for locally stiffened TWBs. To clarify the matter, we investigated TWBs with multi-symmetric double I cross-section, widely used in practical applications where high bending stiffness is required. Several samples were manufactured and stiffened on purpose, closing them over a small portion of the axis at different places. The samples were tested with end constraints accounting for various warping conditions. The experimental and numerical outputs from a commercial FEM code gave a key to overcome the unexpected results by the in-house code, paving the way for further studies.