SOFTENING BEHAVIOR OF CONTINUOUS THIN-WALLED STEEL BEAMS - 2 NUMERICAL-METHODS

The problem of the computation of arbitrary multi-span continuous thin -walled beams with a softening moment resistance is addressed in the p resent work. Two numerical methods are exposed and comparison with the procedure that the Eurocode provides to this end is made. The applica tion of the methods was stimulated by experimental evidence found in t he literature, which establishes the existence of a softening branch i n the bending of a thin-walled section before failure. The ability to perform exact numerical treatment of the softening behaviour allows fu ll exploitation of the potential of the cross-section and, most import antly, the avoidance of pitfalls in the estimation of the ultimate str ength.