Bending and extension of thin-walled composite beams of open cross-sectional geometry

A theoretical model for bending and ex-tension of composite beams of open t hin-walled geometry is devised. The model is based an a detailed descriptio n of the out-of-plane warping and may handle generic open cross-sectional g eometries and arbitrary layup configurations. in view, of the potential of composite beams to produce useful structural couplings, the analysis is foc used on the ability to predict the coupling mechanisms, and draw lines of s imilarities and differences between such beams and similar thin-walled beam s of closed cross sections.