Local web buckling of thin-walled I-beams

In order to predict the load capacity of thin-walled steel I-beams, the local web buckling was investigated both numerically and experimentally. Finite element analysis of the beams shows that the web buckles locally either under the concentrated load or at the support if the beam is unstiffened. A linear relationship between the normal stress and the shear stress was revealed by the finite element modeling. The local compressive stress at the top of web does not affect the buckling of web significantly. The numerical findings were further validated by testing of small I-beams made of silicone rubber. A new form of design equation for local web buckling was given by statistics and regression of the analytical results of beams.