Strength of Singly Systematic Steel Beams with Non-Compact and Slender Compression Elements

Many pre-engineered buildings utilize very efficient steel plate girders with different size flanges, referred to as singly symmetric beams. An unusual amount of structures with these types of members collapsed in a 1992 snowstorm in the eastern United States of America. This research program was conducted to determine the capacity of undamaged typical singly symmetric sections taken from a collapsed structure. An experimentation program of five tests was conducted on four specimens. Load-displacement behavior was recorded, experimental behavior and capacity was compared to predictions according to the American Institute of Steel Construction Specification as well as theoretical predictions. Local buckling behavior of compression elements for singly symmetric sections and a critique of the design specification were the major focus of the research program.