Buckling Curve Calibration for Steel I-beams with Sequential Web Openings Considering Random Initial Imperfections

Steel beams with sequential web openings present benefits compared to plain webbed sections, especially higher bending stiffness. However, openings can affect structural behavior, requiring modifications to verification methods. In this study, a new proposal was developed to verify steel profiles with sequential web openings, based on Eurocode 3. The calculation leads to the determination of the reduction in the resistant capacity of the section due to instabilities based on an imperfection factor related to the characteristic process of manufacturing these profiles. For this, an extensive numerical study was carried out, considering random distributions of residual stresses based on experimental data.