Optimization of open cross sections of thin-walled beams with plate-shell-flanges

The paper is devoted to a monosymetrical cold-formed thin-walled beam with open cross section. Its flange consists of plates and circular shells. The beam is under pure bending. The cross section is characterized by dimensionless parameters. The authors are searching for an optimal cross section shape of considered beam. This optimal shape is determined by means of parametric optimization. The dimensionless objective function is so defined as to comprise both cross section area and a maximal allowable bending moment. The constraints follow from the local buckling conditions and geometric restrictions. Moreover, there are optimized cross sections of beams, for which the shear center is located either in the web or in the centroid of the cross section. Results are compared and analyzed. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)