Effect of the local plate buckling on the ultimate strength of continuous composite beams

Abstract For continuous composite beams subject to increasing loads up to collapse, a very large capacity of bending moment redistribution may appear in spite of the occurrence of local buckling with a possible interaction of global buckling of a web panel in shear. Two probative tests are presented and analysed, allowing to justify the simplified design methods adopted in Eurocode 4. An improved analysis is proposed using the concept of plastic mechanism. Also, a numerical model based on an original beam finite element is presented briefly in order developed a more general investigation in the near future.