Resistance of column webs subjected to transverse compression at the unstiffened end

Members of open double-symmetrical cross-sections are widely used in steel structures. In many cases their webs are subjected to transverse compression resulting from the effect of adjacent members or from the concentrated transverse loads. Resistance of the member web to transverse compression is affected by number of aspects, e.g. structural solution of the joint (welded or bolted with end plate), possible longitudinal normal stress in the member caused by axial load or bending moment, interaction with shear or effect of local buckling of the web. The paper focuses on specific problem of resistance of the web to transverse compression resulting from transverse load applied close to the unstiffened end of the member. The investigation of the resistance of the web to transverse compression is performed using advanced geometrically and materially nonlinear numerical analysis for various distances of the transverse load from the unstiffened end. The influence of this distance on transverse compression resistance is quantified. Rolled and welded cross-sections of various web slenderness are investigated. The results are, where possible, compared with results obtained from available design standards.