MINIMUM WEIGHT DESIGN OF COLD-FORMED STEEL BEAMS 23

Following the AISI ASD and LRFD Specifications, the following stepwise procedure is used to
determine the value of Se at initiation of yielding in the cross-section:
Step 1: Assume the compression flange yields, i.e., Calculate b and the cross-sectional
properties including the distance of the neutral axis from the outermost compression fiber, ycg. If ycg is
greater than d/2 where d is the depth of the cross-section, go to step 2. If ycg is less than d/2, skip step 2 and
go to step 3.
Step 2: The assumption is correct. Calculate widths b1 and b2 based on section properties
calculated in step 1. If where hc is the flat height of the compression region of the web, stop.
The web is fully effective as assumed and the calculated properties are correct. Otherwise, set the iteration
number n=1 and do the following:

1. Set
2. Calculate the cross-sectional properties with effective widths b, b1, and b2.
3. If where is the stopping tolerance, stop. The current properties are the correct values
within the tolerance.
4. Update b1 and b2 (b remains unchanged as
5.
6. Go to 1.

Step 3: The assumption that yielding initiates in the compression flange is not correct. Set the iteration
number n=1 and do the following:

1. Set
2. Calculate f with neutral axis at and the maximum stress in the tension flange at Fy. Calculate b.
3. Determine cross-sectional properties with effective width b and assuming the web is fully effective.
4. If stop. Calculate b1 and b2. If the assumption that the web is fully effective
is correct and the calculated properties are the desired effective cross-sectional properties. Otherwise,
set iteration counter m=0 and do the following:

a) Set
b) Calculate the cross-sectional properties with effective widths b, b1, and b2.
c) If stop. The current properties are the correct values within the tolerance.
d) Update b, b1, and b2.
e)
f) Go to a.

5. Update f and b.
6.
7. Go to 1.

Some cold-formed steel shapes may be sufficiently compact to develop partial plastification. The AISI ASD
and the LRFD Specifications recognize this inelastic reserve capacity and allow designers to increase the
bending capacity by 25 percent provided certain provisions are satisfied. Our computational model takes
into account this increase whenever the conditions are satisfied.