Open cross-section beams under pure bending II. Finite element simulation

Starting from the set of bending tests of U sections performed in our laboratory and described in Part I. Experimental investigations [Pastor MM, Roure F. Open cross-section beams under pure bending. I. Experimental investigations. Thin-Walled Struct 2008;46(5):476–483.], a numerical model has been developed. It reproduces the actual testing conditions and also the building of hinges in pure bending, as well as producing the moment–rotation curves of the section and a complete information about the stresses and strains of the beam along the whole loading process. Once the model has been validated, a parametric study has been done for the U sections. The influence of several parameters on the ultimate strength in bending of the section has been analysed: thickness (t), width (b), depth (cw) and position of the point of application of the load (y).