An experimental test program was conducted at McGill University which incorporated 14 castellated steel beams provided by Chaparral Steel. The notable feature of these beams is their thin webs. The modes of failure and their corresponding loads were predicted based on a number of previous studies. A nonlinear finite element analysis was carried out in order to provide a new assessment tool. The program used was NASTRAN. The geometrics of the castellated steel beams were predicted to be susceptible to web post buckling.;The applied load which causes the formation of the mechanism failure (Redwood 1978), and the load which causes a horizontal yield failure, (Blodgett 1963), were calculated and compared to the predicted buckling load to anticipate the mode of failure. The web post buckling loads were predicted based on an analysis by Blodgett (1963), Aglan and Redwood (1974) and on the finite element analysis. The above analyses were repeated for five of the seven beams tested by Bazile and Texier (1968) and which failed by web post buckling.;The beams tested were susceptible to web post buckling, as predicted. The web post buckling analysis suggested by Blodgett (1963) resulted in large variations from the experimental failure load. The analysis suggested by Aglan and Redwood (1974) yielded conservative results. The finite element buckling analysis showed a good correspondence with the experimental buckling load and may be a good tool to conduct a more complete parametric study.
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