his research aims at developing a new simple but rational analytical model to predict web crippling strength of cold formed steel Z beams. Results of the developed analytical model were verified experimentally and numerically utilizing the finite element non-linear analysis. Web crippling strengths obtained by the proposed analytical model, tests and numerical analysis were compared to the corresponding strength calculated by the equations of AISI-2016 and Eurocode 1–3. Both codes adopt empirical equations for estimating the web crippling resistance.
Comparison showed that, the predicted web crippling strength using the developed model compare well with the experimentally and numerically calculated strength. On the other hand, it was found that the design equations adopted by the AISI-2016 and Eurocode 1–3 overestimate the web crippling strength compared to the experimental and analytical strength. Accordingly, it is recommended to adopt the proposed equation as a rational formula for estimating web crippling strength of cold formed Z-sections.