The torsional stiffness of a thin-walled beam of open cross-sectional profile braced by evenly spaced transverse diaphragms is studied. Diaphragms rigidly fixed or attached by frictionless pins are treated and it is seen that, in either case, the only effect is to modify the St Venant torsional constant for the thin-walled beam.
The theoretical work is supported by experimental evidence from two braced perspex channels which simulate the two assumed methods of attaching the diaphragms. Good agreement is demonstrated.
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