wide flange loaded across the flanges

huangyhg

wide flange loaded across the flanges
could someone please run through the general calcs for the loading case of a wide flange on its side with the load being applied across its flanges? the beams are being used as saw horses and i need to determine a rough rated capacity.
please clarify. your description is not clear enough to allow intelligent comments.
are you concerned with weak-axis bending of the wf beam or concentrated load capacity (like buckling or crippling)?
my best guess from your description is that you have a concentrated load that's being applied transverse to a flange that's putting the flange in compression. in this case, you'd be concerned with yielding, local buckling, and lateral buckling of the flange. is this your situation?
dbd
you're using structural steel beams for saw horses? you must be as strong as anthony clark to move 'em around!
yes dbdavis,
i am concerned with the concentrated load capacity. please elaborate on the most crucial calcs concerned with this application.
i can think of a few applicable limit states. first, i should issue a disclaimer. i am not 100% sure what you're doing, but this is my best interpretation. i also assume that you're using typical w-shapes, not a built-up slender   
will this involve a moving concentrated load?  if necessary can you reinforce the flanges with stiffeners?
you need to check local instability of your section with the aisc limits and adjust the section properties as necessary.  with weak-axis bending of a wide flange lateral-torsional buckling is not a concern. mn=fysx or mp=fyzx
from here you may or may not need to reinforce your flanges in the vicinity of the concentrated load, depending on the size of the flanges and the load of course.  the closest design criteria i can find for a compressive force on your flange causing instability is k1.5 in the aisc 3rd lrfd.  if you check using this equation and have a very large factor of safety, say 10 for instance, you're probably all right but who really knows.  it may prove easiest to just reinforce the flanges and be done with it, which is probably a good idea if you are looking at very heavy loads.