This paper presents a study of the effect of rectangular web opening on the lateral torsional buckling strength of simply supported thin-walled I-beams subjected to a concentrated load at mid-span The study presents an equation for calculating the critical load corresponding to the onset of lateral torsional buckling. The equation was derived using the classical energy approach. The effect of web opening was studied using two typical sections selected from the Cold Formed Steel Design Manual. The web opening width and location were found to have a significant effect on the lateral torsional buckling strength of thin-walled I-beams. The reduction of the lateral torsional buckling strength ranged between 5 to 40 percent depending on the opening width and location. In general, the lateral torsional buckling strength decreases as the web opening approaches the middle of the beam. Also, the increase in the opening height was found to reduce the beam torsional buckling strength. Within the parameters studied in this paper the opening height was found to have a relatively less influence on the lateral torsional buckling strength than that of the opening width and location.

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