Non-structural elements such as folded roof plates are usually set up on the upper flange of main beams. Previous study shown that non-structural elements have bracing effect to lateral buckling of H-shaped beams as continuous braces. In the FEM analysis, folded roof plates are replaced with lateral and rotational springs in the FEM model that are fixed on the upper flanges of the H-shaped beams. However, in real case the joint between H-shaped beams and folded roof plates are using tight frames and bolts. When the torsional moment of H-shaped beam by lateral buckling occurs, the joint parts and the bolt holes will be broken easily so that the rotational bracing stiffness cannot be exerted. In this study, torsion experiments with different kinds of joints are used to find out the rotational bracing stiffness and the deformation mechanism of folded roof plates to be used as continuous braces.
