Afternoon Folks,

I am doing to FEA analysis on rolled steel W-Shapes (also known as I-beams) in axial compression.  I am wondering if there is a simple way to include residual stresses in the cross section.  I thought about trying to emulate the stresses using some sort of temperature gradients, but my feeling is there must be an easier way.

I've includeda picture to illustrate the stresses that are created by hot rolling, for those who may not be familiar with hot-rolled structural shapes.

Thanks very much.

-Andrew