Torsion of thin-walled open-section beams due to restrained warping displacements of cross-section is causing additional stresses, which make a significant contribution to the total stress. Due to plastic deformation there are certain reserves of bearing capacity, identification of which is of significant practical interest. The existing normative documents for the design of steel structures in Russia do not include design factor taking into account the development of plastic deformation during warping torsion. The analysis of thin-walled open-section members with plastic deformation will more accurately determine their load-bearing capacity and requires further research. Reserves of the beams bearing capacity due to the development of plastic deformations are revealed when beams are influenced by bending, as well as tension and compression. The existing methodology of determining these reserves and the plastic shape factor in bending was reviewed. This has allowed understanding how it was possible to solve this problem for warping torsion members and outline possible ways of theoretical studies of the bearing capacity in warping torsion. The authors used theoretical approach in determining this factor for the symmetric I-section beam under the action of bimoment and gave recommendations for the design of torsion members including improved value of plastic shape factor.