Due to its efficiency, thin-walled structural elements with open sections, such as I, L, C and Z profiles, are common in steel structures, being usual in engineering applications. Most thin-walled beams have a good flexural strength around of the principal axis of inertia, but a low one around the axis of lower inertia as well as low torsional stiffness. That is why these elements, generally, show instabilities that lead to flexural torsional coupling. Many of these structures do not work in a linear range and a non-linear formulation that takes into account large displacements and associated couplings is required. This dissertation presents a nonlinear model for extensional beams with thin-walled open section, considering large displacements, and flexural-torsional couplings. Initially a study of the natural frequencies, critical load and axial load vs. frequency relation is presented for different profile kinds. Based on these results, a detailed study of the dynamic behavior of non-linear profiles is made, highlighting the effect of non-linear coupling in the resonance region and its influence on the dynamic stability of the structure. For this, various tools of nonlinear dynamics are used, such as bifurcation diagrams, time histories and phase-space portraits and basins of attraction. The results show that the consideration of non-linear couplings is essential to availed the safety level of these structures.