“Breathing” of Longitudinally Stiffened Steel Webs Subject to Repeated Partial Edge Loading

Abstract

The aim of the first part of the Prague experimental research on web “breathing” was to look into the effect of the repeated character of patch loading on the ultimate limit state of steel plate girder webs fitted with longitudinal ribs. 80 experimental panels were tested to date, the flange size and the position and dimensions of the longitudinal ribs being varied. During the tests, the “breathing” of the girder webs under the action of a cyclic patch load, the initiation and propagation of cracks in the most heavily stressed areas of. the webs, and their influence on the “erosion” of the plastic failure mechanisms of the test girders were carefully studied. Final analysis of the data obtained made it possible for the authors to establish the limit fatigue loads, Pfat, of longitudinally stiffened steel plate girders whose thin webs are subject to a repeated partial edge load.