Depicting the behavior of girders with corrugated webs up to failure using non-linear finite element analysis

Abstract

The use of corrugated webs to increase the out-of-plane stiffness and buckling strength without the use of vertical stiffeners has been considered for some time, first in aircraft design and later for civil engineering applications in buildings and bridges. Finite element models of test specimens of steel girders with corrugated webs were developed using thin shell elements. The specimens were tested under shear, uniform bending and local discrete compressive loads on the top flange. Non-linear finite element analysis, which considers both geometric and material non-linearities, was performed. The finite element mesh size, the magnitude of the load increment and the effect of initial imperfection were investigated. The test results as well as the results from the finite element analysis are presented, compared and discussed. The analysis was able to depict the test results to a very good degree of accuracy under the three aforementioned loading conditions. The behavior up to failure, the failure mode and the ultimate capacity calculated were in good agreement with the test results.