Numerical Analysis of Corrugated Castellated Beam with and Without Openings

Abstract

The construction industry is constantly seeking innovative solutions to optimize the performance and efficiency of structural elements. Castellated beams with corrugated webs have emerged as a promising option in this pursuit. Their unique geometry, including web holes, makes estimating shear load capacity different from traditional beams with solid webs. These beams are becoming increasingly popular in engineering and economics due to their advantages. The openings in the web can take various shapes, as detailed in the research paper, which compares the load versus deflection for castellated beams with rectangular and hexagonal openings, analyzed using the software ABAQUS® CAE. The trapezoidal corrugated web configuration notably augments the beam's resistance to buckling failure and furnishes superior resistance to buckling compared to a plain web beam. Predominant factors impacting the efficacy of castellated-corrugated web beams encompass the overall beam height and the size of the web opening. The study conducts a comparative analysis of the ultimate load-bearing capability of these beams about both plain and corrugated web beams. Moreover, the manuscript advances an original technological proposal entailing the integration of a trapezoidal-shaped web into a castellated beam. The load-bearing capacity of castellated beams with various web opening shapes, such as rectangles and hexagons, was contrasted with that of the I beam. Among these shapes, hexagon web opening TWHC has higher Material savings with an increase of 13 % compared to the I beam. The results detail that the corrugated web rectangular castellated beams have less weight and more strength than the corrugated web hexagon castellated beam.