Using the finite element method to evaluate the load-bearing capacity of beams with a corrugated web subjected to local loading

Abstract

Introduction. Steel beams with a corrugated web are increasingly frequently applied in industrial and civil engineering due to their cost effectiveness. There are numerous studies proving the advantages of corrugated beams. However, the issue of calculating such elements is insufficiently covered in the standards and engineering literature, which is one of the main factors restraining their widespread use.
 
 Materials and methods. Along with the use of analytical dependencies, which, as a rule, are focused on a specific type of web corrugation and have limitations in terms of the area of experimental susceptibility, numerical methods are widely used. The finite element (FE) method is applied in the article.
 
 Results. The article presents the principles of constructing a FE model for evaluating the load-bearing capacity and service ability of corrugated beams subjected to local loading (patch loading), verified by using the experimental data. The authors have analysed the influence of parameters of the FE model and input variables on the accuracy and uncertainty of modeling results.
 
 Conclusions. The article shows that the use of FE models allows for a highly accurate evaluation of the load-bearing capacity and the behaviour of a beam with a corrugated web subjected to local loading. The description of the behaviour of steel has one of dominant influences on the accuracy of FE models, while the value of yield strength has a dominant influence; values of ultimate strength and the type of deformation diagram have an auxiliary influence. The variability in the web thickness has a directly proportional effect on the value of the bearing capacity. The size of the finite element should be determined according to the condition of convergence of results against the criteria of critical and ultimate forces. The most optimal size of the finite element is about 3–5 web thicknesses. To reduce the total number of finite elements, it is recommended to use local condensation in areas of stresses. The shape of equivalent geometric imperfections is recommended to be assigned based on the forms of elastic buckling of the web.