AbstractThis paper deals with the improvement in patch loading resistance achieved by a bottom triangular cell attached to a steel T‐shaped girder flange. As local introduction of the reaction from the bearings onto the webs during incremental launching is a specific limit state for structures designed with steel webs, the attachment of a bottom triangular cell allows using wider launching pads since T‐flange transverse bending is no longer critical; web panel slenderness is also reduced, achieving an increase in critical buckling load of the web panel. But, in addition and most important, a supplementary resistant mechanism is generated, as the bottom triangular cell also works a continuous beam in bending, spanning the vertical stiffeners, so that part of the local concentrated load is directly transmitted to the stiffeners, significantly increasing patch loading resistance of the web.The analyses carried out by hybrid beam and plate non‐linear finite element models show both resistant mechanisms: web resistance and the additional contribution of vertical stiffeners through the triangular cell bending stiffness. Finally, a numerical model is proposed for evaluating the contribution of vertical stiffeners to patch loading resistance, in order to improve present formulation.