Behavior of trapezoidal corrugated girders webs with cutouts: experimental and analytical solution

Abstract EN

Girders with corrugated webs (GCWS) are nowadays used as structural elements in many applications for their high strength against shear buckling, otherwise cut outs are always provided in these plate elements to enable inspection and servicing.

this study presents an experimental and analytical study for investigating the behaviour of girders with corrugated webs (GCWS) having cut outs under shear loading.

the experimental program was conducted on three full-scale plate girders, which have been tested under central load at mid-span.

the theoretical analysis was conducted using ANSYS V20 to perform a nonlinear technique for the determination of the ultimate shear capacity of the tested girders.

finally, experimental, and finite element model were used to define the ratio of decrement in carrying capacity for corrugated web, having cut out under shear loading.

as expected from the ultimate strength, failure mechanism, and load-deflection curves; the results show decrease in the ultimate load carrying capacity with the appearance of one or more cut-outs.